Greenwich Leisure at last!!
In 1998 when we were setting up Sutton Coommunity Leisure (SCL), I queried why we were not simply arranging a contract with Greenwich Leisure (GLL)as they were already very experienced. Eight years on and they are now one of the largest worker co-operatives in the country.
As a result of the decision today at Strategy Committee I am pleased to see Sutton Council have at last agreed to sign a contract with them.
I have been predicting the possibility of this for weeks, since SCL gave notice. SCL were close to GLL (see previous postings) and we have known this at least a year ago, when we all visited GLL facilities. This was an organisation that had the local PCT on site and were managing all 5 of the 5 main Olympic host authorities. It seemed to me then that the takeover of SCL by GLL was on the cards and I said at the time to Leslie Coman that we should speed this up rather than be led by events.
The proposed arrangement makes sense as for an extra £98,000 (which will in effect pay for an underfunded pension scheme), 11 SCL staff will not be made redundant in the run-up to Christmas as the other private sector provider proposed. I assume for the cost of an extra 0.0392% of the Council Budget that local Conservatives like John Kennedy will be happy that SCL staff have been treated well in the run up to Christmas as this was one of his key points at the last Council meeting!
I am pleased the Council have recognised the potential benefits of a GLL contract and have set up a 26 month contract with GLL. It is now up to GLL to prove themselves and their Olympic and health connections. In the meantime Councillors will no doubt want to use the scrutiny process to ensure they live up to their commitments.
As a result of the decision today at Strategy Committee I am pleased to see Sutton Council have at last agreed to sign a contract with them.
I have been predicting the possibility of this for weeks, since SCL gave notice. SCL were close to GLL (see previous postings) and we have known this at least a year ago, when we all visited GLL facilities. This was an organisation that had the local PCT on site and were managing all 5 of the 5 main Olympic host authorities. It seemed to me then that the takeover of SCL by GLL was on the cards and I said at the time to Leslie Coman that we should speed this up rather than be led by events.
The proposed arrangement makes sense as for an extra £98,000 (which will in effect pay for an underfunded pension scheme), 11 SCL staff will not be made redundant in the run-up to Christmas as the other private sector provider proposed. I assume for the cost of an extra 0.0392% of the Council Budget that local Conservatives like John Kennedy will be happy that SCL staff have been treated well in the run up to Christmas as this was one of his key points at the last Council meeting!
I am pleased the Council have recognised the potential benefits of a GLL contract and have set up a 26 month contract with GLL. It is now up to GLL to prove themselves and their Olympic and health connections. In the meantime Councillors will no doubt want to use the scrutiny process to ensure they live up to their commitments.
posted by Charlie Mansell at 7:27 pm
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