Overview
Max Associates was commissioned to support the Council in developing a procurement strategy to review their Leisure Services Management Contracts. The Council was delivering its plan to rationalise its leisure services contracts across the recently established council area, from 5 contracts comprising four operators managing 11 leisure centres, to a single contract as the contracts come up for renewal.
- Aqua Vale Leisure Centre, Aylesbury – a leisure pools site with fitness and outdoor 3G pitches.
- Swan Pool and Leisure Centre, Buckingham – a pool and fitness site, with outdoor 3G pitches.
- Beacon Sports Centre & Theatre, Beaconsfield – a sports hall and fitness site, with mini soccer outdoor pitches.
- Evreham Centre, Iver – a small sports hall and fitness site, with outdoor 3G and grass pitches.
- Little Marlow Running Track – an 8 lane athletics track.
Outcome
Four organisations were taken through to revised tender stage, but Serco Leisure were successful in the final stage, and were awarded the contract starting 1st April 2024.
Serco Leisure has committed to a payment to the Council for the leisure contract.
The leisure contract includes capital investment projects totalling £1.3m on maintaining, decoration and renew across the contract term utilising Council capital funding of £500k as well as their own finance. Improvements are in new fitness and group exercise equipment and branding at the two main wet centres to support the total income generated.
Testimonial
“We couldn’t be happier with the support and commitment from Lisa and the Max team, all technically and professionally excellent but also, crucially, in long projects with difficult challenges. Just so nice and such a good and enjoyable team to work with. They really do capture and embrace the clients’ key issues and concerns and are exceptional in the quality of support, their knowledge and expertise and crucially the respect and high regard they are held in across the wider leisure industry.”
Sue Drummond – Head of Leisure
Summary of Project
A key part of the pre-tender activity was developing the service specifications, linked to delivering the outcomes outlined in the Corporate Plan.
The Council set out its partnership philosophy with an Operator based on the following principles:
- Mutual respect.
- A shared vision and operational philosophy.
- A shared commitment to increasing participation in sport and physical activity and championing inclusivity in Buckinghamshire particularly amongst identified under-represented groups, including, without limitation, disabled people.
- Proactive collaboration and cooperation.
- Partnership working with key public, private and third sector organisations involved with enabling and delivering opportunities for sport and physical activity participation.
- Effective and regular communication and reporting.
- A proactive approach to identifying new opportunities to develop or enhance the services.
We supported the Council to develop the most suitable evaluation framework for each tender, which reflected the financial drivers of the contract, but also the quality and social value the Council wished the service to deliver for residents.
Through comprehensive planning, the deadlines for each stage of the procurement process achieved the initial deadlines. The structure of the project allowed for a suitable mobilisation period.
