Agenda item

The Operations Manager submitted a report seeking approval to apply permanent contracts to existing staff who were on variable contracts relating to the tuition of the gymnastics and trampoline programmes. The report also requested that in the case of an extension to the programmes, as supported by a robust business case, additional hours could be contracted and this would be decided by service officers.

The committee was informed that there were currently around 650 children attending weekly trampolining and gymnastics programmes at Queen’s Park Sports Centre. These programmes were delivered by variable staff who were working the same hours.

The Operations Manager explained that the aim was to expand these programmes so they could be delivered to additional numbers of children and increase the income for the centre. As the coaches were currently working on a variable basis a risk in developing the existing programmes had been identified as the coaches were not currently required to provide notice if they intended to leave the programmes.

The current coaching hours were outlined as 45.5 total hours for gymnastics and 30.5 total hours for trampolining. The officer’s report recommended that the proposed contracted hours be the same as the current hours which were being delivered. Contracting coaches to the same hours would incur extra costs due to annual leave absence and potential sickness; these extra costs were detailed in the officer’s report.

To mitigate these costs work would be carried out to investigate developing the programmes further. A business plan had been detailed which would result in an additional 138 children or adults in the trampolining programme and 216 children or adults in the gymnastics programme. It was reported that the waiting list currently had 408 children waiting for gymnastics and 198 for trampolining. This waiting list had been reflected upon within the business plan for expanding the programme.

The expansion of both programmes would mean the removal of an existing gymnastics club, Sharley Park Gymnastics Club. The club had used Queen’s Park Sports Centre for a number of years but had a small attendance of around 15 each week. The programme at the Sharley Park Gymnastics Club had been geared towards a specific discipline and aimed at girls. The proposed new programmes would attract a greater number of children to a wider range of disciplines that were suitable for both boys and girls.

*RESOLVED –

1.   The contracting of staff who were currently employed on a variable basis against the current need within the gymnastics and trampolining programmes be approved.

2.   That any additional coaching hours required to deliver the expansion would also be contracted to support a robust business case which had been developed to expand the trampoline and gymnastics courses at Queen’s Park Sports Centre.

3.   That delegated authority be granted to service officers to determine the expansion to contract hours as per recommendation 5.2 of the officer’s report in line with financial viability.

4.      That changes to the contracts be implemented subject to approval by the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing.