Mansfield leisure centres will benefit from £2m of improvements as part of a new leisure management contract.
Mansfield District Council has awarded a 10-year contract to Serco Leisure Operating Limited following a competitive tender process.
The contract, which will start on 1 May 2022, will provide significant savings to the council over the contract term. It will also improve the environment by implementing £333,000 of carbon reducing and energy saving measures, which will save 417,825 kg of carbon dioxide a year. This will contribute to the council’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.
Exciting, planned improvements which customers will be able to enjoy in 2022 include new interactive water features at Water Meadows Swimming and Fitness Complex, along with the introduction of a new fun wall climbing zone and party room. The gym will be refurbished and relocated along with the café, and the wet side changing rooms will be refurbished.
At Oak Tree Leisure Centre, there will be a new outdoor 3G sports pitch, a Shapemaster toning suite, an inflatable Wipe Out Arena obstacle course for children to enjoy during the school holidays and a refresh of the gym equipment. There will also be a designated group cycling studio and a community hub for local partners and community groups to use aimed at improving health and wellbeing.
A 'Poolview’ system will be installed at Rebecca Adlington Swimming Centre to enhance pool supervision and create a safer swimming environment.
A new £50,000 Active Communities annual programme, in conjunction with the council and Mansfield Health Partnership, will provide innovative activities at a range of community venues to encourage more people to be more active to improve their health and wellbeing.
It will take opportunities out to those in greatest need including people living in the council’s priority neighbourhoods, which are currently Bellamy, Bull Farm and Pleasley, Oak Tree, Portland (Mansfield Town Centre) and Warsop. Non-traditional and specialist activities will take place at a range of community venues to encourage those who do not visit traditional leisure centres to become more active. This includes people with disabilities and / or limiting conditions, children and young people aged up to 19, older people, women and girls, black, Asian and minority ethnic communities and care leavers.
A wider range of health and fitness activities will be on offer at the leisure centres and customers will benefit from IT improvements that will make bookings, payments, access to the facilities and general enquiries quicker and easier.
“Cllr Andy Burgin, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Environment said: “This new contract marks a fresh start for leisure provision in Mansfield and will bring multiple health and wellbeing benefits to our residents.
“We are committed to providing residents, of all ages and abilities, with access to a range of opportunities to get involved in sport, physical activity and health and wellbeing activities. The new contract looks at introducing new options within the local community and we look forward to working closely with Serco and seeing their exciting plans come to fruition over the coming months.”
Simon Lane, Serco’s Managing Director, said: “I’m delighted at this news, both for the local team and the people of this region, who’ll now benefit from the consistent high standards of service we pride ourselves on across this business.
“We’re very proud of our record in Mansfield. From the award-winning GP referral scheme, Healthy Life, which has helped hundreds of local people ease back into fitness and benefit from more active lifestyles, to Oak Tree Leisure Centre’s amazing run of success at the leisure industry’s premier recognition event, Ukactive – winning Centre of the Year for the region on no less than three occasions. We feel we’ve put the pride back into leisure services in the region.
“We will continue to offer the people of this district affordable, accessible and inclusive health and fitness facilities, working closely with the council to ensure our work aligns with their health and wellbeing targets.”
Serco Leisure Operating Limited was chosen as the council’s leisure management provider following a competitive procurement process which started in February 2021.
The decision follows an extensive review of leisure services, with support from FMG Consultancy, the council’s appointed leisure management consultant.
Serco and its partner More Leisure Community Trust Limited (MLCT) will deliver the service. The current operator Mansfield District Leisure Trust (MDLT) will cease to exist and staff are in the process of being transferred to MLCT ahead of the new contract starting in May.
Brian Taylor, Chair of More Leisure Community Trust, said: “This win is wonderful news. A 10-year contract shows Mansfield District Council are confident Serco and More Leisure Community Trust understand the needs of Mansfield citizens and trust us to deliver, innovative and exciting developments, which will benefit customers and attract new users to our facilities in Mansfield.”
The contract includes the potential to add in the management of the proposed Warsop Health Hub in the future if required. The hub, which would have a swimming pool and gym, is earmarked to be built in Carr Lane Park as part of the Towns Fund programme, led by the council.
River Maun Recreation Centre is not included in the new leisure contract as it will be transferred to community-focused organisation Switch Up under a Community Asset Transfer (CAT) from 1 April 2022.
This will enable the community to take a leading role in the regeneration of the area and in shaping future service provision. It also aims to reduce health inequalities in areas like Ravensdale where the centre is based, develop skills through training and volunteering opportunities and reduce antisocial behaviour by engaging with young people.