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Leisure and Libraries Alternative Delivery Model (ADM) - Council

Published: 16/05/2016

Cabinet will consider a recommendation when it meets next week to establish an employee led mutual to deliver leisure and library services from 2017. At March’s meeting, Cabinet considered the benefits and supported the proposal in principle, subject to further information on how the ownership would work and evidence that the employees within the service were confident with this approach. The benefits include planned budget efficiencies of up to 30% while retaining the current range of facilities and services and minimising any staff redundancies. Part of the proposal covers the community asset transfer of Connah’s Quay Swimming Pool and Holywell Leisure Centre. Cambrian Aquatics are due to take on Connah’s Quay Swimming Pool from 30 May and plans are being developed by Holywell community for a similar transfer of the Leisure Centre. The remainder of the facilities and services would then transfer into the Employee Led Mutual during 2017. Employees will play an active part in the development of the final proposals and implementation plans. Thirty-four employees have formed a workforce voice group to help develop the proposals. Six members of the group met recently with councillors and service leaders to comment on the business plan, identify what they feel their role is and identify important next steps. All parties confirmed their confidence to progress the proposal. Representatives from both the service leadership and workforce will be on hand at the meeting to share their views. Flintshire County Council’s Leader, Councillor Aaron Shotton, said: I have been really impressed with the engagement and commitment from the employees and this gives me confidence that this can be delivered as an employee led mutual with staff playing a key role in making key decisions and increasing service performance. Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure, Councillor Kevin Jones, said: This ADM, which includes an employee led mutual and community asset transfers of Connahs Quay Swimming Pool and Holywell Leisure Centre, provides something unique in that there are no plans for closure of local leisure facilities or major redundancies. Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education including libraries, Councillor Chris Bithell, said: This proposal will help to sustain the library network which we have worked hard to put in place over the last 12 months and which has included the community asset transfer of a number of community libraries as well as the modernisation, refurbishment and re-location of Deeside Library and will include a similar development at Holywell Library.