Issue - meetings

To consider proposals for the harmonisation of fees, charges and membership policies in leisure facilities inherited from former district authorities in Cheshire East.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing considered proposals for the harmonisation of fees, charges and membership policies in leisure facilities inherited from former district authorities in Cheshire East.

The Council had inherited a number of different approaches to fees and charges in leisure facilities from the former district authorities, which had resulted in quite significant differences in the prices charged to customers at Cheshire East leisure centres for comparable products and services.

On 1^st April 2010, a new harmonised membership scheme was launched (Everybody) along with a new concessionary discount scheme (Everybody Options). The new schemes provided a consistent approach to memberships and discounts which allowed access to any Cheshire East Council leisure facility.

The Bonus Card in the Congleton Area facilities, which was primarily a loyalty scheme, was not withdrawn at the time and as a result was beginning to cause confusion for both staff and customers having two concurrent schemes running. While the benefits of a loyalty scheme were recognised, the lack of a joined leisure management database made a common Cheshire East scheme impossible to manage and would be investigated for reintroduction at such a time when a single leisure management system was introduced.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing

(1)   approves the revised scale of fees and charges in leisure facilities with effect from 1^st October 2010 as part of a two-phase exercise to align pricing where appropriate; and

(2)   approves the phased withdrawal of the former Congleton Borough Council Bonus Card Scheme in line with the new Cheshire East Everybody memberships.