A report providing an update on the performance and delivery of leisure services and development of facilities by Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL).

Further to Minute 5 of the meeting held on 9 July 2025, the Committee considered a report providing an update on the performance and delivery of Leisure Services and development of new facilities by Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL). Craig Woodward, Steph Smith and Jemma Allen of GLL attended the meeting and gave a presentation on the annual report which covered the following areas:

• Background to the contract;
• Investment in facilities had led to Rivermead Leisure Centre being independently assessed as ‘Outstanding’ under Sport England’s Quest quality scheme;
• Usage statistics, with over one million visits in 2025;
• Valuing a very local workforce including training, upskilling and development, apprenticeships and work experience. GLL had achieved the Investors in People Gold Award;
• Community work during the year had included a visit by the Council’s Access and Disabilities Working Group, Reading & Oxfordshire Club Games, outreach events, water safety education and promotion, the GLL Sports Foundation for talented sportspeople and community initiatives;
• Continuing to support the Health Referral Programme to improve health outcomes for people with, or at risk of, long-term conditions.

The report set out the following priorities that would remain a focus in 2026/27:

·      Increase physical activity, reduce obesity and widen participation in the local population;

·      Facilities improvements at Palmer Park Sport and Leisure Centre and South Reading Leisure Centre;

·      Financial sustainability.

The report explained that performance during 2025 had remained strong and demonstrated the positive impact of the Council’s investment in leisure provision. Resident satisfaction with sport and leisure services achieved 62%, well above the Local Government Association benchmark, while dissatisfaction reduced to 10%. Participation also continued to grow and this upward trend reflected the investment and improvements made across the centres and aligned with the Council’s wider priorities, including public health objectives and tackling health inequalities. GLL continued to offer a range of targeted programmes to improve access to physical activity for residents who might otherwise face barriers to participation.

The report added that major capital improvements had been progressed during the year, including the completion of the athletics track at Palmer Park Leisure Centre and Stadium. Rivermead Leisure Centre had been independently assessed as ‘Outstanding’ under Sport England’s Quest quality scheme, confirming high standards of customer experience, accessibility, compliance and environmental management - one of only seven centres to achieve this standard nationally.

GLL had joined the Water Safety Partnership Board and was working closely with Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service to deliver preventative water safety education at Rivermead. This included sessions with local schools to strengthen awareness and reduce water?related risks across the borough.

Mental wellbeing had also remained a key focus, with 10% of Physical Activity on Referral (PARS) referrals citing mental health as the primary reason. Among completers, 60% had achieved a positive wellbeing score on the Short Warwick?Edinburgh scale and showed improvement from baseline, with a further 24% also demonstrating meaningful progress. Collectively, these outcomes highlighted the programme’s continued impact on physical health, emotional resilience and community cohesion.

GLL’s key Healthwise objectives and priorities for 2026 had focused on expanding specialist health pathways, strengthening staff capability, and increasing opportunities for residents to engage in programmes that supported long term health, wellbeing and community connection. The key areas of focus for the year were:

·       Launch the new Cancer Rehabilitation pathway to support residents following cancer treatment;

·      Continue delivering and strengthening specialist pathways, including Phase 4 Cardiac Rehabilitation and Better Balance;

·      Upskill staff to Level 3 Exercise on Referral to enhance capacity within the PARS programme;

·      Train staff to deliver Aquatics for Health sessions;

·      Further expand the Healthwise timetable and increase the range of social events offered;

·      Launch Better Health and Wellbeing Events across leisure centres;

·      Support 12 targeted health promotion initiatives throughout the year.

The Committee discussed the presentation and took the opportunity to ask further questions of GLL.

AGREED:

(1)      That the presentation by GLL in respect of the operation of the leisure contract be noted:

(2)      That the following be noted:

a.      the successful renovation of the athletics track at Palmer Park stadium;

b.      Rivermead Leisure Centre’s ‘Outstanding’ rating from Quest, Sport England’s national quality scheme, one of only seven facilities nationally;

c.      £12m social value from the leisure contract with GLL, a 37% increase on 2024;

(3)      That the priorities for 2026/27 as set out in section 4 of the report be noted.