A recommendation that Erewash Borough Council takes the next step and invites expressions of interest to run its leisure services is expected to go to the next full council meeting.

A report going to Council Executive next week outlines the progress of the possible outsourcing of leisure so far and asks that the matter goes to Full Council with a recommendation that members agree the key principles of the tender specification and give officers the go-ahead to go out to tender for leisure services.

A market test on the benefits of outsourcing took place last year and that initial investigation revealed potentially significant annual savings.

Since then the council has put together a detailed ‘specification document’ which lists key information and the council’s expectations to help any potential interested party.

Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, says:

“There has been a lot of hard work carried out to prepare a document that gives a detailed service specification for leisure services – and we thank residents who shared their views with us to help us in preparing this document. It is right that the matter should go to Full Council for a decision on the next step.”

If the matter is sent to Full Council, councillors will also be recommended to ask officers to produce a report on the outcome of any procurement exercise so that members can consider any awarding of a contract at a future council meeting.

The meeting of Council Executive is at Long Eaton Town Hall on Tuesday 20 February at 10.30am.