Agenda item

This report sets out a response to issues raised by Councillor Stamp concerning Splashes Leisure Pool.

Discussion:

The Committee received a report setting out a response to a number of issues raised by Councillor Stamp relating to Splashes Leisure Pool.

The Head of Sport, Leisure, Tourism and Heritage advised that the Public Health England (PHE) report into the investigation into the recent outbreak of the Norovirus at Splashes Leisure Pool was still awaited. Officers were in discussion with PHE and the guideline was for reports to be made available within 3 months after a norovirus outbreak. As PHE did not conclude surveys of those affected until the end of November, it was anticipated that the report would be available towards the end of February.

The Director of Regeneration, Culture, Environment and Transformation advised the Committee that PHE were currently investigating a number of cases of norovirus elsewhere across the country and therefore, this increased volume of work may affect PHE timelines in producing investigation reports.

The Head of Sport, Leisure, Tourism and Heritage advised the Committee that in the meantime he had provided an answer to a number of the issues raised by Councillor Stamp in his initial Member’s item submitted to the Committee on 8 December 2016.

In particular, the Head of Sport, Leisure, Tourism and Heritage drew attention to two issues that required correction as they were factually incorrect. The first related to the statement that there were no receptionists at Medway Park. The Head of Sport, Leisure, Tourism and Heritage confirmed that there were currently 7 receptionists at Medway Park and there were no plans to change this.

The second issue related to there being no trained external instructors for classes. The Head of Sport, Leisure, Tourism and Heritage confirmed that all classes were led by trained instructors and approximately two thirds were run by trained external instructors. He confirmed that the Council had a policy of upskilling its staff and all employees were actively encouraged to attain the necessary qualifications to enable them to run classes. However, this was not at the expense of using external instructors.

Councillor Stamp thanked the Head of Sport, Leisure, Tourism and Heritage for this clarification.

The Committee then discussed the report and the Head of Sport, Leisure, Tourism and Heritage responded to various questions as follows:

·         Staff Training

All staff were trained in accordance with national guidelines designed to protect health and safety. In the next 2 months, 37 staff were due to attend training courses in line with the Council’s desire to upskill its employees. All staff were exceedingly loyal, hardworking and dedicated to their jobs and the Council was committed to offering career opportunities and developments.

All casual staff underwent the same basic training expected of full-time staff.

·         Cleaning responsibilities

The shared cleaning responsibilities between Medway Norse and Splashes staff followed the previous system when cleaning was ‘in-house’.

·         Refurbishment works

As the building at Splashes was 26 years old, it could benefit from refurbishment but a recent condition survey did not identify any immediate maintenance issues that required attention.

Members advised that in wishing to scrutinise the norovirus outbreak at Splashes Leisure Pool, they were not being critical of staff and requested that it be placed on record that they fully appreciated staff dedication to their work. The Director of Regeneration, Culture, Environment and Transformation stated that officers appreciated that Members were supportive of staff but also had a scrutiny role to fulfil. 

Discussion ensued as to the benefits of having a staff survey as a means of gauging staff morale and the Director of Regeneration, Culture, Environment and Transformation advised that an annual staff survey was undertaken each Summer. Within the Regeneration, Culture, Environment and Transformation Directorate a Focus Group had been set up to analyse the results of the 2016 staff survey and he suggested that rather than undertake a further survey, a member of staff from Leisure be involved in the Focus Group.

Decision:

The Committee:

a)            noted that a further report will be submitted to the Committee when the outcome of the Public Health England investigation is known.

b)            noted that the Director of Regeneration, Culture, Environment and Transformation will ensure that a member of staff from Leisure is included in the Directorate’s Staff Survey Focus Group to analyse the results of the 2016 staff survey.