What is this engagement about?

What is this engagement about?

The Finer Details

The council’s Parks Ground Maintenance and Management Contract, currently held by Krinkels UK, and the Leisure Services Contract, held by Everyone Active, are both due to expire in 2026. In preparation, the council is undertaking a simultaneous review of both contracts to secure long term solutions beyond their current end dates. 

As part of this process, the council is conducting detailed Options Appraisals to explore available opportunities and identify ways to deliver greater value through future contracts. This includes making full use of the existing contract periods and any potential extension provisions. 

The Options Appraisal for the Parks Contract is currently underway, with completion expected by July 2025, enabling a decision on the future contract model to be made by September 2025. The Options Appraisal for the Leisure Contract is complete, and the Council is in the process of assessing the preferred route forward. 

Aligned with the renewal of both contracts, the council is taking this opportunity to engage meaningfully with staff, stakeholders, and residents to ensure their views help shape and inform the future delivery models for these vital public services. 

These contracts represent a significant and long term investment in the health, wellbeing, and quality of life of our communities. Through this engagement, we aim to ensure that the next generation of services is designed not only with residents in mind, but in direct response to their needs and aspirations, is inclusive, responsive, and reflective of local priorities. 

The core Leisure and Parks Engagement Programme will run from May to July 2025, followed by a period of analysis in August and reporting in September and October, ensuring that findings will inform and are aligned with the key contract renewal milestones. 

This engagement programme is a key mechanism to ensure that insight gathered across the organisation and from the public meaningfully informs the council’s future approach and decisions. 

Ways to participate

We are holding a number of targeted and general sessions for residents between May and July at various venues across the borough. However, we understand that not everyone is able to attend physical venues due to various circumstances.

Therefore, we are using Commonplace as an accessible platform all residents can use to give their opinions on:

• What you like/dislike about our parks and leisure centres
• What prevents you from engaging with them
• How we as the council, as well as our contractors, can improve them for the future.

Please do make sure to respond to both surveys to ensure that your voice is heard in this conversation.