Agenda item

Consider presentation on performance of Live Borders provision agreement.

2.1       There had been circulated copies of a report by Director Resilient Communities that presented key information in regard to the Live Borders contract for the first two quarters of the 2022-23 financial year and provided Elected Members with key information on the governance of the contract, updated information on the delivery of the commissioned services and key performance information.  Live Borders had previously presented performance information to the Executive Committee on a 6-monthly basis.  Live Borders would now present to the External Services/Providers Monitoring Group following changes to the SBC Scheme of Administration.  The meeting of the External Services/Providers Monitoring Group was the first opportunity for Live Borders performance information to be presented to the group and was also an opportunity to discuss the KPI performance report format contained in Appendix 1 of the report, and the group’s expectations for future reporting.  The Director Resilient Communities highlighted challenges that were impacting the sport, leisure and cultural sector which included the impact of Covid-19, the rise of energy costs and the cost of living crisis, and that the Joint Officers Group were considering those challenges and were looking at options to mitigate those factors.

2.2       The Director Resilient Communities introduced Mr Jackson, Chief Executive of Live Borders, to present the report who advised that Live Borders faced a number of challenges and pressures related to the Covid-19 pandemic, inflation and the cost of energy.  Participation level tracking was showing a rate of between 80-90% of pre-Covid-19 participation levels with variations across the business with health and fitness having showed a rate of approximately 80% and swimming showed rates in the high-90% level.  It had been difficult to make meaningful comparisons across KPIs where some indicators were above target levels and some had fallen behind.

2.3       Concern was raised by the Chair whether it was overoptimistic of the service to expect that many of the RAG indicators showing as red would move to green when the cost of living crisis would continue while also moving into a period of bad weather.  Mr Jackson advised that this had been raised at a recent Live Borders Board meeting.  It was explained that the approaching quarter three and four periods were strongest for Live Borders in terms of sporting participation.  With regards to the shift required on other targets, the Board would undertake to reflect that the shift projections were as accurate as possible.  Target KSI 1b for culture visits was requested to be reviewed as it had been difficult to explain the trend against the target which showed an upward trend although the rate remained at half of the target rate.  KSI 3 Learn to Swim Memberships was subject to the status of Peebles Swimming Pool which was closed for business.  KSI 4 Memberships was anticipated to move to green alongside KSI 6 Health Referrals which had shown success in the undertaking of the referrals programme which had previously been paused for six weeks.  Mr Jackson advised that he would prepare a paragraph for the Group, which would also go to the Live Borders Board, which would set out why there would be more shifts from red to green and why Live Borders were confident in further shifts.

MEMBER

Councillor Greenwell joined the meeting during the above discussion.

2.4       Mr Jackson explained that the target KSI 22 Surplus/Deficit was showing a RAG status of red and was projected as red for ‘unlikely to be met’ as it was shown to be a missed financial target.  The current deficit was at £449,000 and was projected to be £800,000 by the year end.  The financial challenges were attributed to the legacy impact of Covid-19, inflation and the rising cost of energy.  The deficit was expected to be covered by reserves.  Changes in the library membership targets were explained due to a cleansing exercise of library memberships of people that had not used the service in two years which resulted in the reset of the target.  Councillor Thornton-Nicol raised the matters of Selkirk Library and Selkirk Swimming Pool being open for limited hours in a week and whether there would be more users using services and bringing in revenue if opening hours were increased.  Mr Jackson explained that a substantial survey of lapsed library users had been undertaken to assess whether individuals would return if opening hours were extended.  There were Live Borders venues’ opening times that had recently been extended based on feedback.  Libraries were performing gradually better and users and communities would continue to be consulted.  Swimming pools and sports centres had usage rates assessed to inform opening hours and Selkirk Swimming Pool and Leisure Centre was due to be extended to incorporate weekend use following consultation with regular users.  Mr Jackson further explained that swimming pools generally worked on the basis that 12 people were needed to swim per hour to cover staff costs.  The Chair suggested that it would be helpful to have a briefing note provided which showed operational performance on particular libraries, cultural locations and swimming pools to assess the asset infrastructure of Live Borders, which would help to bring understanding on whether certain assets were performing well.  Councillor Thornton-Nicol further suggested that the mobile library should form part of the briefing note.

2.5       The narrative for the target KSI 1b for cultural participation was raised which showed visitor numbers for museums and libraries.  The Chair asked whether libraries should get a separate indicator and suggested this may be an example of whether information behind the data presented would illustrate specific challenges in certain assets.  Mr Jackson advised that the information in the report was an aggregation of data across the service.  The target for cultural participation was highlighted for review however the upward trend for footfall was welcomed and it was understood to have been driven by good rates from libraries.  Live Borders was comfortable in growth of museums and galleries and that libraries were heading in the right direction.  The Great Tapestry of Scotland challenges were brought about from the Covid-19 pandemic but targets were moving in the right direction.  In the first full year, there were 24,000 paid-for entrances to the upper gallery.  Retail associated with the Great Tapestry of Scotland was strong and the cafe had approximately 60,000 transactions for the first full year.  The Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions had calculated a 31% loss of visitors across the industry which Live Borders were not far from.  Mr Jackson emphasised that he had been tasked to review target projections to reflect a more accurate target representation of participation in cultural representation whereas the data of actual values were demonstrating positive progress.  The Chair suggested that the targets and attendances for each of the cultural attractions should be presented to understand whether there were variances in performances of each attraction.

2.6       Councillor Greenwell commended the staff at Kelso Swimming Pool that supported children as part of a charity visit.  The Chair further commended the Jim Clark Museum and noted that participation rates were doing well.

DECISION

AGREED that:

(a)       an updated Service Provision Agreement should be considered and discussed at a future External Services/Providers Monitoring Group;

(b)       a briefing note be presented to the External Services/Providers Monitoring Group which detailed operational performance of Live Borders assets including libraries, cultural locations and swimming pools; and,

(c)       reviewed and adjusted targets be presented to a future meeting of the External Services/Providers Monitoring Group.