Following last night's Special Meeting of Stirling Council to discuss the Council's Sports, Physical Activity and Wellbeing Provision, please find further information below which should help clarify the current position:
What decision has the Council taken on its sports, physical activity and wellbeing provision?
The Council decided at a meeting on February 9th not to award the contract for its sports, physical activity and wellbeing services to either of the two bids submitted during a recent procurement exercise. Instead, all parties unanimously agreed a motion to cancel the procurement process and look at setting up a new, not-for-profit trust to run the sports and leisure service.
Does this mean Active Stirling will continue to run the services in the future?
No. The current contract with Active Stirling has been temporarily extended, but only up until November 30th this year at the latest. After that, an entirely new organisation will be set up - a Stirling-based charitable trust, and the services currently provided by Active Stirling will transfer to the new body. The Council will set up the new body and control transition of the services to it.
Why has the Council taken this decision?
The Council decided that while the procurement process was open, transparent and robust, neither of the two bids received met its wider ethos of sports and leisure provision for communities.
Why did the contract go out to tender?
The previous contract had been in place since 2006 with the existing external contractor to the Council, and had been subject to several extensions. Legally, we were required to tender and undertake a competitive procurement process.
What happens now?
Following the Council vote, a full business case and transition plan will be drawn up with a view to establishing a Stirling-based, not-for profit charitable trust to run the service.