In accordance with Government advice, the Council’s leisure facilities were closed to the public on 20 March 2020. Consequently, there are financial implications for Trafford Leisure Community Interest Company, the Council’s wholly owned company (“Trafford Leisure”) which manages and delivers the Council’s leisure services.

1)          That the requirement for funding to be provided to Trafford Leisure CIC (“Trafford Leisure”), as set out in the report, be noted.

2)          That the provision of a loan on the basis of the terms set out in paragraph 9 of the report, be approved.

3)          That the Corporate Director for Finance and Systems, in consultation with the Corporate Director for Place and the Corporate Director for Governance and Community Strategy, be delegated authority to agree minor amendments to the terms.

4)          That the Corporate Director for Governance and Community Strategy be delegated authority to enter into any documents required to implement the above recommendations.

5)          That the decision be deemed urgent and not subject to call-in due to the need for a cash advance of £480,000 to be made on 14 April 2020 in order to provide liquidity to Trafford Leisure so that it is able the meet its financial obligations.

To enable finance to be provided to Trafford Leisure so that suppliers and staff can be paid during the Covid-19 lockdown period when the leisure centres are closed as prescribed by the Government.

The Council could decide not to provide the facility. This would mean Trafford Leisure would have to furlough all staff, meaning they could not maintain leisure centres as emergency reception centres, and may not be able to pay suppliers.

Alternatively the Council could provide a grant rather than a loan. However, this would mean the Council would bear the full cost of the funding in the current year, with no ability to recover, increasing the financial challenge faced by the authority.

None.