Best Value Review of East Ren

Tender description

The Council is seeking to appoint a suitably experienced organisation to undertake an independent review designed to evaluate the extent to which Enjoy East Ren delivers best value in line with the definition set out by Audit Scotland and the best value themes. The review will build on previous reviews, including the 2018 Solace in Business review and the 2020 Best Value review, consider the existing delivery model and make recommendations for ongoing improvement in relation to the work of the Trust. This Prior Information Notice is issued to inform the market of the Council’s forthcoming requirement and to support early market awareness. It is not a call for competition and does not constitute a commitment to proceed with a procurement. Lot 1: The Council is considering to appoint a suitably experienced organisation to undertake an independent review designed to evaluate the extent to which Enjoy East Ren delivers best value in line with the definition set out by Audit Scotland and the best value themes. Scope of the Requirement 1.Effective Use of Resources - The review would take into account: -The planned new leisure centre in Eastwood Park and the opportunities to develop the business; -Cost benefit analysis and relevant benchmarking data for the venues and pitches and future options in relation to the estate reflecting usage levels, participate rates and trends; 2.Performance and Outcomes: -Baseline data from pre-Covid and then 2023 to 2026 of customer activity and visitor numbers across all services and venues. This would include performance indicators and benchmarking data, as evidence of continuous improvement and customer satisfaction rates; -Other evidence of continuous improvement and service re-design of the Trust’s activities and responsibilities, involving customer engagement and participation, since 2023; -Detailed analysis of Enjoy East Ren’s overall financial position, including historic performance, current cost base, funding arrangements and medium-term financial sustainability; -Evidence of improvement in health and wellbeing and participation in culture and leisure across East Renfrewshire since 2023 particularly for key equity groups, and correlating with the involvement of the Trust where possible; 3.Governance, leadership and strategic direction - To review the legal agreement between the Council and the Trust having regard to: -Suitability of the Trust model to deliver (1) efficiency savings in the management fee, and (2) annual savings on Non-Domestic rates and VAT, in accordance with original objectives; -Evidence of the ongoing contribution of the Trust to Council goals and community planning objectives, and evidence of an agreed joint vision to support this; and -The ability of the Trust model to deliver transformational change across Trust facilities and services, and how the Trust works effectively by Council support services in this regard 4.Joint Working Between the Council and Core Activities of the Trust - Opportunities for further collaboration between the Council, the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), and the Trust, which have the potential to provide improved services and outcomes for the residents of East Renfrewshire, and which should be considered in more detail in the future in line with A Place to Grow; and 5.Value for Money and Financial Sustainability - To consider evidence of value for money being achieved by both the Council and the Trust, including within the individual Service Level Agreements for delivery of core services. Indicative Methodology - A mixed-methods approach is proposed, this will include: -Evidence from End year Reports; Business Plan; relevant Enjoy East Ren Board Papers; progress with key strategies etc. -Semi-structured interviews with staff involved in providing support services functions to the Council and the Trust, e.g. Property and Technical Services; Financial Services; ICT services; Human Resources; Performance, Communications; Health and Safety etc. -Undertaking visits to various Trust facilities, and discussions with venue managers, service managers, and respective Heads of Service; -Follow-up requests for submission of documentary evidence, following interviews and visits; -Relevant benchmarking with other organisations, to gather information concerning the operation of leisure and cultural trusts elsewhere in the United Kingdom; -Sharing of information and interim findings with the Council and the Trust, at different stages of the review, as part of a learning and partnership approach. Suppliers may be invited to set out their proposed approach to methodology, stakeholder engagement, evidence gathering, analysis, reporting and recommendations as part of any future tender process.. Participation in any market engagement process will not confer any advantage in a future procurement process. Any subsequent opportunity will be advertised in accordance with the Council’s procurement procedures and applicable public procurement rules.