2025

SL323 - Benchmarking information on the operation and costs of paddling pools – 26082025

A member authority is seeking benchmarking information on the operation and costs of paddling pools in public open spaces and parks.

They would be grateful if other councils could share any information you hold on operational models, costs, and income generation. The more detail that can be provided the better; however, as a minimum, please provide:

• Cost to install (capital)
• Cost to run (annual maintenance and operational costs)
• Annual income generated (if charging applies)
• Net position per year

If possible, please also provide details using the breakdown below:

Operational Business Model

Description

Time of year open e.g. April – September

Hours open

Booking system used

Location situated (e.g. town centre, park, leisure site)

Staff model (internal/external) to manage and maintain

Security arrangements

ASB and vandalism issues

Average lifespan of the facility before replacement

Cost to Install (Capital)

Description

Initial build and installation

Cost (£)

Notes

Groundworks

Cost (£)

Notes

Equipment

Cost (£)

Notes

Other (please specify)

Cost (£)

Notes

Cost to Maintain (Annual Running Costs)

Description

Staff time to maintain Unit cost (£) - eg 30,000

Number required (if relevant) - eg5

Total cost (£) - eg 150,000

Method used - eg Internal staff

Notes

Staff time to repair

Unit cost (£)

Number required (if relevant)

Total cost (£)

Method used

Notes

Lifeguards

Unit cost (£)

Number required (if relevant)

Total cost (£)

Method used

Notes

Meet and greet staff

Unit cost (£)

Number required (if relevant)

Total cost (£)

Method used

Notes

Equipment and materials

Unit cost (£)

Number required (if relevant)

Total cost (£)

Method used

Notes

Independent inspections

Unit cost (£)

Number required (if relevant)

Total cost (£)

Method used

Notes

Waste disposal

Unit cost (£)

Number required (if relevant)

Total cost (£)

Method used

Notes

Utilities

Unit cost (£)

Number required (if relevant)

Total cost (£)

Method used

Notes

Other (please specify)

Unit cost (£)

Number required (if relevant)

Total cost (£)

Method used

Notes

Total annual cost to maintain: £_____

Income (if charging applies)

Description

Adult charge

Unit charge (£)

Volume (per year)

Total income (£)

Notes

Child charge

Unit charge (£)

Volume (per year)

Total income (£)

Notes

School group charge

Unit charge (£)

Volume (per year)

Total income (£)

Notes

Café income (if on site)

Unit charge (£)

Volume (per year)

Total income (£)

Notes

Other (please specify)

Unit charge (£)

Volume (per year)

Total income (£)

Notes

Total annual income: £_____

Net Position

Total income per year: £_____

Total cost per year: £_____

Net position (income – costs): £_____

SL0322 - Payroll Processes for Leisure Staff – 210825

A member is reviewing how they manage payroll for their leisure staff and would be grateful to hear how other councils approach this.

Currently, they use a weekly timesheet system as some staff have multiple roles, which may be in-shift or off-shift, creating variations in their pay scale. They record this data in Excel and send a monthly report to Payroll. Only hours worked outside of contracted pay scales, or additional hours, are included in the payroll submission.

The APSE member is exploring whether there are more streamlined or automated approaches and would appreciate your insights on the following:

Systems & Technology

• What payroll system do you use for leisure staff?
• Is it integrated with HR or timekeeping systems?
• Do you use automation or self-service tools for staff?

Processes

• How do you handle variable hours, in-shift/off-shift pay differences, casual contracts, or shift work?

Challenges & Improvements

• What are the biggest challenges you face with leisure payroll?
• Have you made recent changes that improved efficiency or accuracy?
• Are there any lessons learned or tips you could share?

Any feedback from your experiences would be extremely valuable.

SL0321 - Operational Staff Breaks – 11075

How do you manage staff breaks at leisure sites to ensure that all staff are able to take their allocated breaks without interruption?

Please can you share any advice on procedures you have in place that work well.

SL0320 - Group Fitness Instructors – 090725

How do you recruit and manage group fitness instructors? And are they:

• Contracted (if so, what sort of contracts are they on?)
• Self-employed / freelance (if so, what agreements are in place?)

How much do you pay group fitness instructors per hour?

• Is it a flat rate or does it include market supplement rate?
• Do you pay different rates for different instructors? For example, those who deliver specialised classes? If so, what is the difference in pay?

How do you attract and recruit group fitness instructors?

• Do you find it difficult to recruit new teachers and retain them?
• Have you introduced anything that has particularly helped with recruitment and retention that you can share?

SL0319 - Safety Inspection Intervals for Pool Safety Infrastructure, and for Play Areas – 160625

A member authority is currently reviewing its safety inspection intervals for pool safety infrastructure, and for play areas.

Please could other authorities complete – as much as possible – this form on inspection regimes and equipment. The form is downloadable via the APSE website here (.docx)

SL0318 - BMS Update at Leisure Centres – 090625

A member authority is looking to update their Building Management Systems (BMS) at their leisure centres.

They are interested in any leisure centre that has successfully completed this type of project - whether it was an upgrade or a new installation.

The authority would like to know what their specifications and requirements were and the reasoning behind these.

SL0317 - Exercise Referral Scheme - 290425

Network Query: Exercise Referral Scheme

• Do you offer an exercise referral scheme at your leisure centre?
• If so, do you charge a fee for the exercise referral scheme and what do you charge (Direct Debit, Annual and Pay As You Go)?
• What is the exit pathway after the exercise referral scheme?
• Do you offer a discounted membership after the exercise referral scheme ends? If so, so what do you charge (Direct Debit, Annual and PAYG)
• Do you receive any funding to support the scheme?

SL0316 - Managing the Allocation and Weekly Booking of Football Pitches - 220425

How does your authority manage the allocation and weekly booking of football pitches for training and matches for local teams?

• What process do you use to allocate pitches to teams at the start of the season?

• Are weekly match bookings managed in-house by the local authority, or are they coordinated externally by the league?

• If bookings are handled internally, what system or software do you use to manage availability and scheduling?

• Do you allocate pitches based on formats (e.g. 11v11, 9v9 etc) and match schedules for the whole season, or is it arranged week-by-week?

Any insights or examples of how this is effectively managed in your area would be greatly appreciated.

SL0315 - Sports Pitch Bookings - 080425

A member authority would be interested to know what systems other local authorities use to manage football, cricket and rugby pitch bookings in your areas.

They have used the same external booking and invoicing system for many years; however, this system is no longer supported by the developer in their IT department. They are now looking at alternative solutions.

The system will need to allow their Officers to carry out the following processes:

• Add bookings to specific pitches at specific sites and allocate the pitch to a sports team for a desired period of time on the fixture date.

• Generate a ‘fixture list’ that can be provided to our sports marking teams so they can prepare the pitch for use.

• Prevent the possibility of ‘double booking’.

• Generate fee statements that can be used for invoicing purposes.

• Show when a customer has paid and whether there is outstanding debt.

SL0314 - Group Exercise Class - Staff provision and  Rates of pay – 120325

A member authority is reviewing their exercise class programme

Their current exercise class programme is predominantly instructed from Self employed staff.

Please could you respond to following questions please?

• Are staff used for class delivery employed by council or self employed?
• What are the rates of pay for employed staff?
• What is the rate of pay for Self employed group exercise class?
• Any suggestions on optimising staffing in exercise classes?

• What rate (hourly) do you pay your Swimming Instructors?
• Do you pay different rates depending on the level of qualification?

SL0313 - Pool structural assessment - 070325

A member authority is looking to undertake refurbishment of their Council operated Pool.

This will require preliminary investigation on the Pool tanks (Main Pool and Teaching Pool).

They are seeking an estimate for engaging a Structural Engineer to assess their condition along with the circulation pipework.

• If you have undertaken work of this nature, please can you supply:
• Scope and supply costs
• Recommended contractors?

SL0312 - Temporary Flood-lighting - 030325

A member authority is looking at the use of temporary flood-lighting

Please can you assist with the following questions:

1. Have you experience of using temporary floodlights for the following sports – football, hockey, touch rugby, beach volleyball, tennis?
2. Do the temporary installations reach sport England guidelines on Lux levels for each sport?
3. Are these installations mains or battery powered?
4. Have you had any challenges or difficulties with these installations?
5. How are the temporary lights installed i.e free standing or clipped to fence?

SL0311 - Member Champions in Leisure – 240225

A member authority is looking at appointing elected member champions for various leisure and sports activities

They currently have walking and cycling member champions and each has an associated group

Please can you assist with the following:

• Does your authority have member champions for leisure / sport activities?
• If so which activities does this cover?
• Do you operate groups for those active in that activity?
• If so how are the groups organised?
• Any aspects that have worked well (or difficulties faced)

SL0310 - Family Membership Offers in Leisure – 030225

A member authority is considering the introduction of a new membership type, ‘Family Membership Package’, to their Leisure Facility Offer

They are hoping to gain some insight and intelligence from other leisure providers on what their experience, practice or insight in this membership type package is?

Please could you provide answers to the following:

• What is your Family membership offer?
• If this is something that has (recently) been introduced has it effected (positively or negatively) other membership types that you offer?
• What price point do you offer this membership Package at?
• Do you have or is there a high demand in your area for this offer?
• What have you found beneficial and/or challenging with a family membership?
• Any additional considerations in terms of limited access, or T & C’s that we should consider?
• Do you offer an Off Peak Membership and if so what are the hours of access?

SL0309 - Third party agreements to run pitches and sports facilities – 060125

A member authority is keen to learn about legal agreements other councils have with third party organisations who manage pitches and sports facilities on their behalf.

Please can you answer the following questions:

• What types of agreements you have in place with third party oganisations?
• An understanding and overview of these agreements?
• Any outcomes and outputs you have agreed as part of these agreements?
• Any selection criteria used for awarding these agreements?
• Any financial arrangements awarded, and the methodology applied in awarding these agreements?