Contracting for Performance
Like all public services today, the leisure sector is now assessed and inspected regularly with the aim of maintaining service standards and encouraging continuous service improvements.
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Developing the Local Government Services Market: Working Paper on the Future for the Leisure Services Market (PDF) Department for Communities and Local Government and Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP, 2007 The Stationery Office This report suggests local government should take on a more strategic role and exploit the full capacity of the wider leisure market by focusing on capacity planning and directing resources towards the needs of target groups. UK
Developing the Local Government Services Market: New Ways of Working and New Models of Provision Within the Public Library Service - A Working Paper (PDF)
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC), 2007
Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG)
Public Sports and Recreation Services: Making Them Fit for the Future (PDF) Audit Commission, 2006 A study undertaken in association with Sport England examining how local authorities are managing their facilities and attempting to improve access and value for money including the use of local partnering arrangements and private contractors. UK
Contracting Out Parks and Reacreation Services: Correcting for Selection Bias Using a Heckman Selection Model (PDF) Jang, Hee Soun, 2006 International Journal of Public Administration, 29, pp.799-818 A study which compared the effect of contracting out on the costs for parks and recreation services using the public, private and non-profit sectors. US
Procurement in the Culture, Media and Sport Sector (PDF) National Audit (NAO), 2005 The Stationery Office Examines the effects of the Effciency Review as a driver for the culture, media and sport sector's work to strengthen procurement. Looks at collaborative procurement, ways to improve cost efficiency and vfm, and strengthening procurement capability. HC 596 UK
Fitness for Purpose: Quality Counts (PDF)
Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), 2005
Social inclusion and commercial leisure management contractors: A report for Business in Sport and Leisure Taylor, Peter, Ping Kung Shia, 2004 Management School, University of Scheffield and Leisure Industries Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University This report examines the social inclusion performance of sports centres managed by commercial leisure management contractors. UK
Sport and Physical Activity in 2nd Generation Local Public Service Agreements (PDF)
Sport England, 2004
Guidance notes for Local Authorities - to help them improve local services, and find innovative, lasting solutions to local priorities, by working with local partners.
The Financial Performance of Leisure Centres Managed by Commercial Contract Management Companies
Taylor, Peter, 2003
Leisure Management Contractors Association
A study on the financial performance of 109 centres managed by LMCA members based on benchmarks calculated using Sport England performance indicators and performance structure.
Funding Guidance: Sports Development Planning (PDF) Sport England, 2003 Guidance on putting together a sustainable plan for sports development by using resources efficiently and working in partnership with local organisations. UK
The Performance of Local Authority Sports Halls and Swimming Pools in England
P. D. Taylor and L. Robinson for Sport England, 2003
Managing Leisure, Vol. 8, No. 1 (Jan. 2003), pp. 1-16
This paper reports on the results of a project for Sport England which establishes performance indicators and national benchmarks for performance by local authority sports halls and swimming pools.
UK
Sport and Recreation: Learning from Audit, Inspection and Research (PDF)
Audit Commission, 2002
Performance Measurement for the Development of Sport: Good Practice Guide for Local Authorities (PDF)
Sport England, 2001
Guidance for local authorities. Provides a recommended evaluation framework for sport to measure and monitor performance.
Best Value through Sport - Case Studies (PDF)
Sport England, 1999
Delivering Best Value for Leisure Taylor, Peter, 1995 Leisure Management Contractors Association UK
Useful Links:
Leisure Management Contractors Association (Web Page) LMCA, 2005 UK
Central Council of Physical Recreation (Web Page) CCPR, 2007 UK
Business in Sport and Leisure (Web Page) BISL, 2005 UK