In 2009, KKP was commissioned by Rossendale Borough Council to review its future requirement for the provision of sport and leisure facilities for the next generation of residents and to assess the most appropriate management model to deliver its range of leisure services which includes leisure facilities, dry ski slope, arts and sports development.

The brief required a thorough, objective appraisal of the options to support the Council's wider remit of creating a sustainable approach to its leisure provision over the coming years. It also tied into work to progress the project plan to develop a new swimming pool in Haslingden along with future management and development options for Marl Pits, Ski Rossendale and Bacup Leisure Hall.

The study highlighted the need for the Council to invest in two flagship sports facilities aligned to the rationalisation of others and the need to find commercial sector investment in and operation of Ski Rossendale.

In addition to the above, KKP assessed the current arrangements in terms of their impact, effectiveness, and efficiency and benchmarked the Council's investment in leisure with that of similar authorities.

Then we identified the range of alternative management options available; assessing the strengths, weaknesses and financial implications of each.

KKP provided the Council with a clear set of recommendations on the delivery mechanism for the Council aligned to facility development and refurbishment proposals. It was clear that the existing trust was delivering a successful service at its core facilities and should continue to do so in relation to the future core delivery.

Subsequent to the above work KKP also undertook extensive business plan modelling to identify the facility development costs and the likely ongoing revenue impact of the investment. The key outcome of this is that the Council will be investing over £5 million in its leisure facilities stock, with the repayment of any loan being achieved through a reduction in the grant to the Trust.

Mike Riley, Communities Manager at Rossendale Borough Council said,

"The approach that KKP adopted provided in-depth analysis of the options, leaving no stone unturned and the added benefit of a real and practical understanding of our sector and key challenges. The comprehensive nature of their methods has given us the reassurance that the decisions we make in shaping the Council's vision for Leisure will be based on solid research and evidence. Every member of Rossendale Council staff who has worked with the KKP team has found them very professional in their approach. They have kept us up to date with progress and delivered what they said; when they said - something that makes the delivery of deadlines within your own organisation so much easier to meet."

KKP's services have now been retained to work through the business case for the facility development proposals linked to Prudential borrowing options.

See recent announcement in the Leisure Press.