The Economy and Culture Scrutiny Committee met on Tuesday 16 June 2026 to review the performance of the GLL Better Leisure contract and discuss the draft report on improving the daytime user experience in Cardiff city centre. The committee also discussed work programming for the upcoming year and reviewed correspondence.

GLL Better Leisure Contract Monitoring

The committee received an update on the GLL Better Leisure contract, which covers the operation of eight leisure centres in partnership with Cardiff Council. The presentation highlighted an increase in health and fitness memberships (5.6%) and school swim memberships (7.2%) over the past year, alongside improved customer retention and increased yield per membership. Attendance figures also rose by 6.8%. However, GLL acknowledged that finances remain a challenge, with a transformation process underway to move the partnership towards a break-even position and achieve future growth targets.

Key initiatives discussed included:

• Membership Growth: Health and fitness memberships increased by 5.6%, with a total of 11,651 members. A significant portion (65%) of memberships receive discounts, with GP referrals (33%) and corporate memberships (19%) being the largest categories.
• Health and Community Programmes: These programmes have seen an increase of 411 members, including the introduction of new menopause strength classes and planned pre and post-natal classes.
• Swim School: The swim school has seen growth, particularly in preschool swimming (Swimbies), with a 96% increase in attendance. School swimming numbers have also increased.
• Customer Satisfaction: An annual user survey indicated growth in customer satisfaction, with particular praise for staff customer experience.
• Investment in Facilities: £150,000 was invested in new gym equipment, and improvements have been made to the Better app and website.
• Partnership Working: GLL highlighted collaborations with organisations such as the NHS, Trans Aid Cymru, Sports Wales, and Welsh Government.
• Welsh Language Provision: Work is ongoing with the Earth organisation to expand Welsh language swimming lessons and bilingual services.
• Upcoming Developments: Eastern Leisure Centre will introduce a soft play area in October, and Pentwyn Leisure Centre is undergoing a significant refurbishment, including an expansion of its gym facilities, due to open for the summer holidays.

During the question and answer session, councillors raised points regarding:

• Comparative Performance: Councillor Peter Huw Jenkins asked for a comparison of Cardiff's attendance figures with the UK average for GLL facilities, noting that Cardiff's membership growth was 4% above the UK average. GLL stated they were likely not maximising opportunities previously and had focused on targeted marketing and staff training.
• Pricing Structures: Councillor Rodney Berman inquired about Cardiff's pricing compared to other cities and the factors influencing it, such as local authority subsidies. GLL explained that pricing is influenced by contract agreements and is reviewed annually with the council.
• Pentwyn Leisure Centre Reopening: The committee received an update that Pentwyn Leisure Centre is on track to reopen for the summer holidays.
• Provision for Older People: Councillor Margaret Lewis questioned the uptake among older age groups and asked about specific classes and provision in more deprived areas of Cardiff. GLL stated they offer more for this age group than the rest of the UK and are looking to improve programmes in the Southern Arc.
• Channelview Leisure Centre: It was clarified that Channelview Leisure Centre has never been part of the GLL contract, remaining a council-managed facility.
• Welsh Language Lessons: Councillor Jamie Green sought further details on the relationship with the Earth organisation and future plans for Welsh language lessons. GLL confirmed they are looking to expand provision and bilingualise services.
• Tour de France Legacy: Councillor Catriona Brown-Reckless inquired about GLL's bid for the UK-wide legacy fund related to the Tour de France visiting Wales. GLL confirmed they are working with Cycle Wales and plan to apply for grants, rolling out a programme of balance bikes and events.
• Maindy Velodrome Maintenance: Concerns were raised about maintenance backlogs at Maindy Velodrome and the lease document availability. GLL confirmed a maintenance programme is in place and that further information on the lease would be provided.
• Discounted Memberships: Councillor Lexi Pocknell asked for a breakdown of discounted memberships by centre to assess benefit in deprived areas. GLL agreed to provide this information separately.
• GP Referrals: Councillor Pocknell also questioned GLL's capacity to meet increasing demand from NHS partners for GP referrals. GLL confirmed there is scope to expand this partnership.
• App Usability: Councillor Anny Anderson raised concerns about the user-friendliness of the GLL app, noting recent negative online comments. GLL acknowledged it is a work in progress with a national working group focused on improving the digital journey.
• Carer Memberships: Councillor Anny Anderson inquired about increasing membership for carers. GLL confirmed a discounted membership for carers exists and that support persons accompanying carers go free.
• Data Collection: Questions were raised about the reliability of ethnicity data, with a 48% response rate noted. GLL confirmed this response rate applies to other demographic data as well.

Improving Cardiff City Centre Daytime Users' Experiences Inquiry Draft Report

The committee discussed the draft report from the 'Improving Cardiff City Centre Daytime Users' Experiences' Inquiry. The report, which has been developed over several months with input from various stakeholders, residents, businesses, and city centre staff, identifies key findings and makes recommendations for improvement.

Key Findings highlighted:

• Cleanliness and Litter: Identified as a top concern, with ongoing efforts to improve street cleansing and bin capacity, but with a need to address trade waste issues and strengthen enforcement.
• Anti-Social Behaviour and Safety: Despite reported crime levels being lower than other core cities, perceptions of anti-social behaviour remain high. The report commends the work of City Centre Wardens and calls for better communication of successes and improved reporting confidence. It also notes the potential of new powers under the Crime and Policing Act 2026.
• Aggressive Begging and Amplified Busking: The report notes that these issues are significant concerns. It highlights approaches taken elsewhere, including multi-agency collaboration, tailored outreach, and the use of enforcement powers, often combined with support services. The use of Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) was discussed as a potential tool, but with a caution that they should be a last resort.
• Resource Constraints: Members noted that resource limitations were frequently mentioned in relation to safety issues, impacting staffing levels for wardens, CCTV, and the community safety programme.
• Enhancing the City Centre Experience: This includes improving the street scene, optimising connectivity, providing better visitor information, reviewing amenities, and strengthening the tourism offer. Specific areas for improvement include pavement maintenance, street furniture decluttering, pedestrian crossings, public transport accessibility, and clearer wayfinding signage.
• Accessibility and Inclusivity: This was a cross-cutting theme, with recommendations for improving quiet spaces, inclusive street design, and accessible information provision for all users.

Recommendations:

The report makes a series of recommendations, categorised into Strategic Direction, Focus and Accountability, and Service Delivery. These include establishing a multi-disciplinary officer group to develop a City Centre Strategy, improving trade waste collection arrangements, strengthening enforcement staffing, exploring the introduction of PSPOs for specific issues, and improving pavement repair and maintenance. The report also recommends that other scrutiny committees consider specific aspects of the inquiry's findings in their future work programming.

Councillor Rodney Berman raised points regarding the extent and quality of the retail offer and the interface between different uses in the city centre, such as events conflicting with shopping. The report acknowledged these points, noting that the changing nature of the city centre from retail to a mix of retail, cultural, and social experiences is being addressed.

The committee discussed the draft report and its recommendations for submission to Cabinet.

Work Programming

The committee received a report outlining the process for developing the work programme for the upcoming municipal year. Key changes highlighted include a shift towards more thematic approaches and embedding diversity within scrutiny review work, following recommendations from a Peer Performance Assessment. The report detailed the stages of work programming, including identifying potential items, prioritising them using the PICK criteria (Public importance, Impact, Council performance, Kept in context), and balancing the programme to inform policy development and address public concerns. The committee noted the schedule of future meetings and agreed to a work programming forum to be held on 26 June 2026.

Correspondence

An update on correspondence was provided, detailing letters sent and responses received from Cabinet Members and officers. The committee noted that responses were still awaited on several items, including the Regeneration Strategy and the Investment Zone Update. The committee agreed to reflect on the update and discuss any necessary follow-up actions.

The meeting concluded with a brief comfort break before moving into a closed session to discuss confidential information related to the GLL Better Leisure contract.