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WQ.208/2022
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE BY DEUTY R.S. KOVACS OF ST. SAVIOUR
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 10th OCTOBER 2022 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 17th OCTOBER 2022
Question
Given the proposed Government Plan 2023-2026 states that the budget allocated to the AquaSplash facility is £300,000 per year, will the Minister advise what agreement, if any, there is with SERCO for the operation of the AquaSplash, and, for any such agreement, advise –
- when the agreement commenced;
- how much SERCO has paid towards the operation of the facility, annually and in total, since it commenced;
- what the exact nature of the agreement is; and
- what services are provided to the public in return for the invested money?
Answer
- when the agreement commenced;
The leisure pool complex on the Waterfront has been operated by Serco (Aquasplash), under a 20-year agreement since 2003. The current contract will expire in July 2023, the cost of a new contract will require additional funding, this has been included in the proposed Government Plan 2023-2026.
- how much SERCO has paid towards the operation of the facility, annually and in total, since it commenced;
The Government does not hold information on how much Serco has paid towards the operation of the facility.
However, Serco are paid an annual management fee to run the pool. This management fee payable to Serco is performance based and set (at the start of the contract) to a maximum of £80,000 per annum index linked to (JCOL). The maximum Government of Jersey subsidy is inclusive of any management fee payable to the contractor and the amount of management fee is determined by the extent to which the contractor’s annual financial deficit is less than the Government of Jersey subsidy fixed for that year.
The accounts of organisations that received a grant of over £75,000 from the Government of Jersey are reported annually to the States Assembly. Copies of the grant accounts can be obtained in electronic or hard copy format from the States Assembly Information Centre.
- what the exact nature of the agreement is; and
In 2004 the Government took the decision to close Fort Regent swimming pool and to invest in the Waterfront leisure pool complex to ensure the provision of a 6 lane 25 metre pool to cater for swimming clubs and provide access to a public swimming pool for St Helier and the East of the Island. Serco (Aquasplash) are contracted by the Government of Jersey to operate the leisure pool to provide the services outlined below.
- what services are provided to the public in return for the invested money?
The Aquasplash provides:
• access to a public swimming pool for islanders
• a learn to swim facility
• access for swimming clubs to a 25 metre swimming pool for competitions, particularly when Les Quennevais is not available
• the only wet leisure complex on the Island (Flumes, wave pool etc)