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Issue - meetings
Lifeguard Service
Meeting: 08/01/2018 - Cabinet (Item 59)
59 Lifeguard Service PDF 111 KB
(Cabinet Decision)
Minutes:
The Assistant Director for Regeneration and Culture presented a report, which recommended to cabinet that the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) be appointed to operate the Hastings’ beach lifeguard service for three years (the 2018, 2019 and 2020 seasons).The report sought cabinet authority to appoint the RNLI without going through the competitive tendering procedures.
The RNLI had piloted their lifeguard service in Hastings throughout the 2017 summer season. The pilot had shown that the RNLI can provide a more comprehensive service at a lower cost than the council could offer in-house. The Charity Committee had considered a similar report at their meeting in December, when they approved a three year contract for the RNLI to provide a beach lifeguard service on behalf of the Foreshore Trust.
Under rule 13.3, the recommendations of the report were agreed without being called for discussion.
RESOLVED that:
1. A three year contract with the RNLI to provide our beach lifeguard service covering the 2018, 2019 and 2020 seasons is entered into, and that the RNLI are appointed without going through the competitive tendering procedures.
2. Authority is delegated to the director of operational services or his nominee, in consultation with the lead member responsible for resort services and the chair of the charity committee, to conclude the necessary legal agreements.
Reasons for these Recommendations:
Because the RNLI, the ‘gold standard’ of lifesaving at sea, is able to provide a better service at a lower cost than we can provide in-house, whilst paying the lifeguards more than we were paying them when the service was operated in-house.
Meeting: 11/12/2017 - Charity Committee (Item 19)
19 Lifeguard Service PDF 111 KB
Minutes:
The Marketing and Major Projects Manager presented a report which updated the committee on the lifeguard activity in 2017, and outline plans for the future.
During the 2016 summer season the lifeguard service was operated in-house by Hastings Borough Council and the Foreshore Trust. Following a number of changes early 2017, the Council and Trust resolved to enter into a one season agreement with the RNLI and for the operation to be reviewed at the end of this year’s operation.
During 2017, lifeguards attended to 88 different incidents, of these 7 required serious medical intervention.
The ‘gold standard’ of lifeguarding provided by the RNLI includes; management, training, equipment and accommodation. The operation has been extended across St. Leonards and includes increased lifeguard provision, longer working hours and higher wages for the lifeguards. It is proposed to extend the contract with the RNLI for the next 4 years in respect of the high level of service provided. Members were informed of the positive feedback received from the public in relation to the service.
The committee thanked officers for their work and welcomed the high level of service provided by the RNLI.
Councillor Poole proposed approval of the recommendations to report, which was seconded by Councillor Batsford.
RESOLVED (unanimously) that:
1. A three year contract with the RNLI to provide our beach lifeguard service is entered into, subject to legal agreement.
2. That authority is delegated to the Director of Operational Services or his nominee, in consultation with the Chair of the Charity Committee, to conclude the necessary legal agreements.
The reason for this decision was:
Because the RNLI, the ‘gold standard’ of lifesavers at sea, is able to provide a better service at a lower cost than we can provide in-house, whilst paying the lifeguards more than we were paying them when the service was operated in-house.
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