Horsham District Council – Diagnostic review

SLC were commissioned by Horsham District Council in November 2024 to complete a diagnostic review of the Council’s leisure services. The purpose of the review was to inform the Council’s longer-term strategic planning for the provision of its leisure services within the context of Local Government Reform and its upcoming procurement of a new leisure management contract in 2027.

The review had multiple objectives including identifying the Council’s current state of readiness and highlighting gaps in key data. It also aimed to provide insight and to recommend key actions to the Council to support them in:

• Developing a clear vision and strategic priorities for the Council’s leisure services with a stronger focus on wider active wellbeing
• Establishing a strategy for the Council’s leisure/active wellbeing facilities
• Strengthening links with relevant internal and strategic stakeholders
• Preparing for the procurement of a future leisure operating contract

SLC used Sport England’s Strategic Outcomes Planning Guidance (SOPG) as a framework to support the diagnostic review.

We started with a desk-based review of the Council’s and wider system partners’ strategic documents. This helped to identify what existing insight was available to inform the future strategic direction of the service. It also showed the extent to which the leisure service contributed to the Council’s wider strategic priorities.

A focused consultation programme was then delivered with internal and external stakeholders to better understand key priorities, gaps in data, current challenges and future opportunities. Senior leaders from the Council, Active Sussex, Places Leisure and health partners were engaged in this process.

SLC facilitated separate in-person workshops with the Council’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Cabinet Members to introduce the project and present the key findings of the review.

Following this, a written report was developed which included a series of further recommended workstreams. These recommendations were made to support the provision of impactful and sustainable leisure and active wellbeing services now and in the future. The Council is currently reviewing this report.

TESTIMONIAL