Horsham District Council – Diagnostic support

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 leading up to the procurement of a new leisure management contract in 2027.

The review aimed to identify the Council’s current state of readiness, gaps in key data, insight and key activities required to support it 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.

SLC’s review was informed by a desk-based review of the Council’s and wider system partners’ key strategy documents. This helped to identify what existing insight was available to inform the future strategic direction of the service. It also helped to identify the role of the current leisure service in supporting the Council’s wider strategic priorities.

A focused consultation programme was delivered with internal and external stakeholders to better understand key priorities, gaps in data, challenges and opportunities of the existing service. 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 the completion of these workstreams a written report was developed, including a series of further recommended workstreams to support the provision of impactful and sustainable leisure and active wellbeing services now and in the future.

The Council is currently reviewing the findings and recommendations included within the diagnostic report.

TESTIMONIAL