Solent: Blake Morgan wins bid to support Test Valley leisure services project
Test Valley Borough Council has appointed Blake Morgan to supply legal services as the authority embarks on an 18-month hunt for a partner to operate and improve its leisure facilities.
The law firm will provide legal services to support the procurement process, beginning by reviewing and improving the scope, structure and terms of the authority’s leisure management contract so that it ensures maximum cost efficiency and quality of service from its chosen provider.
Blake Morgan’s bid for the legal services contract in a competitive tendering process was led by Penny Rinta-Suksi, a partner in the firm’s commercial team.
She said: “This is a very important project and we look forward to working in close partnership with Test Valley Borough Council to ensure this process results in leisure services which meet the needs and expectations of the communities they serve.
“It is our understanding that the strength and depth of expertise across Blake Morgan’s team were a deciding factor in the success of this tender, along with our understanding of the complexities of leisure contracts and of local authority procurement in general.”
Rinta-Suksi has significant expertise in 'design build operate and maintain' (DBOM) contracts, a cost-efficient model which sees a single provider take a project through from initial concepts to the ongoing operation of the new facility. She worked on the first such projects in the leisure and care market, and originally drafted and tested the Local Partnerships DBOM contracts that preceded the Sport England DBOM contract.
The winning leisure services operator will be responsible for large-scale improvements to Andover Leisure Centre, which may take the form of a new building to replace the existing centre, a part refurbishment or a combination of the two. Investment at Romsey is also anticipated.
Test Valley Borough Council’s key leisure facilities include Andover Leisure Centre, Romsey Rapids and Leisure Centre, Knightwood Leisure Centre, Charlton Lakeside Pavilion and Romsey Sports Centre. They are currently operated by Valley Leisure Limited, whose contract expires in 2017.
