The Officer Executive Decisions committee of Hackney Council met on Monday 1 June 2026 to approve the commencement of a tender process for a new tennis facilities management and community tennis development concession contract. This decision will allow the council to seek a new partner to manage and operate tennis facilities across the borough for an initial period of five years, with an option to extend.

Tennis Facilities Management and Community Tennis Development Concession Contract

The committee approved the commencement of an Open Procedure tender process to procure a new Tennis Facilities Management and Community Tennis Development Concession Contract. This contract will cover the management and operation of tennis courts at various sites, including Clissold Park (which has 8 standard and 2 mini courts), Hackney Downs (5 standard courts), London Fields (2 standard courts), Millfields (4 standard courts), Spring Hill Recreation Ground (3 standard courts), and Springfield Park (5 standard courts), as well as the Clissold Park Tennis Pavilion. The contract is intended to ensure continued high-quality service delivery, achieve best value through competition, and support the Council’s strategic objectives for health, wellbeing, and community engagement.

The tender process will be conducted in accordance with the Council's Contract Standing Orders and the Procurement Act 2023. The contract will have an initial period of five years, with an option to extend for a further two years, making a potential total of seven years. The subsequent contract award will be presented to the Corporate Procurement and Insourcing Committee (CPIC) for approval.

The report accompanying the decision highlighted that the current contract with Hackney Tennis has seen sustained growth in bookings and unique customer numbers, with overall user satisfaction remaining high. The new contract aims to build on this success. The model will continue to operate as a concession arrangement, where the appointed provider retains income generated from the service and pays a concession fee to the Council. This approach transfers financial risk to the operator and provides a stable income stream for the Council, estimated to be around £70,000 per annum based on current contract levels.

The procurement is aligned with Hackney Council's strategic framework, including the Community Strategy 2018–28 and the Hackney Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2022-2026, by encouraging active lifestyles, improving local amenities, and promoting community cohesion. The successful tenderer will be responsible for managing and operating the Clissold Park Tennis Pavilion, promoting and developing tennis provision across the listed sites, and delivering a Tennis Development Plan for the borough. They will also be expected to focus on delivering strategic outcomes such as increasing access to physical activity and supporting community wellbeing.

Several alternative options were considered and rejected, including maintaining the status quo with the current operator without competition, bringing the service in-house, tendering in separate lots, and closing the service entirely. Bringing the service in-house was rejected due to a perceived lack of in-house expertise, potential for higher staffing and training costs, and increased liability for the Council. Tendering in lots was deemed inefficient due to the operational interdependence of the services, and closure was rejected as it would result in the loss of a valued community service and reduce physical activity opportunities.

The procurement process is expected to commence with the publication of the tender notice in May 2026, with tender returns in June 2026 and contract award anticipated in August or September 2026, with the contract commencing in October 2026. The successful provider will be required to maintain appropriate insurance cover, including Employer's Liability, Public Liability, Product Liability, and Professional Indemnity insurance. The contract will also include Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) covering service delivery, participation, customer satisfaction, financial performance, and social value commitments.