Agenda and minutes

Information on public speaking is available online

There were no members of the public registered to speak.

To agree the minutes of the previous meeting held on 27 January 2021.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on the 27 January 2021 were confirmed as a true record of the meeting.

Guidance is available online to Councillors and co-opted members on making declarations of interest

Cllr P Arnott: Minutes 28 - 33 ; Personal interest: Paid membership of LED Leisure.

Cllr A Dent: Minutes 28 - 33; Personal interest: Paid membership of LED Leisure.

There are no matters of urgency identified.

There were no matters of urgency.

To agree any items to be dealt with after the public (including the Press) have been excluded. Thereare two itemswhich officersrecommendshould be dealtwithin thisway.

There were two items agreed by the Forum to be held in private session, listed under minutes 32 and 33.

The Forum welcomed Liz Taylor from Leisure Strategy, who outlined their work with a number of authorities in evaluating their leisure provision.

In order to begin drafting a new Leisure Strategy, evidence based data was required to build a picture of the current provision, including the physical assets associated with delivering leisure provision, before moving to planning for what that provision would look like over the next five to ten years.

The Forum were being asked to consider agreement to the first step, the undertaking of the Strategic Outcomes Planning Guidance (SOPG) Diagnostic.  The diagnostic will:

·         Provide an overview of the District in terms of

o   Existing needs and demand

o   Existing participation levels and trends

o   What gaps in provision exist

o   Links with local strategies and policies, including for health and wellbeing

o   The Council’s priorities in relation to health and wellbeing

·         Describe the current provision, in terms of where and how

o   Inspection of all sites including dual use sites

o   Community outreach service

o   Throughput and social value

o   Costs

o   Strategic factors for each facility

·         Consult with stakeholders

·         Run the Sports Facility Calculator (SFC) to assess indicative future need.

This body of evidence can then be used to compare the current provision to the future need and opportunities, that leads onto the key elements of work that are needed to underpin the future strategic approach to provision and delivery.

In response to questions from the Forum, the following points were made:

·         Analysis against local competition/facilities would be made;

·         Timescale for the diagnostic stage was usually around the three month mark; that may be impacted by the ability to visit sites currently and evaluating demand following the pandemic;

·         The “Active Lives” survey would be considered, which would detail on how people seek out activity, such as those who exercised without the benefit of group activities or gym membership;

·         Consideration of offer from other sources would be made to help consider if there was any duplication of leisure offer, or identify gaps that could be met;

·         This work would be linked to the review of the Playing Pitch Strategy;

·         Any recommendations forward from the diagnostic steps would look to balance both ambition in delivery with what was possible economically and sustainably;

·         Consideration would also be given to what offer can be of benefit to the tourism offer of the District;

·         Comparison would be made to the facilities in neighbouring districts; particularly those close the District border or easy transport links to access;

·         A clear understanding of what the District could afford was key;

·         In consulting with stakeholders, care would be taken to clarify how to manage expectation;

·         Wellbeing hubs would also be taken into account;

·         Whilst individual detail on smaller community groups would not be sought out for the disgnostic, a strategic view on the local offer would be taken into account;

·         Any assistance that Ward Members could give to signpost what community and business leisure services were available in their area, would be appreciated to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

That under section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements)(Meetings and Access to Information)(England) Regulations 2012, the public (including the press) were excluded from the meeting as exempt and private information was likely to be disclosed and on balance the public interest is in discussing the items in private session.

Verbal update.

The Forum received an update on the ongoing support, with further modelling to be undertaken in light of the Government’s announcement on steps out of lockdown.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Verbal update.

The Forum received an update on operational matters and the implications of opening capacity in line with the Government’s recently announced steps out of lockdown.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.