Agenda item

The Partnership Programme Manager gave a brief overview of the report explaining about a national programme run by Sport England to provide funding to help tackle physical inactivity across Exeter and Cranbrook which brought together strategy organisations to form the Move More Cranbrook Group.

Representation of the Move More Cranbrook includes:

·       Live & Move (Place Partnership Team for Exeter & Cranbrook)

·       East Devon District Council

·       Cranbrook Town Council

·       LED Leisure

·       Cranbrook Education Campus

·       Livewest

·       Wellbeing Cranbrook

·       Public Health Devon

·       Active Devon

The latest Sport England bid to extend the funding to 2028 and become a Place Partner had been successful which secures £2.3m over the next three years with Cranbrook expecting to receive circa £200k up to March 2028 to help continue to tackle physical inactivity and improve active lifestyles in Cranbrook.

The Group were advised from 1 April 2025 there was a need to look for a new local delivery partner to continue the delivery of the Move More Cranbrook and it was suggested that in order to strengthen the governance East Devon District Council should take the lead to maintain the long-term sustainability of the steering group. 

The Group noted that although there was funding available there was a need for additional funding to help sustain two part-time Cranbrook posts.  These posts were previously hosted by Exeter Community Initiatives.

Public speaker, Sharon Thorne from Inspiring Connections South West CIC and Vicky Harris, Wellbeing Exeter & Cranbrook explained to the Group the reason for their attendance was to flag the urgency for the need to consider funding for the part-time funded Wellbeing Cranbrook post and the funded part-time Cranbrook Community Builder post that were ending at the end of March 2025 which were both essential for the wellbeing of Cranbrook residents.

The Director of Place highlighted that a workshop was needed to agree how these roles would be hosted and to understand the funding for this year and next year.

Questions raised by the Group included:

·       How much out of the £6m - £7m funding received from the original Local Delivery Pilot programme was directly spent on Cranbrook. The Partnership Programme Manager advised circa £300k was spent.

·       What qualifications did the Wellbeing Cranbrook host require? The advice received included key elements such as being local, have its own governance, connection with the charity commission or body and have experience in community development and health and wellbeing.

·       There was a need for a tendering exercise as local groups may be interested and should be explored.

·       It was noted that Broadclyst Parish Council had taken on a Community Connector

·       It was confirmed that the financial contribution that the future host was expected to fund was to be £200k with an expectation for local resources to support the Sport England funding.

The Chair proposed that Officers should arrange a meeting at the earliest opportunity with core members of the steering group.

RESOLVED:

Officers to set up a meeting at the earliest opportunity with core members of the steering group to:

Ø  set out the position of the funding shortfall for this financial year and for the next three years;

Ø  consider the options on how the roles should be hosted and,

Ø  accelerate any procurement requirements.