Agenda item

The Service Lead Countryside and Leisure presented the service’s 2022-23 service plan, outlining the key strategic themes and challenges and highlighting some specific service activities that are planned to meet those challenges.  He highlighted:

·        The statutory work that the service covers;

·       The significant budgetary pressures on the service’s discretionary areas which included green spaces, culture and creative arts.  He summarised the considerable benefits that these areas had brought over the past 20 months in helping local communities and residents recover from the impacts of the pandemic, and shared that recent government report showed that the health and welfare benefits of green spaces were valued at £30 billion a year;

·       The work being undertaken to ensure better homes and communities for all including the Leisure and Built Facilities Strategy, Culture Strategy, the Arts and Culture East Devon grass-roots network and the culture recovery work;

·       The key work in ensuring a greener East Devon;

·       The actions on tackling climate change;

·       Continued work in developing the volunteering programme, linking into the social prescribing programme that benefits many individuals.

The Portfolio Holder for Coast, Country and Environment thanked the Countryside team for their very good work in continuing to protect the natural environment in East Devon throughout a challenging period.  He added that he would like to see a focus on delivering the Tree Strategy and he hopes the Council can find land to purchase to extend its woodland.

The Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Sport, Leisure and Culture expressed thanks to the Countryside team for delivering aspects of the cultural, leisure and tourism portfolio.  He stressed the importance of the Leisure Strategy which was necessary to access funding from Sports England, and the Culture Strategy, which is a catalyst for economic activity and provides conditions of well being for many people, and facilitates access to Arts Council funding.  He commented that there were also some serious long-term issues which the Council would need to fund, including refurbishments.

Discussion included:

·        It was expressed that in looking to the future, the Council should follow the lead of cities in using arts and culture to full advantage as a revenue stream to boost the economy and tourism;

·        It was noted that tree grants are available, in the event that the Council is able to purchase additional areas where it can plant trees;

·        In response to a question about how the team plans to achieve a 10% reduction in the service’s carbon footprint this year, it was noted that electrification of vehicles is key, along with online delivery of events and activities, and the creation of more wetlands and tree planting;

·        Thanks were expressed to officers for being proactive in focusing on mental health and well being, and it was noted that a Mental Health Challenge Coordinator was now in post;

·        Comment was made that setting up the LED Monitoring Forum and the Arts and Culture Forum had been crucial for democratic oversight, especially given that Leisure East Devon (LED) was the biggest area of spend for leisure.

Recommended to Cabinet by the Overview and Scrutiny Committees that the Service Plan 2022-23 for Countryside and Leisure be adopted.