Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of Leisure and Health regarding the Sports and Leisure Facility Strategy 2016-21.

Endorses the Huntingdonshire Sports and Leisure Facility Strategy 2016 – 2021, as appended to the submitted report, which contains the following nine recommendations:

  i.  Encourage investment in projects where the most significant impact can be made on participation levels to address both health and social wellbeing;

  ii.  Commit to the retention of all strategically important sports facilities as highlighted in section 5.2 of the Strategy, in particular given the current shortfall of indoor sports hall provision;

  iii.  Support projects identified as priority projects to refurbish/upgrade existing sites as identified in section 5.3 of the Strategy;

  iv.  Support projects identified as sites planning new facilities to increase the sport and leisure stock as identified in section 5.4 of the Strategy;

  v.  Ensure that significant identified gaps in provision are addressed as opportunities permit as identified in section 5.5 of the Strategy;

  vi.  Work with partners and stakeholders including other operators to develop and deliver new facilities in areas of identified strategic need as identified in section 5.6 of the Strategy and in correlation with the new major housing sites;

  vii.  Seek to maximise all funding opportunities including Section 106, Community Infrastructure Levy, external grants or sponsorship contributions;

  viii.  Seek to ensure all sports facilities are fit for purpose, of good quality and with excellent access with Huntingdonshire District Council’s own stock being the exemplar for others to follow (including sports pitches and built facilities); and

  ix.  Work with other sports and leisure providers to seek improvements in sports provision and encourage participation in sport and active leisure.

By way of a report from the Head of Leisure and Health (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet considered the revised Huntingdonshire Sports and Leisure Facility Strategy 2016 – 2021 which contained nine recommendations. 

The Scope of the Strategy included all known sport and leisure facility provision within the district under the following categories: Indoor Sports Facilities; Outdoor Sports Facilities; Watersports Facilities; and Specialist Facilities such as gymnastics, table tennis, trampolining etc.

At 8.48pm Councillor S Cawley returned to the meeting.

In response to a question it was explained to the Cabinet that the audit of existing provision was not a simple task and that the Strategy was based on Sports England recommendations.  In terms of the Sport England’s definition of ‘useful’ water space Huntingdonshire did not reflect well as there were a number of pools in the district that were operated by commercial organisations, where community access was limited by educational use.  There were three swimming pools in the district that were not acknowledged within the Strategy as they were not to the Sports England standard in terms of length.

Having considered the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Communities and Customers) the Cabinet,

RESOLVED

to endorse the Huntingdonshire Sports and Leisure Facility Strategy 2016 – 2021, as appended to the submitted report, which contains the following nine recommendations:

  i.  Encourage investment in projects where the most significant impact can be made on participation levels to address both health and social wellbeing;

  ii.  Commit to the retention of all strategically important sports facilities as highlighted in section 5.2 of the Strategy, in particular given the current shortfall of indoor sports hall provision;

  iii.  Support projects identified as priority projects to refurbish/upgrade existing sites as identified in section 5.3 of the Strategy;

  iv.  Support projects identified as sites planning new facilities to increase the sport and leisure stock as identified in section 5.4 of the Strategy;

  v.  Ensure that significant identified gaps in provision are addressed as opportunities permit as identified in section 5.5 of the Strategy;

  vi.  Work with partners and stakeholders including other operators to develop and deliver new facilities in areas of identified strategic need as identified in section 5.6 of the Strategy and in correlation with the new major housing sites;

  vii.  Seek to maximise all funding opportunities including Section 106, Community Infrastructure Levy, external grants or sponsorship contributions;

  viii.  Seek to ensure all sports facilities are fit for purpose, of good quality and with excellent access with Huntingdonshire District Council’s own stock being the exemplar for others to follow (including sports pitches and built facilities); and

  ix.  Work with other sports and leisure providers to seek improvements in sports provision and encourage participation in sport and active leisure.

To receive a report from the Head of Leisure and Health on the Sports Facilities Strategy for Huntingdonshire 2016 to 2021.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Leisure and Health (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Sports Facilities Strategy For Huntingdonshire 2016-2021 was presented to the Panel. Members were advised that the Council are responsible for the auditing of sports facilities even though not all sports facilities are provided by the Council. The Panel was reminded that the scoping report was presented at the Panel’s February meeting and some minor changes have been made.

Members thought the strategy was worthwhile however a question was raised regarding Public Rights of Way. The Panel was advised that the strategy covers built sports facilities however the Open Spaces Strategy would cover Public Rights of Way.