Decisions

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Community Select Committee held on 4 November 2019 be approved as a correct record.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Alex Farquharson, Liz Harrington and Claire Parris.

There were no declarations of interest.

None.

Not required.

None.

The Committee considered the draft recommendations in relation to the Sports and Leisure scrutiny review.

The recommendations contained in the document were supported by the Committee, subject to the following amendments and additions:

·      Accessibility – Recommendation 1 to be sub-divided to link potential subsidised leisure activities to work carried out by the Stevenage Primary Care Network Social Prescribing Co-ordinators; and to consider the introduction of “cheap months” for certain activities to encourage those on limited means to take up leisure activities;

·      Accessibility - Recommendation 3 amended to read – “The parking provision for the Aqua Park need to be reviewed and improved, owing to high demand in the summer months”;

·      Accessibility – Recommendation 6 to be sub-divided to separate opportunities for apprenticeships and Saturday positions for young people;

·      Marketing Opportunities – Recommendation 1 to be amended to replace “plus one” with “two for one” in respect of special offers;

·      Marketing Opportunities – addition to Recommendation 3 to promote the range of activities at the Sailing Centre to maximise the use of the facility;

·      Marketing Opportunities – similar addition to Recommendation 4 to support maximising the use of the Golf Course facilities;

·      Marketing Opportunities – addition to Recommendation 6 to provide for the placing of directional signage to the cycle hub around Fairland Valley Park;

·      Marketing Opportunities – additional Recommendation – consideration be given to the establishment of a standardised corporate brand for Sport Stevenage/Active Stevenage/Healthy Stevenage;

·      Marketing Opportunities – additional Recommendation – a process be developed to ensure that Community Development Officers and Community Wardens be regularly briefed on the sporting/leisure activities on offer in their respective neighbourhood areas;

·      Marketing Opportunities – additional Recommendation – consideration be given, possibly through the Stevenage Sports Partnership or Sporting Futures, to encouraging local schools to display advertising material relating to sports and leisure activities;

·      Infrastructure Improvements – addition to Recommendation 1 to include the potential for selling FVP high ropes/refreshment events as birthday party packages;

·      Infrastructure Improvements – addition to Recommendation 5 – subject to funding, consideration be given to the possibility of adapting the tennis courts at King George V Playing Fields into use for other physical activities should their continued use for tennis prove unviable;

·      Infrastructure Improvements – additional Recommendation – clarity be given regarding the future viability of Ridlins Athletics Track and associated facilities, linked into the forthcoming locality reviews; and

·      Liaison between SBC and SLL – addition to Recommendation 2 – the possible introduction of healthy food options at the Fairland Valley Park café should include alternative dietary requirements (such as vegetarian and vegan options).

The Chair made a general comment that, following on from site visits, Members were impressed with the sporting/leisure facilities on offer, the way they were being run, the commitment of staff associated with them, and the continuing focus on improvement.

Information provided by Members of the Committee in respect of disabled access to leisure and community facilities and comparable costs of certain leisure activities offered in other New Towns, namely Harlow, Basildon and Milton Keynes, it was agreed that:

·      officers investigate the potential for all community facilities/Council owned facilities in Stevenage to be linked to a central www.accessable.co.uk website, which allowed disabled users to ascertain whether or not a facility was able to cater for their needs; and

·      the Culture, Wellbeing & Leisure Services Manager be requested to add comparable data relating to SBC to the table of cost information supplied for the provision of certain leisure facilities in Harlow, Basildon and Milton Keynes, and circulate this information the Committee Members.

Louise Gallagher-Smith (Sporting Futures) was in attendance at the meeting. She gave a presentation focussing on the accessibility/affordability of sporting clubs in Stevenage; the take up of leisure opportunities; and good practice.

In reply to a Member question regarding Ridlins Athletics Track and associated buildings, Louise and the Culture, Wellbeing & Leisure Services Manager commented that, whilst cleaning and patching had taken place over the past 5 years, the facility was in need of a complete refurbishment, the cost of which was estimated in the region of £1Million, of which a new running track was the most pressing and would cost circa £250,000.  The facility was expensive to maintain, as income was minimal and annual expenditure was in the region of £200,000.

In relation to queries regarding opportunities for 15-19 year olds, officers agreed to provide Members with a list of current sporting/leisure initiatives in Stevenage directed towards this age group.  The Committee asked officers to ensure that the Community Development Officers were kept up to date with such sporting/leisure initiatives, via the Stevenage Youth Engagement Group, so that relevant information could be imparted to potential users.