Sport and Wellness- Dual Assurance Meeting
Thursday 29th January 2009 – Meeting Room, Sports Park
Present
Russell Seal (Chairman of University Council) RS
Prof. Neil Armstrong (Deputy Vice-Chancellor) NA
Phil Attwell (Director of Sport) PJA
Jeremy Lindley (Director of Corporate Services)
Simon Tyson (President of Athletic Union 2008-9) ST
Dr Harriet Tillson (Sports Performance Administrator)
The minutes from the previous meeting on 30th September 2008 were approved.
1
Matters arising from previous minutes (30th September 2008)
Car parking: PJA reported that Car park B had been connected to Main
Sports Car Park. A long term plan for the sports car park does not however
figure on a Master plan. The new Biosciences green-house is probably going
to be situated where a possible sports car park might have been located.
AU Strategic Aims
The importance of AU liaising with International Office and DARO was
underlined particularly to keep “sport” high on the list of priorities for
Alumni donors.
Sports Scholarships 2008-9.
NA presented a report on sporting successes over the 2007-8
season to VCEG and Council, which was very well received.
2
Matters arriving from previous minutes (11 Dec)
Rowing. PJA putting together a report on Rowing, costs of boat-house, cost
of a Rowing coach and of renewing equipment etc.
Rifle Range:There was some discussion about the dilemma of the Rifle Club,
The Shoting Range etc. JL said that he had also been in discussion with the
Rifle Club that it was unlikely that a new site for the shooting range would be
found on campus. There is concern about the concept of live arms on campus
Governance : The on-going question of who should manage the Athletic
Union (Guild/Univeristy) is still under discussion. One important area of
concern is who would be responsible if the AU was in debt . PJA said that
the legal implications of the Governance issue including particularly of
Personnel issues, contracts etc were being investigated by Clare Turner, Head
of Legal Services. PJA said that the issue was on course to being resolved
this year. One possible alternative is that the AU would be overseen by a
Board of Governors including people such as the Director of Sport. ST pointed
Out that it should remain a student-led organisation.
3
Report from the Director of Sport
Cricket : PJA reported that there were new negative developments on the Sir
Christopher Ondaatje Cricket Centre in that the Site Construction Supervisor
had been laid off. There is already a 7 week delay and completion date is
behind schedule. PJA pointed out that grant money for the project has to be
drawn by 31st March and that everything was being done to look into this
such as the possibility of buying equipment such as nets and matting ahead of
completion date. Planned Opening Event at the beginning of June.
Facilities: PJA reported that he was looking closely at
Health and Fitness provision. Demand was currently out-stripping ability
meet students’needs so PJA is looking into extending current gym facilities.
RS observed that this was a serious state of affairs. PJA said that the knock-on
effect of increasing gym space would lead to re-allocation of office space.
Developing further the quality and breadth of the service offered by Strength
and Conditioning Coaches will also be on the agenda.
Growing students numbers meant increased pressure on infra-structure which
includes sports provision. Membership, class take-up and gym usage have all
increased. JL acknowledged that Sport was crucial to the “student experience”.
Is the rental of facilities to external users detracting from availability for
students? If all users were students or staff there would not be a need for
sports car parking
There will be capacity for investment in sport in the medium term but at
present small capital projects are being undertaken to ensure things are
kept moving.
PJA reported that Health and Fitness/gym facilities were in fact 4x more
popular than swimming but that it was likely that a £3-4 million refurbishment
of Cornwall House pool would go ahead. It was then likely that St Lukes
Pool would cease.
NS suggested that PJA put together a paper on the various options for future
developments in sport provision for the University.
UECC: There are some problems with sport being developed in Cornwall.
Paul Robinson needs to be encouraged to produce a report on delivery of
Comprehensive sporting programme in Cornwall.
Business Activity: “Customer First” is improving service for users.
PJA said that he would be looking closely at the bodies which were renting
office space and looking at short-term revenue set against long-term strategic
partnerships.
Health and Safety: NA suggested that for the next Management meeting
issues surrounding Health and Safety should be discussed
4
Report from the AU President
ST presented two papers; “Athletic Union Successes to date 2008-9 update
and “Proposed Distribution of Athletic Union 2009-10 Budget increase”.
ST reported that there was a growing need for money to be spent on coaching
certain sports which have been pin-pointed: Badminton (M & W), Lacrosse
(M & W), Basketball and Squash. Men’s Football and Netball also needed
further help. There is a proposal to fund a post which would deal with both
Student Wellness and Student volunteering. ST pointed out that student
Volunteering through Sport was growing very quickly and encouragingly.
NS flagged up the next meeting of RELAY 2012 on 26th Feb, of which he is the Chair
and on 26th March there is a Sports Festival in Bristol.
Date of next Meeting: Full Dual Assurance (Sport and Wellness) meeting on
Wednesay 13th May 2009, 1-3 pm in the Meting Room, Sports Park.