AGENDA ITEM
7
BOROUGH OF POOLE
ENVIRONMENT OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
14 July 2011
REPORT OF THE HEAD OF LEISURE SERVICES
LEISURE STRATEGY
PART OF THE PUBLISHED FORWARD PLAN - YES
STATUS – STRATEGIC
1
Purpose
1.1
The purpose of this Report is to advise on the recent consultation response
and to seek the Committee’s recommendation to Cabinet for the adoption of
the Leisure Strategy.
2
Decision Required
2.1
Members are requested to:
2.2
(i) Consider the public consultation response and any amendments to the
Strategy as a result
(ii) Recommend to Cabinet that the amended Leisure Strategy is adopted
3
Introducing the Leisure Strategy
3.1
The Borough of Poole plays an important role in meeting the needs,
expectations and aspirations of people and communities for affordable,
accessible and good quality leisure provision. This is achieved through
Council funded beaches, greenspace and recreation and complimented by
provision from other providers in Poole. This Strategy reflects the key things
we know from listening and engaging with residents and users, reviewing
audits and other plans, and from the experience of staff gained from dealing
with customers day to day.
4
Shaping the Strategy
4.1
In preparing this Strategy it was necessary to review the needs,
expectations and aspirations for leisure services. This meant taking on
board the views of service users, community groups, partner agencies and
council services. This revealed not only what the Council should prioritise
but also what people could do to help themselves. With this is mind Leisure
Services has approached this Strategy by making clear its own Priorities for
delivery whilst promoting a culture across Leisure Services of enabling and
partnering with existing and new providers to achieve the outcomes that
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together we are all working towards.
5
What Is The Purpose Of Leisure Services?
5.1
Leisure Services ensures delivery of the Council’s Core Duties and
Responsibilities for managing the provision of beaches, greenspace and
recreation in Poole. This includes the Council ensuring neighbourhoods
have access to affordable and well managed leisure facilities throughout the
Borough. Through this Provision, Leisure Services also contributes to the
Borough of Poole’s wider strategic issues which are:
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Safeguard the environment
Health and wellbeing
Independent and active later in life
A great place to grow up
Dynamic economy
Strong and safe communities
6
Why Is A Strategy Required?
6.1
Leisure Services aims to meet the needs, expectations and aspirations of
people, communities, neighbourhoods and partners throughout the
Borough. However, with limits to funding and capacity there is a need to
reflect upon the key issues and challenges in order to identify and agree the
key priorities to achieve by 2015. This Strategy presents to a wide audience
the nature of these priorities.
7
How Was The Strategy Prepared?
7.1
In developing this Strategy, a wide range of people were consulted and
engaged along with a review of relevant surveys, research and strategies.
In addition a stakeholder day was held involving the public, community
groups, Councillors and partner organisations. Further drop in sessions
were arranged for Leisure Service Staff and other Council Services to
discuss implications on each others work programmes.
7.2
The Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee considered an earlier
draft of this Strategy on 24th March 2011. This led to some changes to the
draft and its approval for public consultation.
7.3
The Draft Strategy has been available on the Council Website and is
included here as Appendix 1
7.4
Since the Draft was published some minor amendments have been noted
and these are listed in Appendix 2
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8
What Is The Scope Of The Strategy?
8.1
This Strategy focuses on Council funded beaches, greenspace and
recreation facilities and services comprising:
 Beaches and Coastal Protection including beaches, beach huts, coastal
protection and flooding
 Greenspace including parks and gardens, natural habitats, allotments,
woodland and urban trees, road verges and play areas
 Sports and Recreation including leisure centres, pavilions, sports
development and active lifestyles
This Strategy also has implications for other Councils Services, namely:
 Adult Social Care
 Asset Management and Property
 Children & Young People
 Environmental Consumer Protection
 Legal & Democratic
 Planning & Regeneration,
 Transportation
9
Who is the strategy for?
9.1
The Strategy is primarily aimed at
 Elected Councillors
 Council staff
 Partner organisations
 Local community groups
 Prospective funders.
10
What is not covered?
10.1
Because leisure is a broad theme we highlight here other leisure provision
that is not provided by Leisure Services and which is outside the scope of
this Strategy. For example:
 Schools grounds except joint provision with Leisure Services
 Libraries, arts and museums
 Leisure provided by Children’s Services
 Private and charitable sector provision on land not managed by Leisure
Services.
Leisure Services also manage provision of cemeteries and the crematorium
which fall outside of the scope of this Strategy,
11
Public Consultation
11.1
The Draft Leisure Strategy was available for public consultation following
the report to Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 24th March
2011. The Draft Strategy has been available to read, download and
comment on via boroughofpoole.com throughout June 2011 and it has also
been available at Poole Libraries.
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11.2
Leisure Services have also developed an extensive list of contacts and the
current consultation has been promoted to these people and organisations
also. This includes hundreds of contacts including residents associations,
friends groups, external agencies, internal colleagues, clubs and societies,
volunteer groups, event organisers, nature conservation groups, sports
clubs, charities, community groups. Some of these groups participated in
the stakeholder engagement day and all were also invited to comment on
the Final Draft in this consultation exercise.
11.3
The questions asked during the public consultation are included as
Appendix 3.
11.4
The results of this Public Consultation are summarised and analysed
in Appendix 4.
This also includes recommendations to amend the Strategy to reflect
the Consultation.
12
Financial Implications
12.1
The delivery of the priorities in the Strategy will be funded from existing
revenue budgets, developer contributions, external funding with some
specific priorities requiring Prudential borrowing.
12.2
The delivery of the Leisure Strategy is achievable with the current workforce
and budget. The Strategy is drafted with an awareness of the financial
difficulties faced by the Council and is directing work to engage more with
other providers and volunteers and to be more commercial in managing
services. However, future budget savings may have an impact on staffing
levels and therefore achievability of some aims and aspirations.
13
Legal Implications
13.1
Delivery of the Strategy will ensure that the Council meets its Legal Duty
with regard to nature conservation and listed building protection.
14
Policy Implications
14.1
The Strategy helps ensure that other Council Polices are adhered to, for
example Allotment Policy, Tree Policy and Events Management Policy.
15
Risk Management Implications
15.1
The Priorities set within the Strategy help manage the Council’s risk for
example inspection of infrastructure on greenspaces,
16
Equalities Implications
16.1
Leisure Services promotes the Council value of ‘Fairness for All’ and the
work in the Strategy will help continue to address inequalities across Poole.
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There is a particular focus on addressing health inequalities and priority
areas and topics of work set out to make a difference to those most in need.
17
Environmental Impact
17.1
Strategic planning of Leisure Services work ensures that the environmental
impact of work is minimised and that the work of coastal protection, flood
management and nature conservation safeguards the local environment.
18
Planning Implications
18.1
The Leisure Strategy has been influenced by Planning Documents such as
the Core Strategy 2009 and the draft Delivering Poole’s Infrastructure DPD,
Site Specific Allocations DPD and Dorset Heathlands DPD.
CLIVE SMITH
HEAD OF LEISURE SERVICES
Contact Officers:
Clive Smith, Head of Leisure Services (01202) 261380
Clare Freeman, Greenspaces Manager (leaving the Council’s employ)
Anthony Rogers Recreation Manager (01202) 261345
Background Papers:
Report to Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee 24 March 2011.
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