DEADLINE JUNE 18TH 2007
v.6
Leisure and Culture ~ to 2021
What you have told us:
BV119a – Satisfaction with sports and leisure facilities
1.1.1
Walsall Council sports/leisure facilities and events include ~ Bloxwich and Oak Park
leisure centres, Darlaston Baths and Walsall Illuminations.
1.1.2
The level of satisfaction with sports and leisure facilities, at 56%, has increased since
2003/04 (46%). Satisfaction levels, over the same period, for single and upper tier
authorities have also improved. At 56%, the level of satisfaction with Walsall Council for
sports and leisure facilities is in line with that for all Metropolitan Districts (55%).
1.1.3
While the majority (77%) of respondents providing a response feel that sports and leisure
facilities have stayed the same over the last three years, they are divided in terms of
whether any improvements in the service were experienced, with the same proportion
indicating that the service has improved (11%) and deteriorated (11%).
There are some differences by area in the level of satisfaction with sports and leisure
facilities. Highest satisfaction levels amongst respondents living in Brownhills & Aldridge
North and Pelsall & Rushall Shelfield, and lowest levels amongst respondents living in
Palfrey & Pleck.
BV119au – User satisfaction with sports and leisure facilities
1.1.4
Amongst users providing a response, just over two thirds (68%) are either very or fairly
satisfied, and 14% express a level of dissatisfaction.
BV119b – Satisfaction with libraries
1.1.5
Services and facilities provided by Walsall Council include Walsall Central Library, local
neighbourhood and mobile libraries.
1.1.6
Nearly three quarters (71%) of all respondents providing a valid response indicated that
they are satisfied with libraries. This represents a 3 percentage point increase on the
results returned in 2003/04 survey. Satisfaction levels, over the same period, for single
and upper tier authorities have also improved. At 71%, the level of satisfaction with
Walsall council for libraries is in line with results returned for all Metropolitan Districts
(72%).
1.1.7
Certainly, while the majority (70%) of respondents providing a response feel that libraries
have stayed the same over the last three years, significantly more do feel that they have
improved (22%) than feel they have deteriorated (8%).
Frequency of use of libraries
1.1.8
Approaching six in ten (57%) of all respondents report that they have used libraries in the
last twelve months, including a third (33%) who report at least monthly use.
BV119bu – User satisfaction with libraries
1.1.9
Amongst users1 providing a response, close to nine in ten (87%) are either very or fairly
satisfied with the libraries, and only 4% express a level of dissatisfaction.
For the purpose of BVPIs ‘user is defined as respondents who have used the service within the last 12 months or more
frequently.
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BV119c – Satisfaction with museums and galleries
1.1.10
The borough of Walsall has a number of museums and galleries; Walsall New Art Gellery,
the Leather Museum, Walsall Museum and the local history and archives.
1.1.11
As with sports and leisure facilities, the level of satisfaction (54%) with museums and
galleries has increased significantly since 2003/04 where 44% were satisfied. This
increase needs to be viewed in the context of a general decline in public satisfaction with
all single and upper tier authorities over the same period. At 54%, the level of satisfaction
with Walsall Council for museums and galleries is above that for Metropolitan Districts
generally (50%).
1.1.12
Certainly, while the majority (84%) of respondents providing a response feel that
museums and galleries have stayed the same over the last three years, more do feel that
they have improved (10%) than feel they have deteriorated (6%).
Frequency of use of museums and galleries
1.1.13
Just over two fifths (41%) of all respondents report that they have visited a museum or
gallery in Walsall borough in the last twelve months, with most having visited within the
last six months (26%).
BV119cu – User satisfaction with museums and galleries
1.1.14
Amongst users2 of museums and galleries providing a response, three quarters (74%) are
satisfied to a degree, including over a fifth (22%) who are very satisfied. Only 7% express
a level of dissatisfaction.
BV119d – Satisfaction with theatres and concert halls
1.1.15
The borough of Walsall has three venues of this type; Walsall Town Hall, Bloxwich Local
Library Theatre and the Forest Arts Centre.
1.1.16
In contrast to the other aspects already discussed, the level of satisfaction (27%) with
theatres and concert halls has decreased since 2003/04 where 36% of respondents were
satisfied. This decrease needs to be viewed in the context of a general decline in public
satisfaction with all single and upper tier authorities over the same period. However, it
should be noted that the decrease in satisfaction observed for Walsall Council is larger
than in other single and upper tier authorities (-9% compared with -3%). At 27%, the level
of satisfaction with Walsall Council for theatres and concert halls is 20 percentage points
below that for Metropolitan Districts generally (47%).
1.1.17
While the majority (79%) of respondents providing a response feel that museums and
galleries have stayed the same over the last three years, more do feel that they have
deteriorated (16%) than feel they have improved (5%).
BV119e – Satisfaction with parks and open spaces
1.1.18
Satisfaction (65%) with parks and open spaces has increased since 2003/04 where 61%
of respondents were satisfied. Satisfaction levels, over the same period, for single and
upper tier authorities have also improved. At 65%, the level of satisfaction with Walsall
Council for parks and open space is below that for all Metropolitan Districts (69%).
1.1.19
While the majority (65%) of respondents providing a response feel that parks and open
spaces have stayed the same over the last three years, the proportion feeling they have
improved (19%) is fairly closely matched by the proportion who feel they have deteriorated
(15%).
For the purpose of BVPIs ‘user’ is defined as respondents who have used the service within the last 12 months or more
frequently.
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Frequency of use of parks and open spaces
1.1.20
Nearly four in five (79%) of all respondents report that they have visited a park or open
space in the last twelve months, including a third (34%) who report at least weekly use.
BV119eu – User satisfaction with parks and open spaces
1.1.21
Amongst users3 providing a response, approaching three quarters (71%) are satisfied to a
degree with parks and open spaces, including one sixth (16%) who are very satisfied.
However, while representing a minority, 16% do express a level of dissatisfaction.
We aim to:
“Facilitate a wide range of leisure and cultural opportunities which inspire people to
choose a more active, stimulating, enjoyable and happy life in Walsall.”
In the short to medium-term, Leisure, Culture & Lifelong Learning has two major
aspirational projects. They are:
To review Borough-wide Leisure Centre provision and to use sport, leisure, recreation and
culture as a regeneration tool, much as the same way that Sheffield, Liverpool and
Glasgow have done, with the intention of fundamentally changing the activity levels of our
residents and to enhance their quality of life.
The vision is currently at an early development stage and comprises two distinct phases:
Phase I to relocate the Gala Baths, along with the Central Library, Museum, and Local
History Centre to create a major new cultural facility on the Waterfront development in
conjunction with Advantage West Midlands. Such a scheme would become the lynch pin
or hub providing a range of facilities such as: Swimming pool
 Fitness Suite
 Skate Park
 Youth facilities
 Library
 Museum
 Local History Centre
 Reception
 Café
 Indoor sports facilities
 Table tennis
 Climbing wall
 Internet facility
 Meeting rooms
 Games rooms
 Staff accommodation
 Arts activities
 Graffiti wall
Phase II would look at the other major Leisure Centres: Oak Park, Willenhall, Darlaston
and Bloxwich, from which the other Borough-wide schemes would develop over a phased
programme of development.
Not only is it intended that this approach will act as a key regeneration tool for various
areas of the Borough, but that it will positively contribute towards improving active
participation health inequalities and lifelong learning and impact on the overall quality of
life of all residents.
To modernise the library service to provide access to 21st Century buildings and library
facilities with new levels of ICT provision and offering more direct help to readers and
For the purpose of BVPIs ‘user’ is defined as respondents who have use the service within the last 12 months or more
frequently.
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those seeking information in libraries. We will link this with providing a Borough wide
network of customer information and one stop service points for all Council services.
This programme commenced in 2006/7 and has a further three years to run.
Our Other Key Priorities:
Wherever possible we will work with partners to deliver both our and their cultural and
other targets and objectives through:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
Encouraging healthy lifestyles overall
The use of music, dance, drama and digital media
Sports and outdoor activities
Good quality leisure centres and facilities
Encouraging healthy eating, particularly through school meals
Events, festivals, shows and theatre
Delivery of the Green Space strategy to improve our parks and open spaces
Improved library buildings, lending and information services
An appreciation of local and world history and heritage through our museums and
archives.
j) Access to inspiring and challenging arts through The New Art Gallery, the Forest
arts centre and arts work in local communities
k) Learning opportunities in community settings
l) Positive promotion and marketing of the above and other opportunities
In essence, our aims are to:




Stimulate and challenge people
Encourage the achievement of personal goals, skills and ambitions
Improve personal health through changing lifestyles
Enhance the quality of life for people living and working in Walsall
Why they are important:
What we can offer can improve our Customers (residents and visitors to the Borough)
quality of life through improved physical and mental stimulation to feed the mind and free
the imagination; encourage participation and volunteering and ensure that everyone has
the opportunity to improve their health, develop their skills and to raise their personal
ambition.
What we will do to deliver them:

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

Provide a broad range of quality services that meet customers’ needs and encourage
them to try something new.
A library service that has been modernised to meet 21st Century needs.
Create a strategic plan for the Borough-wide future development of leisure centres and
facilities to provide the best possible opportunities at a price people can afford.
Offer a broad range of linked cultural activities which are unique to and designed for
the people of Walsall.
Ensure that there is a consistently high quality of provision of adult learning
opportunities being delivered close to where people live.
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
Co-ordinate our health and learning activities so that they are able to attract funding
and support from external commissioning bodies.
Supporting / Linked Plans and Strategies:

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

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Green Spaces Strategy
Library Modernisation Plan
Black County Sports Partnership
tPCT plans
Children and Young Peoples Plan
New Deal Sports Strategy
New Deal Arts Strategy
Whilst not claiming to be a solution to all problems, it is clearly recognised that Leisure,
Culture & Lifelong Learning projects contribute significantly to the following: Quality of life
 Active participation
 Education
 Lifelong Learning
 Mental health
 Physical health
 Obesity
 Diabetes
 Blood pressure
 Teenage pregnancies
 Anti social behaviour
 Osteoporosis
 Falls, trips, back pain
 Stress & depression
 Incapacity benefit
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