MINUTES OF THE CULTURE AND LEISURE SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE MEETING – 9TH DECEMBER 2004
Present:
Councillor Mrs Haynes in the Chair
Councillors:
Bradley-Wilcox
Brown
Cresswell
Green
Mrs Greenhalgh
Hutchinson
In Attendance:
Mr P Walker, Director of Leisure, Cultural and Adult Learning Services
Mr J Blackledge, Mrs P Hansell and Mr M Scrivens, Community Directorate.
Miss E Loye, Mr S Sienkiewicz and Mr M Towers, Business Services Directorate.
Also present: Councillor Owen (Executive Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure).
Apologies for Absence:
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Mrs Fowler who was
engaged upon other Council business.
1.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest.
2.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 21st October 2004 were agreed
and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to the amendment of the date
in Resolution 2 of Item 3 from 14th April 2004 to 14th April 2005.
3.
DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE EXECUTIVE AND PORTFOLIO HOLDER
There had been no decisions taken by the Executive or the Portfolio Holder for Culture
and Leisure since the last meeting of the Committee.
Background papers: None
4.
FORWARD PLAN
The Committee considered the following items from the Forward Plan:
Following Consultation, the Adoption of the Heritage Strategy December 2004
33/2004 to be decided by the Executive
Adoption of Revised Collection Management Policy for the Grundy Art Gallery
December 2004 37/2004 to be decided by the Executive
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MINUTES OF THE CULTURE AND LEISURE SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE MEETING – 9TH DECEMBER 2004
Mrs Pat Hansell, Head of Lifelong Learning and Cultural Services, explained to the
Committee that the decision regarding the adoption of the Heritage Strategy would be
postponed until March 2005 due to an extended consultation exercise.
Resolved: That the items be noted
Background papers: None
5.
PALATINE LEISURE CENTRE PROGRESS AND UPDATE ON THE LIBRARY
LEARNING CENTRE
Mr J Blackledge, Acting Assistant Director of Leisure Services, updated the
Committee on the progress made to the Palatine Leisure Centre development. He
explained that the Leisure Centre would include a 25m, eight lane competitive
swimming pool, learner pool, health and fitness suite, and a sports hall.
The Committee was informed of a Palatine Campus Group, which was made up of
representatives from Palatine High School, Blackpool Primary Care Trust,
Connexions, Youth Services, the Community Development Unit, and the Council for
Voluntary Services. This group would consider the site strategically in terms of future
facility development and usage.
The development was in its final stage, and Leisure Services would only be agreeing
to a handover date once all identified works and rectifications had been satisfactorily
completed.
Mrs Pat Hansell, Head of Lifelong Learning and Cultural Services, updated the
Committee on the recently opened Library and Learning Centre at the Palatine site.
The facility was opened on 18th October 2004, and had been well used. Book issues
at the facility had been up 6% on the cumulative figures from South Shore, Marton,
Highfield and Haweside libraries.
Resolved: (1) That the Leader of the Council be asked if he would consider
appointing an Elected Member representative to sit on the Palatine Campus Group.
(2) To agree that the Committee will have its next meeting at the Palatine Library
and Learning Centre.
Background papers: None
6.
REVISED NATIONAL PUBLIC LIBRARY STANDARDS
Mrs Pat Hansell, Head of Lifelong Learning and Cultural Services, explained to the
Committee that in 2001 the Department for Culture, Media and Sport launched the
national Public Library Standards on behalf of the Government. They came into effect
in April 2001 and local authorities were set a three-year timeframe in which to achieve
the standards.
The original standards consisted of 26 measures that related to areas such as
improvements to stock, opening hours, ICT provision, user satisfaction, and visits.
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MINUTES OF THE CULTURE AND LEISURE SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE MEETING – 9TH DECEMBER 2004
These standards had been reviewed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport,
and the revised standards came into effect from 1st October 2004. The number of
standards had been reduced from 26 to 10, and would be known as the Public Library
Service Standards.
As part of the performance management system, the standards had proved useful in
providing a baseline for the service and in showing general service improvement
trends since 2001. The Library Service had used the national standards as an
advocacy tool, particularly to illustrate that there were shortcomings in the area of
funding for stock. The standards also highlighted areas of weakness where effort
needed to be made to improve performance.
The Committee was pleased to hear that the Library Service had recently received a
3-star rating by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for its 2004 Library
Position Statement. This measured how the library service was meeting the national
Public Library Standards and how the service was performing in general.
Resolved: That a progress update on the implementation of the revised standards be
submitted to the meeting of the Committee on 20th October 2005.
Background papers: Blackpool Libraries Position Statement 2004.
7.
OPEN SPACES AND HORTICULTURE SCRUTINY UPDATE
The Committee received the draft recommendations arising from the scrutiny review
of Open Spaces and Horticulture.
The following amendments to the recommendations were suggested by the
Committee:

Recommendation 6 to be amended to read, “The drainage system in dykes is
currently inadequate, and leads to problems at a number of sites, including
allotments.”

Recommendation 9 to include that a general review of all bridal path
maintenance be undertaken.
The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, thanked the members of the public who
had inputted into the Open Spaces and Horticulture scrutiny.
Resolved: To agree the draft recommendations as amended and note that the
Committee at its next meeting would consider the full report and amended
recommendations.
Background papers: None
8.
PARKS AND LEISURE FACILITIES SCRUTINY UPDATE
The Committee was informed that no significant progress had been made in relation
to the Parks and Leisure Action Plan of recommendations since the time of the last
Committee meeting.
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MINUTES OF THE CULTURE AND LEISURE SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE MEETING – 9TH DECEMBER 2004
Resolved: To receive a progress report on the Parks and Leisure Facilities Action
Plan at the Committee meeting on 10th February 2005.
Background papers: None
9.
GRAND THEATRE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT AND TOUR OF THE
THEATRE
(At this juncture the meeting was adjourned whilst Committee Members, Officers and
members of the public were accompanied on a tour of the theatre).
Following the tour, members of staff from the Grand Theatre gave a presentation to
the Committee, outlining how the theatre aimed to serve its community; future
developmental plans; and the beneficial economic impact the theatre had on
Blackpool.
It was evident that whilst much work had already been undertaken with local schools
and community groups, there could still be potential to further develop this in
conjunction with the Council.
Resolved: To note the report.
Background papers: None
Chairman
(The meeting ended at 6.50pm)
Any queries regarding these minutes, please contact:
Elaine Loye, Scrutiny Support Officer
Tel: (01253) 476105
E-mail: elaine.loye@blackpool.gov.uk
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