AGENDA ITEM
8
CABINET 5/4/2011 FOR INFORMATION
BOROUGH OF POOLE
ENVIRONMENT OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
24 MARCH 2011
REPORT OF THE HEAD OF LEISURE SERVICES
LEISURE SERVICES STRATEGY
PART OF THE PUBLISHED FORWARD PLAN - YES
STATUS – STRATEGIC
1
Purpose
1.1
The purpose of this report is for Members to have an opportunity to
comment on the draft Leisure Services Strategy, prior to public consultation.
2
Decision Required
2.1
Members are requested to:
2.2
Recommend to Cabinet that the Leisure Services Strategy is promoted and
distributed for public consultation.
3
Introducing the Leisure Services 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 draft 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 Leisure Services 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 together we are all working towards.
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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 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. The strategy
included as Appendix A is a draft for members comments and diagrams
and layout will be improved once it is approved for public consultation.
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:
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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
Timescale
11.1
The timescale for the production and adoption of the Leisure Strategy is:
 Mid May - June - public consultation
 July - amendments to strategy following consultation
 July - return to a special Environment Overview and Scrutiny
Committee
 13 September Cabinet – formal adoption
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.
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.
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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.
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
Staffing Implications
18.1
The delivery of the Leisure Services Strategy is achievable with the current
workforce and budget. Future budget savings may have an impact on
staffing levels and therefore achievability.
19
Planning Implications
19.1
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.
20
Conclusion
20.1
The Leisure Services Strategy will set the future direction, approach and
priorities for the Council’s leisure provision from 2011 – 2015.
CLIVE SMITH
HEAD OF LEISURE SERVICES
Contact Officers:
Name – Clive Smith, Head Of Leisure (01202) 261380
Clare Freeman, Greenspaces Manager (01202) 261377
Background Papers:
The Strategy links to a number of Council documents as outlined in the ‘Contributing
to Wider Priorities for Poole’ section of Appendix A.
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