Issue - meetings

Report of Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Culture, Tourism and Wellbeing, Councillor Max Wilkinson

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    our draft vision and outcomes for physical activity and sport document, as attached as Appendix 2, is agreed;

2.    the progress with appointing consultants to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the borough’s playing pitches and built sports facilities up to 2041 is noted.

The Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Culture, Tourism and Well-being introduced the report, thanking Richard Gibson and the many people from communities and stakeholder groups across Cheltenham who took part in important workshops to tell us what Cheltenham needs.  Stage 1 of the strategy sets the vision, with Stage 2, including technical assessment of sports pitch need, to follow after further widespread consultation.  He highlighted the following points:

physical activity is important for people’s physical and mental health, as well as being good for business by boosting productivity, and protecting the NHS be preventing short and long-term ill health;

more than 1 in 5 Cheltenham people are classed as inactive, below the national average of 1 in 4, but drilling down into the statistics shows that inactivity is lower in low income communities, lowering health outcomes for the people in greatest need.  The strategy must focus on access for everyone, including the disabled and minority groups who are more likely to suffer as result of inactivity;

Cheltenham is relatively well served by sports facilities, with private gyms, health clubs and private schools, as well as Leisure@ and the Prince of Wales Stadium.  The next stage of the strategy will look to augment these, following wider consultation;

tackling ingrained health problems and inactivity is a long-term challenge for the nation and for Cheltenham, to create healthier, happier and more productive communities, which can thrive in the future, and also protect the NHS.

Members welcomed the report and strategy and made the following comments:

 it is good to see the incredible range of ways to get active and involved in sport portrayed in the strategy, rather than stereotypical activities;

It would be a challenge to list the many benefits from being an active sportsperson, over and above simply keeping fit, including meeting friends and being part of a sports community;

Cheltenham already enjoys a great sporting culture from gymnastics and skittles to football and horseracing, and there is no doubt that team sports help children’s’ development, improving mental health and well-being by working together collaboratively;

this strategy is the start of a journey to discover what is possible.  We are very lucky to have Leisure@, which opened in 1972, but it is good to consider if this is the right facility for now and the future, and how we can add to it.  We need a policy to formulate where to go next.

RESOLVED THAT:

our draft vision and outcomes for physical activity and sport document, as attached as Appendix 2, is agreed;

the progress with appointing consultants to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the borough’s playing pitches and built sports facilities up to 2041 is noted.