Issue - meetings

Report of the Leader

RESOLVED THAT:   

1.    the physical activity and sports action plan, attached as Appendix 2, is endorsed;

2. authority is delegated to the Director for Community and Economic Development, in consultation with the Leader, to make any final amendments to the action plan as it is presented in its final designed format;

3.    the action plan will be used to establish a sports and physical activity steering group that will oversee the progress of the action plan identifying where partners can work collaboratively to support delivery.

The Leader invited the new Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Culture, Wellbeing and Public Open Space to introduce the report, which had been approved by his predecessor.

To present the report, the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Culture, Wellbeing and Public Open Space read out the introduction of the report as published, which explained the background and recommendations.

He said the report received positive feedback at Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Monday night, with a lot of questions and comments.  The focus on football and the question of supporting more sports raised; the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Culture, Wellbeing and Public Open Space commented that this follows on from the recent Playing Pitch Strategy, and the benefits of drawing in outward investment from the Football Association and other levels, creating facilities that can be used for many sports and also taking football teams and matches off existing sites which were originally intended for other sports.  Also discussed was what communications can be put out to encourage people in Cheltenham to get active, in addition to the current Youth Activity Pass.

He said the report was a good starting point for the action plan to move forward, encourage investment and external funding, and improve and develop our own facilities. It is important to support both the people who play and love team sports, and those who enjoy other activities such as cycling, running and walking, and to do all we can to make provision and facilities better for the people of Cheltenham.    

Members all welcomed the excellent report and recommendations, thanking the Cabinet Member, his predecessor, and officers for their hard work, and made the following comments:

-       anything we can do to improve and encourage sport and sporting facilities is to be encouraged, as involvement in sport has so many benefits for both physical and mental health;

-       the focus on 3G pitches is welcome and a move in the right direction, although it is a sad indictment that there is currently only one artificial pitch available locally - the Cheltenham Tigers pitch, technically outside the borough.  It is widely used by many clubs from all over Cheltenham when their grass pitches are not available, and has even been used by visiting national teams as a camping base during world cups in Europe;

-       it would be good to highlight walking more in the next version of the strategy.  The council has opened footpaths around at least two parks in recent years – Naunton Park and Burrows Field – and these are welcomed by residents and well used by walkers, power walkers and joggers.  The council should continue to take walking seriously and to work with officers and the county council to improve the footpaths which criss-cross Cheltenham, including the reopening of Gustav Holst Way in Cheltenham parks, which has been closed for many years;

-       walking is an important physical activity, which can be enjoyed by and encouraged for people who are not otherwise involved in sports.  Our  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5