Agenda item

Report of the Cabinet Member Sport and Culture

The Cabinet Member Sport and Culture introduced the report as circulated with the agenda.  The report, not dissimilar to the Built Environment report, though the review of Leisure and Culture was somewhat more advanced, was succinct despite a great deal of background work. 

He summarised what the review encompassed and explained that the Playhouse Theatre, Everyman Theatre and Gardens Gallery did not fall within the scope of the review. 

Cheltenham Borough Council faced significant financial constraints which forced the need to fundamentally review and assess priorities.  Leisure and culture was important to Cheltenham and the council committed considerable resources to the service, but leisure services were non-statutory and therefore a priority for review.  Members were clear that protecting front line services was a priority and in order to safeguard the leisure services they had to be efficient. 

To date the review had focussed upon the current service provision and had concluded that there was scope to deliver services more efficiently.  An immediate benefit of this process was that a number of recommendations within the report equated to a saving of £160k next year and ultimately this sum would be significantly greater in the long term.  Having concentrated on considering the current delivery arrangements, it was now time to engage more widely with local partners and key stakeholders and equally important to take account of other strategic plans. 

The Art Gallery and Museum would take a higher priority than it ordinarily would have over other areas of the service (Town Hall, etc) in order to take advantage of the opportunity that its closure offered. This would allow implementation of any changes upon its reopening in 2013. 

The report had been endorsed by members of the cross party Cabinet Member working group and been considered by the Social and Community overview and scrutiny committee with no resulting input to the report. 

The Cabinet Member Corporate Services referred to recommendations 12 and 13.  He was satisfied that members were engaged and taking a fresh look at service delivery, the process was working and some innovations were already paying dividends. 

RESOLVED that:

1. Support the proposal that the review team engages with local partners and stakeholders, including the voluntary and community sector, Local Strategic Partnership and Health and Well-Being Partnership to; (a) bring them up to date with the review, (b) outline the priorities for further work and (c) consult on the currently proposed outcomes for leisure and culture reporting back to Cabinet on the above by October 2011.

2.  Acknowledge that in the development of a joint strategic cultural plan for Cheltenham there should be alignment between the outcomes commissioned through this review and the conclusions of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Festivals Working Group.

3.   Approve the commencement of an option appraisal of the alternative delivery arrangements for the Art Gallery and Museum (AG&M), as compared to the status quo, and by April 2012, a business case be presented recommending the most appropriate option that:

• Delivers the outcomes and measures of success required by the Heritage Lottery Fund;
• Meets the requirements of the HLF special conditions;
• Creates an opportunity to secure wider economic and creative growth as well as the regeneration potential that a cultural quarter presents for the town; and
• Reduces the ongoing AG&M operational subsidy (based on an appropriate business case).

4. Endorse the approach that as part of the above AG&M appraisal process the review team engages with all relevant partners and stakeholders to ensure that options and outcomes are fully identified, assessed and consulted upon.

5.  Approve, subject to agreement through the budget and Bridging the Gap processes, proposals to generate additional Town Hall revenue of £10K (2012-13).

6. Approve proposals for the review team to commence testing the outcomes for the Town Hall and Pittville Pump Room with other commercially operated public facilities, recognising the need to balance commercial aspects with its community role and report back to Cabinet by April 2012.

7.  Depending on the outcome of (6) above, investigate the potential to develop a strategy for capital investment in the venues and in particular the commercial feasibility of improving conference facilities at the Town Hall.

8.  Approve, subject to agreement through the budget and Bridging the Gap processes, savings arising from Leisure@ of £140K (2012-13) and a further £64K (2013-14).

9.  Endorse the approach that by December 2011, service providers will have explored how, within a difficult financial framework, Leisure@ and Sport, Play and Healthy Lifestyles can deliver outcomes and provide more mutual support for each other.

10. Endorse the approach that the review team commences discussions with the Local Strategic Partnership and the NHS with a view to being best placed to act as a provider of choice for health commissioners locally for physiotherapy and activity based patient treatment pathways

11. Endorse the proposal that an assessment of other alternative delivery arrangements for Leisure@ and Sport, Play and Healthy Lifestyles is an ambition for the future with the AG&M work taking a priority.

12. Endorse the proposal that Leisure@ service providers continue to pursue additional savings/income opportunities so that operational subsidy will be reduced to a minimum over the medium term.

13. Endorse the proposal that the review team, together with the Cabinet Member Working Group, starts the process of building knowledge and understanding of alternative delivery arrangements for leisure outcomes through visits and discussions with other providers and commissioners, with the objective to defining next steps by May 2012.