Agenda item

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

On behalf of the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Culture, Tourism and Wellbeing, the Leader was happy to introduce his report on the long-awaited Physical Activity and Sports Strategy.  She began by saying that sedentary lifestyles pose a huge threat to us all, not only on a personal and physical basis but also through many knock-on effects. The strategy will help the borough decide how to assist people to leave more active and healthy lives.

She said the strategy’s phased approach started with a wide range of stakeholder groups defining their needs, then moved to a more technical assessment of facilities available, carried out by expert consultants.  This showed that Cheltenham is generally well-served but there are specific pinch points such as all-weather pitches.

Looking at the larger municipal facilities, the long-term renewal of Leisure@ and the Prince of Wales Stadium will be part of the action plan – this will bring challenges, but also opportunities for new facilities and partnerships, not least because the Prince of Wales Stadium is a regional facility, not the sole responsibility for CBC. 

The report demonstrates that cost is a barrier to many people’s involvement in physical activity and sport, and  also highlights the good work already done in partnership with others, such as the Feed Cheltenham Leisure Pass. 

She ended by saying that the five recommendations cover a lot of ground, and set in train several major workstreams.

The Cabinet Member for Cyber, Regeneration and Commercial income made the following comments:

-       Cheltenham Tigers Rugby Club is a wonderful and inclusive facility for everyone, but unfortunately, boys and girls have to form separate teams from the age of 11, resulting in many girls dropping out of the sport as there are not enough of them to make up teams;

-       The newly-formed wheelchair team is doing well and has joined a national league, but sadly struggles to find venues to train and play in Cheltenham, the only option being at Balcarras School, which is indoors and has the right  floor surface.  We need to do more than we currently do to ensure sport is inclusive for everyone;

-       The maps and charts in the report by Max Associates are very difficult to follow, particularly for anyone with a hidden disability.  They are not respecting their own barriers and need to be more inclusive in this respect.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency said the strategy dovetails with the work of the climate team, and its focus on aspects of Cheltenham that everyone loves and wants to pass on to future generations.  She said Leisure@ is expensive to run and high costs make entry unaffordable for many, but conversations are underway on how to retro-fit, make the site more sustainable, and keep costs down. 

The Cabinet Member for Housing thanked everyone who had worked hard in producing such an insightful report.  She noted with interest the references to developing relationships with schools to maximise every sporting space, but commented that halls with high ceilings are not needed for some activities such as yoga and Pilates – these activities could be located elsewhere, maximising the use of school sports facilities for activities which do require high ceilings.  She also commented that more investment in pitches in North and West Cheltenham is needed, but was looking forward to the next stage of the strategy, this report having provided some excellent material to move forward.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets made the observation that, due to the local authority funding crisis, many towns around the country don’t have any facilities or strategy, and regretted the disparity.  He was, however, grateful for everything going on in Cheltenham, and in particular the free pass for families who can’t afford to access the facilities.  This opens the door to a healthier lifestyle, particularly welcome as many health outcomes are related to poverty.  He thanked the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Culture, Tourism and Wellbeing and officers for the report. 

The Leader welcomed the report and looked forward to the next stage of the journey, using the evidence gathered. She also looked forward to the redevelopment of Leisure@, remembering when it first opened as a flagship venue in 1972, and the opportunity to work with a range of partners.

RESOLVED THAT: 

1.    the findings and recommendations from the Max Associates’ Built Leisure and Sports Facilities Report as set out in section 4 and attached as appendix 2 is noted

2.    the provisional findings and indicative recommendations from stage C of the Playing Pitch Assessment as set out in section 5 is noted

3.    the initial findings from the Physical Activity Survey as set out in section 7 is noted

4.    that a report will be brought back to Cabinet to agree and finalise the playing pitch strategy, along with the over-arching physical activity and sports strategy and accompanying action plan that will deliver the Council’s vision and outcomes for physical activity and sports as set out in section 3 is noted

5. consultants to undertake an options appraisal of the future provision of Leisure at Cheltenham and the Prince of Wales stadium to include indicative capital costs is commissioned.