Agenda and minutes

To adopt and sign as a correct record the committee minutes of the meetings held on 23 January and 6 February 2018 (attached). 

The minutes of the meetings held on 23 January and 6 February 2018 were agreed as an accurate record and were signed by the Chairman.

To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests in respect of items on the agenda for this meeting. 

Councillor Ian White declared that he would be stepping down from the committee for Agenda Item 6: Leisure Strategy, because of his relationship with the Cabinet member.

To receive notification of any matters which the chairman determines should be considered as urgent business and the special circumstances which have made the matters urgent, and to receive any announcements from the chairman. 

None.

To receive any questions or statements from members of the public that have registered to speak. 

None.

To consider the report of the interim head of community services (attached).

The committee considered the report of the interim head of community services on the leisure strategy.

Councillor Lynn Lloyd, Cabinet member for community services, introduced this item. Also present to answer questions was Dylan Evans, active communities manager.

The committee was informed that, the leisure strategy set out the council’s action plans for the period up to 2033. The strategy documents identified the current leisure provision across South Oxfordshire and included action plans for projecting and improving these facilities along with identifying new provision required to meet the needs of the growing population.

Public consultation closed on 7 May and responses were being analysed prior to the strategy being submitted to Cabinet for approval.

Members expressed a number of concerns regarding the strategy including:

·         The documents contained inaccuracies and omissions;

·         Until the strategic sites in the Local Plan had been identified, it was not possible to quantify future demand for sports and leisure facilities;

·         Using travel time to facilities as a means of quantifying need did not reflect the time taken by those reliant on public transport; and

·         The lack of provision in areas such as Wallingford had not been addressed in the strategy.

In response, the Cabinet member and officer reported that:

·         Members should report any inaccuracies or omissions so that the information can be checked;

·         The leisure strategy would be updated once the Local Plan was finalised;

·         The council was required to use approved methodology to quantify leisure provision and this included taking into account facilities in neighbouring districts; and

·         The purpose of the strategy was to identify need. This would assist community groups, parish councils etc. to make the case for additional provision and officers would continue to assist them with this.

During further discussion, the committee agreed that:

·         ward councillors should encourage community groups and parish councils to seek grant funding for leisure facilities where deficiencies in provision had been reported; and

·         subject to progress being made on the Local Plan, progress reports on the leisure strategy, once approved, should be submitted to the committee at six-monthly intervals.

RESOLVED: to

1.  to note the leisure strategy; and

2.  to commend the continuing consultation with parish councils and community groups.

To review the attached scrutiny work schedule. Please note, although the dates are confirmed, the items under consideration are subject to being withdrawn, added to or rearranged without further notice.

The committee noted its work programme and agreed to hold a workshop in the autumn to identify potential topics for future consideration.