Cabinet received Minute OSC22/26 arising from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) held on 17 October 2022 that had considered the draft Rother Health, Well-Being and Leisure Facilities Strategy and had made the following recommendations to Cabinet:

1)    that the Strategy be renamed ‘Rother Health and Well-Being: Leisure Facilities Strategy’ (to avoid confusion with the work of the OSC’s Health and Well-being Task and Finish Group);

2)    that Key Principle 2 of the Strategy be reworded to ‘The Council’s role is one of deliverer as well as enabler and sign-poster to opportunities to be physically active’;

3)    that Key Principle 6 of the Strategy be reworded to ‘All new provision should be designed to achieve carbon neutrality and be as energy efficient as possible’; and

4)    that subject to the above, the draft Health, Well-Being and Leisure Facilities Strategy be approved for public consultation commencing in November 2022.

The Council had commissioned a leisure strategist to complete market research on residents’ use and requirements from leisure facilities across the district and on health and well-being in general to inform a draft Health, Well-Being and Leisure Facilities Strategy that was realistic and achievable, and supported an active and healthy lifestyle.  Members were led through the Strategy by Rachel Fowler, Managing Director, Strategic Leisure Limited who completed the independent market research and drafted the Strategy report. 

During the debate it was noted that:

·         it was hoped that the consultation would be sent to all educational providers as well as primary care health providers who would benefit financially from a fitter, healthier population;

·         the Council’s outdoor spaces needed to be recognised and utilised more fully as spaces for outdoor activities, particularly for economically disadvantaged residents;

·         there were many good examples across the district where communities were coming together and being active – these needed to be promoted more widely;

·         the prospect of subsidies for economically disadvantaged residents was raised and this could be considered once the Strategy had been subject to consultation;

·         the residents, particularly elderly residents needed to be encouraged and supported to be more physically active;

·         the Council needed to be more ambitious and visionary and create a destination;

·         all possible options needed to be considered with the Council’s primary role as enabler and facilitator and possible deliverer; and

·         it was important to manage expectations; the Council would not be able to provide and fund all that the community may want without working in partnership with community / commercial stakeholders.

Members agreed with the recommendations made by the OSC, save for that in relation to Key Principle 2) which was amended as follows:

‘The Council’s role is primarily one of enabler and sign-poster and possible deliverer, for opportunities to be physically active’.

It was also agreed to add the word “flexible” into Key Principle 6 to reflect that leisure facilities needed to be flexible spaces to accommodate changes in user demand / exercise trends.

RESOLVED: That:

1)    the Strategy be renamed the ‘Rother Health and Well-Being: Leisure Facilities Strategy’;

2)    Key Principle 2 of the Strategy be reworded to ‘The Council’s role is primarily one of enabler and sign-poster and possible deliverer, for opportunities to be physically active’;

3)    Key Principle 6 of the Strategy be reworded to ‘All new provision should be designed to achieve carbon neutrality and be as energy efficient and flexible as possible’; and

4)    the draft Rother Health and Well-Being: Leisure Facilities Strategy be approved for public consultation commencing in November 2022.