Agenda item

*RESOLVED –

(1)             That it be recommended to Full Council that the proposed Sports Facilities Strategy for the protection, enhancement and future development of sports facilities provision in the Borough, be approved.

(2)             That the proposed Strategy Action Plan for the protection, enhancement and future development of sport facilities provision in the Borough, be approved.

(3)             That the Sports Facilities Strategy monitoring and review process be linked to the recently approved process in respect of the Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy; and that the already established member/officer steering group be authorised to make any necessary minor changes to either strategy to meet statutory and local Planning requirements.

(4)             That future reports be provided to Cabinet where any requirement for significant changes that impact on corporate priorities, affordability, and Planning need may be identified.

(5)             That Sport England methodology be adopted in relation to both implementation and monitoring of the Strategy.

The Sports and Leisure Manager submitted a report to recommend for adoption a new Sports Facilities Strategy to satisfy statutory Planning obligations and to support delivery of the Council’s core strategy and corporate priorities for Chesterfield.

In response to the Council’s consultations on the Core Strategy, the Sites and Boundaries Development Plan Document and the new Queen’s Park Sports Centre proposal, Sport England had identified that the Council did not have an up-to-date assessment of the need for open space, sports and recreation facilities, as required under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

As part of the development of the new sports centre at the Queen’s Park Annexe the Council had entered in to a legal agreement for Sport England grant funding, which required the adoption of a Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy and a Sports Facilities Strategy. The Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy was adopted by Full Council on 17 December 2014.

To help develop the Sports Facilities Strategy, a needs and evidence assessment was commissioned and completed in November 2014. This examined the supply of and demand for facilities across Chesterfield in terms of quantity, quality, access and availability. The report outlined how the assessment was undertaken, as well as the consultation that took place.

The new Strategy sets out the facility requirements for indoor swimming pools, sports halls, and artificial grass pitches (AGPs) in Chesterfield Borough, taking into account known sports participation profiles across the Borough.

The new Strategy also contained an action plan that sought to address the surpluses and deficiencies identified from the Assessment Report. It listed a range of priorities, which would require addressing as part of the Council’s asset management and investment programmes linked with the Council’s core planning strategy and delivery priorities.

The main funding delivery mechanisms available and the standards and quality criteria for new facilities to be used in delivering the strategy were also outlined in the report.

The implementation of the strategy was to be monitored and reviewed by the same steering group that had been set up to monitor and review the Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy.

The recommendations of the Enterprise and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, detailed at Minute No. 154 above, had been incorporated in the new Strategy.

*RESOLVED –

(1)             That it be recommended to Full Council that the proposed Sports Facilities Strategy for the protection, enhancement and future development of sports facilities provision in the Borough, be approved.

(2)             That the proposed Strategy Action Plan for the protection, enhancement and future development of sport facilities provision in the Borough, be approved.

(3)             That the Sports Facilities Strategy monitoring and review process be linked to the recently approved process in respect of the Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy; and that the already established member/officer steering group be authorised to make any necessary minor changes to either strategy to meet statutory and local Planning requirements.

(4)             That future reports be provided to Cabinet where any requirement for significant changes that impact on corporate priorities, affordability, and Planning need may be identified.

(5)             That Sport England methodology be adopted in relation to both implementation and monitoring of the Strategy.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS

To help improve the quality and affordability of provision of sports facilities in the Borough, and in particular the social, environmental and economic well-being of the area.

To comply with National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) guidance for the Council’s overall Core Strategy and Local Development Framework.

To ensure a robust strategic approach is in place establishing Planning needs and evidence data for informing and developing future projects and initiatives proposed in the borough including securing the Sport England Grant of £2m for the new Queen’s Park Sports Centre.

To ensure Planning matters are suitably compliant and officers effectively manage quality and affordability; and manage associated risk to the lowest possible level.