Agenda item

4:05 – 4:25pm

Councillor Flood, the lead member on the Leisure, Sport and Cultural Activities project group presented to the committee a progress report on the group’s work so far with further recommendations. The Executive Member for Leisure and the Sports and Leisure Manager also attended.

The Executive Member for Leisure noted that the project group and its work had been an excellent example of how Scrutiny can positively improve the implementation of projects and that it was an excellent example of best practice for Scrutiny work. The Executive member also praised the project group on the thoroughness of how it had consulted with all stakeholders involved in the building of the new Queen’s Park Sports Centre.

The Sports and Leisure Manager also noted how effectively and constructively Scrutiny members had worked on the Leisure, Sport and Cultural Activities project group in working with officers and other stakeholders, and that the group had provided a great example of Scrutiny by adding value to a project and its implementation.

The lead member of the project group, Councillor Flood advised that due to the length of time since an update was last provided to the Enterprise and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, and with many members due to retire it was a good time to present a progress report on the project group’s progress so far. The report summarised the work of the Leisure, Sport and Culture Activities Project Group to date, identified on-going issues for further consideration in 2015/16 and sought approval for the Enterprise and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee of the Group’s proposed continuing work in 2015/16.

Councillor Flood commended the excellent work of the Sports and Leisure Manager, Morgan Sindall, the Executive Member for Leisure, project group members and Committee and Scrutiny Coordinator, Brian Offiler on their excellent work in making the project group and their work a success. The Sports and Leisure Manager also noted that the project group assisted in keeping officers focused on the delivery of the project and that the project group had also facilitated effective communication between members and officers.

Members noted that by having Scrutiny involvement from the start of a project, rather than by looking at a project retrospectively had been a productive way of working and that it had enabled members to be involved and impacting in the implementation of projects, rather than just reviewing how a project had been implemented. 

Members thanked Councillor Flood for presenting the report and the Executive Member for Leisure and the Sports and Leisure Manager for attending.

RESOLVED –

1.   To approve the on-going work of the Project Group in respect of:

·        The continuing monitoring of the construction, transfer to and the operation of the new leisure centre facilities; and

·        the development of the Community Sport and Physical Activity Strategy as detailed in the proposed scope document attached at Appendix B of the report.

2.   That when monitoring the implementation of previous recommendations in respect of the Playing Pitches, the Parks and Open Spaces and the Sports Facilities strategies, the Enterprise and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee also considers the impact and effectiveness of integrated working across different service areas and teams in delivering the strategies.

3.   That a recommendation be made to the Overview and Performance Scrutiny Forum to:

·        consider undertaking an evaluation of the impact and effectiveness of integrated working across different service areas and teams more widely across the Council, focusing on the potential for integrated and added value outcomes; and

·        recommend to the Cabinet that this evaluation be undertaken working jointly with Cabinet.

4.   That the Overview and Performance Scrutiny Forum consider the potential for further use of this ongoing scrutiny approach, focusing on the potential for integrated and added value outcomes.