Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure presenting a Sport and Physical Activity Strategy for the City of Gloucester.

RESOLVED that the Sport and Physical Activity Strategy 2023-2028 is adopted.

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure that presented a Sport and Physical Activity Strategy for the City of Gloucester.

The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure outlined the background to the report and noted the rigorous process undertaken by Active Gloucestershire to produce it (3.2).  He advised Members that he believed the proposed strategy formed an excellent first step towards the vision of a healthier stronger and more active Gloucester for the years to come.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy noted that working with the third sector was to be prioritised (Appendix 1 Priority 4).  She informed Members that she had observed in her own ward the great value third sector organisations, such as Quedgeley Wanderers Football Club, brought to the wider community which could not be underestimated.  The Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources asked if the strategy would be sent to all interested parties should it be adopted.  The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure confirmed that the final strategy would be available to everyone in a more accessible form than the current draft (Appendix 1).  The Managing Director reminded Members that a primary purpose of the strategy would be to inform the procurement of future leisure management services (7.3).

The Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods drew Members’ attention to the importance given to achieving positive health outcomes (Appendix 1 Priority 1).  He advised that he would like to see a focus on communities particularly affected by health inequalities such as the South Asian population.

RESOLVED that the Sport and Physical Activity Strategy 2023-2028 is adopted.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure presenting the City Council’s Sport and Activity Strategy 2023-2028.

134.1  The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, Councillor Andrew Lewis, introduced the report. He explained that the development of a Sport and Physical Activity Strategy was one of a number of actions raising from the options appraisal conducted by the Sport, Leisure and Culture Consultancy (SLC) back in 2022. Councillor Lewis further advised that Active Gloucestershire had been commissioned to help devise the strategy, which identified 4 priorities including achieving health and wellbeing outcomes, reducing inactivity, and increasing participation, delivering a positive customer experience, and working with local clubs, groups and the third sector.

134.2  Councillor Lewis informed Members that the Strategy included a set of 18 Key Performance Indicators to help monitor progress. He noted that the document was in draft form and that any suggestions for improvement from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee would be welcome.

134.3  In response to a request for clarification from the Chair as to what was meant by ‘physical literacy’, the Head of Culture explained that the KPIs set out in the draft strategy were based on Sport England guidance and that ‘physical literacy’ was a term used by Sport England to measure competency, enjoyment and confidence amongst young people undertaking physical activity.

134.4  The Chair referred to proposals for a Blackbridge Community Sports facility and noted that the proposal was for the facility to be run by a charitable trust rather than the City Council. He asked whether the Cabinet Member had received any updates on the position of GL1 Leisure facility. Councillor Lewis noted that he did not have any particular comments on GL1 but expressed the view that the Blackbridge proposals were good and that it was his hope that the facility would fit in well with the local community.

134.5  Councillor Hilton referred to the narrative at 3.2.3 in the report stating that a series of interviews had been undertaken with 12 Gloucester organisations during the development of the strategy. He noted that it would be useful for the list of these organisations to be shared with Overview and Scrutiny Committee Members. The Head of Culture explained that some of these organisations included the Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB) and local sports clubs. It was agreed that the full list of organisations would be shared with Overview and Scrutiny Committee Members in due course.

134.6  Councillor Hilton raised concerns that the strategy did not refer to elite athletes and how the City Council proposed to support talented young people who were progressing in their sport. He also noted that he felt more consideration needed to be given to swimming provision for young people. Councillor Lewis noted that elite athletes tended to be supported through their sporting bodies and associations, expressing the view that those organisations were best placed to provide specialist support. Councillor Lewis confirmed that the document was an aspirational and overarching strategy for the general public and welcomed suggestions from Members.

134.7  Councillor Hilton commented that in his view the strategy should deliver for both the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 134