Agenda and minutes

None.

None.

Purpose

To seek approval for changes to the fees and charges levied for the use of Parks, Recreation and Seafront facilities for 2019-20.

Recommendations

That the Cabinet Member:

1)        Approves the fees and charges in accordance with the attached schedules (Appendix 1 - Schedule A).  

2)        Agrees for reduction of hire of event equipment and to retain a limited event hire stock to reflect usage and storage.

3)        Agrees, that except for the months of the high season, the hire of the weekly beach huts will be offered to visitors to the city.

Jo Dalling, Business Manager, Culture, Leisure and Sport introduced the report.  She said that fees and charges had been reviewed in line with the Audit Commission recommendations and would be raised by 2.4% on beach hut and poster site hire in 2019-20, in line with inflation.   It was proposed that, as bookings had not been maximised last year, the weekly beach hut hire would be ring fenced to residents of post codes PO1 to PO10 in the high season, but for the remainder of the year weekly hut hire would be offered to visitors.  This opportunity would be advertised on the Visit Portsmouth website.

Adrian Rozier, Service Manager, Parks and Open Spaces, spoke to the report and said that hire charges were competitive with neighbouring authorities, and that it was recommended to increase hire charges by the CPI inflation rate.  It was also proposed that refundable deposits for set of keys to pavilions be increased to £25 from 1 June 2019.  It was also proposed that changes to the assessment of pitch worthiness to play be made to reduce staff costs and teams would be responsible for cleaning their allocated changing rooms.  In response to a question, he said that the strategy of expecting teams to put out and return their own corner flags was one utilised b at least three neighbouring authorities.  The changes would be monitored and reviewed where appropriate.

In the ensuing discussion the following points were made that:

·      nationally golf had been impacted in the south of the country by a wet winter and hot dry summer.

·      That only two Beach Huts of a total of 110 would be affected by the change in hire policy.

DECISION: the Cabinet Member

a)    approved the fees and charges in accordance with the attached schedules of the report (Appendix 1 - Schedule A).         

b)   agreed for reduction of hire of event equipment and to retain a limited event hire stock to reflect usage and storage.

c)    agreed, that except for the months of the high season, the hire of the weekly beach huts will be offered to visitors to the city.

Purpose

To inform the Cabinet Member and Opposition Spokespersons of:

·           The forecast revenue expenditure for the year compared with the cash limited budget; and;

·           The forecast capital expenditure against the revised capital programme for the Culture portfolio.

Sue Page, Finance Manager, presented the report.  She highlighted that the forecast revenue out turn for the year indicated that there would be a net overspend of £58k against the approved budget.  This would be addressed by the portfolio reserves in the first instance.  On the capital side, there was an underspend of £17k.

In the ensuing discussion the following points were made:

·           That the libraries overspend had been resolved.

·           The overspend on the golf courses was weather dependant.

·           action would be taken to prevent overspending in the future and regular updates would help ensure a return to a cash neutral position. 

·           The museum overspend was as a result of the success of the D Day Museum. The Valuation Office had increased the NNDR liability as a result of the increased income generation potential for the site.

The Cabinet Member noted the information report.

Purpose

To report on the achievements and the legacy of the HLF funded 'Capturing the Spirit' project in Paulsgrove and Wymering.

Chris Richards, Community Projects Officer, introduced the report. The motivation behind the project had been to show the people of Paulsgrove that they had a legacy associated with the area.

The Cabinet Member noted the information report.

Purpose of report

This report provides a summary of the priorities, risks, key performance indicators and vision of Culture, Leisure and Regulatory Services in Portsmouth City Council.

Recommendations

That the Cabinet Member:

1)         Approves the key priorities and targets set in the business plan.

2)         Approves the new directorate name which is proposed as Culture, Leisure and Regulatory Services

Jo Dalling, Business Manager, Culture, Leisure and Sport introduced the report.  The format of the business plan had been designed to provide a succinct overview of the services provided by the Directorate, the risks and challenge of the service, what was planned to be delivered as well as the monitoring and performance of the plan

The Cabinet Member welcomed the document, and said it was a useful document which laid out the work of the service in a coherent fashion.

In the ensuing discussion, the following points were made:

·         That KPI's were being reconsidered across the Service in order to reduce the number and provide a  streamlined and effective service. 

·         That there had been a great deal of cross portfolio working with other services such as education.  Darcey Bussell was holding a Diverse Dance Mix event for at the Theatre in 2019 for which 26 schools had signed up.

·         The Cabinet Member said that there had been a robust discussion in Southampton with the Deputy Chief Executive of Southampton City Council and the Arts Council regarding Arts Council investment in both Southampton and Portsmouth as both cities were culturally similar. 

DECISION:

The Cabinet Member approved:

a)    the key priorities and targets set in the business plan; and;

b)   the new directorate name which was proposed as Culture, Leisure and Regulatory Services