Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

Councillor Udy declared a personal, non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 3, as a customer of BH Live.

Purpose

(1)  To provide the cabinet member with the results of the sports and leisure consultation that took place in November and December 2020 which shows strong support for a new community leisure centre to combine the existing facilities at Eastney Swimming Pool, and Wimbledon Park Sports Centre.

(2)  To provide the cabinet member with a draft options appraisal for the replacement of Eastney Swimming Pool including the development of a new community leisure centre.

RECOMMENDED

(1)  That officers undertake further focused consultation with facility users and sports clubs to determine the right facility mix for a new community leisure centre at Bransbury Park.

(2)  That officers continue to work up a full financial appraisal for this project.

(3)  That officers engage with Sport England to prepare a bid to their Strategic Facilities Fund to obtain up to a £2m grant to contribute to a new community leisure centre.

David Moorman, Strategic Development Manager introduced the report.

David started by explaining that this report followed on from the report that came to the last cycle of meetings and followed up on the instruction to report back by early 2021 with an options appraisal, having consulted the users of the Wimbledon Park Sports Centre, Eastney Swimming Pool and the wider community. 

Members were asked to refer to Appendix D which was presented to the Local Government Seminar on the future of sports and physical activity. The Appendix showed the operational performance over the past 5 years to 2020 and highlighted that only facilities that offer combined (wet and dry offers) were able to operate sustainably.

Following the consultation that was carried out in November and December which was conducted by an online survey, of the 1800 responses 63% were in favour of using the money that would have to be spent on Eastney Swimming Pool and Wimbledon Park Sports Centre for a new community centre at Bransbury Park instead.

In response to questions from the opposition members David Moorman confirmed that leaflets informing residents about the consultation were sent out to the whole city (all residential addresses) and that it was his understanding that they went through every door. He also said that he would get in touch with colleagues to see how this could be verified. The largest response from residents was from the PO4 area which immediately surrounds the proposed site. David said he was aware of the concerns from some residents and emphasised that  time would be taken to consult everyone involved. Responses had been given to residents who had made contact and David emphasised that this was very early in the process and that there would be plenty of opportunity for residents to have their feelings heard.

Councillor Pitt said that from this report and the previous report it is abundantly clear that the Eastney Swimming Pool cannot be reopened without an unsustainable amount of money being invested. Even with this investment Eastney Swimming Pool would continue to make a loss going forward.

DECISIONS:

The Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Economic Development agreed:

1. That officers undertake further focused consultation with facility users and sports clubs to determine the right facility mix for a new community leisure centre at Bransbury Park.

2. That officers continue to work up a full financial appraisal for this project.

3. That officers engage with Sport England to prepare a bid to their Strategic Facilities Fund to obtain up to a £2m grant to contribute to a new community leisure centre.

Purpose

To seek approval for annual changes to the fees and charges levied for the use of Parks, Recreation and Seafront facilities for the financial year 2021/ 22.

RECOMMENDED

That the fees and charges be approved in accordance with the attached

schedules (Appendix 1 - Schedule A).

The report was introduced by Claire Looney, Partnership & Commissioning Manager.

Claire clarified to members that the CPI increase that was detailed within the report under section 3.7 wasn't reflected in Appendix A, therefore the poster site charges will be increasing from £7.80 to £8.00 per week for the smaller number (5-9) and from £5.90 to £6.00 per week for the larger (10+).

DECISIONS:

The Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Economic Development approved the fees and charges in accordance with the attached schedules (Appendix 1 - Schedule A).

Purpose

(1)  To advise members of the urgent SO 58 decision taken by all Group Leaders to approve the Local Restrictions Support (Open) (LRSG) and Additional Restrictions (ARG) Grant Fund Schemes for Portsmouth City Council on 22 December 2020 in order to approve both discretionary schemes.

(2)  To provide an update on the progress of both schemes and further grant support that has since become available as set out in paragraph 5 of this report.

RECOMMENDED

The Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Economic Development notes that the Group Leaders approved the following at the SO58 meeting on 22 December 2020:

(i) The LRSG (Open) scheme as attached in appendix 1.

(ii) The Additional Restrictions Grant Fund scheme attached in appendix 2.

(iii) The award of grants is delegated to the Director of Finance together with the Director of Regeneration or their representatives in accordance with the schemes attached at appendix 1.

The report was introduced by James Fitzgerald, Group Accountant Corporate Resources and Services.

James advised that in addition to the ARG detailed within the report there will shortly be a slightly amended ARG to support taxi drivers only which will be a more simplified process for application. This means that after supplying the requested details a flat payment of £400.00 will be paid to drivers for all restriction periods that they have been affected by.

In response to questions Councillor Pitt clarified that this additional grant will not exclude taxi drivers from going through the full additional restrictions grant process or from applying for the self-employed grants that are available from the government.

DECISIONS:

The Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Economic Development noted that the Group Leaders approved the following at the SO58 meeting on 22 December 2020:

1. The LRSG (Open) scheme as attached in appendix one.

2. The Additional Restrictions Grant Fund scheme attached in appendix two.

3. The award of grants is delegated to the Director of Finance together with the Director of Regeneration or their representatives in accordance with the schemes attached at appendix 1 and 2 and following a technical multidisciplinary team assessment.

Purpose

(1) To highlight the volunteering opportunities that Culture, Leisure and Regulatory Services provide.

(2) To highlight the health and wellbeing benefits of volunteering and the contribution which volunteers make to the city.

RECOMMENDED

(1)  That the important contribution of volunteers to Culture, Leisure and Regulatory Services is noted.

(2)  That the significant health and wellbeing benefits of volunteering are noted.

The report was introduced by James Daly, Cultural Development and Projects Officer.

DECISIONS:

The Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Economic Development noted:

1. The important contribution of volunteers to Culture, Leisure and Regulatory Services.

2. The significant health and wellbeing benefits of volunteering.

Purpose

(1) The purpose of this report is to outline Culture, Leisure and Sport's development of an economically accessible model in recent years and to highlight the importance of continuing to provide social impact as the city looks to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

(2) The Economic Development, Culture and Leisure Scrutiny Panel was considering this subject before Covid-19. However it is felt important to provide an update now given the impact of the pandemic.

RECOMMENDED

(1)  That the long-term development of a low-cost, high impact model in delivering culture, leisure and sports and its contribution to widening social and economic access is noted.

(2)  That an emphasis on social impact and social value in delivering culture, leisure and sports services going forwards is noted.

The report was introduced by James Daly, Cultural Development and Projects Officer.

DECISIONS:

The Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Economic Development agreed:

1. The long-term development of a low-cost, high impact model in delivering culture, leisure and sports and its contribution to widening social and economic access.

2. An emphasis on social impact and social value in delivering culture, leisure and sports services going forwards.

Purpose

To update the Cabinet Member on the high level impact of Covid-19 on the cultural organisations who receive an annual Revenue Grant from the Council.

The report was introduced by Claire Looney, Partnership & Commissioning Manager.

Councillor Pitt added that whilst being closed, The Portsmouth Guildhall were taking the opportunity to make the necessary improvements to the building using the funds that have been allocated to them. The improvements included a new carpet being fitted in the main auditorium.

The Cabinet Member noted the report.

Purpose

To update the Cabinet Member on participation in 'Silly Squad', the 2020 Summer Reading Challenge; the impact of Covid-19 on that participation and plans for this year's Challenge.

The report was introduced by David Percival, Learning & Engagement Manager. 

Just over 1000 children completed the digital and paper based format which was around 44% down on the previous year. Although this is down on the previous year it is still relatively encouraging given that there were issues around digital fatigue by children and young people at the end of the summer term.

David added that Southsea Castle has been booked for 19th September 2021 for the winner's event and the planning for that was moving forward.

The Cabinet Member noted the report.

(Councillor Morgan had to leave the meeting at this point for another appointment)

Purpose

To update the cabinet member on the ongoing partnership between Libraries and the national charity BookTrust. Free books are gifted to children at two different stages before school and in the Reception year once at primary school.  Additional packs are also gifted to children with additional needs.

The report was introduced by Jacqueline Garrard, Digital Inclusion Librarian.  She gave a short presentation showing all the Bookstart packs available.

The Cabinet Member noted the report.

Purpose

To provide an update the on the progress of this exciting project.

The report was introduced by Jane Mee, Museums and Visitor Services Manager. In response to a question about the small grants to groups Jane advised these were to Red Sauce Theatre Company, Tonic Music for Mental Health and the Parenting Network.

The Cabinet Member noted the report.

Purpose

To update the Cabinet Member on a project to transform The D-Day Story's social media.

The report was introduced by Felicity Wood, Public Participation Officer, D Day Story.

The Cabinet Member noted the report.

The Cabinet Member thanked officers for their reports.