Contact: Xanne Blythe

Direct Dial: 01934 634621

E-mail: xanne.blythe@n-somerset.gov.uk

Date: 28th October 2003

Dear Sir or Madam

Community Services Policy & Scrutiny Panel

Wednesday 5th November 2003, 2.30 p.m., New Council Chamber, TOWN HALL

A meeting of the Panel will take place as indicated above. The agenda is set out overleaf.

Yours faithfully

Solicitor to the Council

To: Members of the Panel

Councillors:

Andy Cole (Chairman), Ian Bates(Vice-Chairman), Ian Baker, Bob Bateman, Greta Lewis, Audrey Telling, Clive Webb, Andy Wright

All other Members of the Council (for information)

AGENDA

1 Apologies for Absence and Notification of Substitutes

2 Public Discussion (Standing Order SSO 9)

To receive and hear any person who wishes to address the Panel. The Chairman will select the order of the matters to be heard.

3 Declarations of Interest by Members

4 Minutes

4.1 Panel Meeting – 10^th September 2003, (page 3)

5 Matters referred by Council, the Executive, other Committees and Panels (if any)

None

Executive Meeting – 28^th October 2003

5.1 None

6 Matters for Consideration

A Policy Related Matters

6.1 Update on ‘Leisure Management 1’, and ‘Leisure Management 3’ Contracts-

David Lawrence. (page 7)

B Scrutiny Related Matters

6.2 Presentation on Young People’s Leisure Time, Derek Carter

C Performance Related Matters

6.3 Verbal Feedback on Best Value Review of Partnerships, James Foster

____________________________________

EXEMPT ITEMS

Should the Panel wish to consider a matter as an Exempt Item, the Panel will be invited to pass the following resolution –

“(1) That the press, public, and officers not required by the Members, the Chief Executive or the Director, to remain during the exempt session, be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the ground that its consideration will involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Section 100I of the Local Government Act 1972.”

Also, if appropriate, the following resolution should be passed –

“(2) That members of the Council who are not members of this Panel be invited to remain.”

MOBILE PHONES, PAGERS AND SIMILAR CALLING DEVICES

All persons attending this meeting are requested to turn off these devices in accordance with the Council’s statement concerning disturbance caused by such apparatus. The Chairman may approve an exception to this request in special circumstances.

EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURE

ON HEARING THE ALARM – (a continuous two tone siren)

Leave the room by the nearest exit door. Ensure that windows are closed.

Last person out to close the door.

DO NOT stop to collect personal belongings.

DO NOT use the lifts.

FOLLOW the green and white exit signs and make your way to the assembly point.

DO NOT re-enter the building until authorised to do so by the Fire Authority.

GO TO ASSEMBLY POINT D – THE CAR PARK OPPOSITE MAIN RECEPTION

AGENDA CONFERENCE

The Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Officers

The agenda conference will be held on Wednesday 5^th November 2003 at 9.00a.m. in the Rickford Room.

AGENDA ITEM 4.1

DRAFT

MINUTES

OF THE MEETING OF THE

Community Services Policy AND Scrutiny Panel

Wednesday 10th September 2003

HELD AT THE TOWN HALL, WESTON-SUPER-MARE, SOMERSET.

Meeting Commenced: 6.00 p.m. Meeting Concluded: 8.25 p.m.

PRESENT: Councillors Andy Cole (Chairman), Ian Bates (Vice-Chairman), Ian Baker, Bob Bateman, Audrey Telling, Clive Webb, Andy Wright

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Councillor Greta Lewis

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Councillors George Morris, Nat Packer and Ruth Brozaitis, Nailsea Swimming Pool Interest Group

COM

Public Discussion

Councillor Morris addressed the Panel regarding off-shore activities along the coast of North Somerset and particularly Clevedon. He advised that designated areas need to be clearly defined for all off-shore activities to ensure the safety of users.

COM

Declarations of Interest by Members

Councillor Baker declared a Code of Conduct interest, as his wife is an employee of the Library Service, referring to Item 8.4 Performance Monitoring.

COM

Minutes of the Meeting held on 23rd July 2003 (Agenda Item 4.1)

RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

COM

Confirmation of the Panel’s Start Time (Agenda Item 6)

CONCLUDED: that the preferred start time for this Panel would be at 2.30 p.m.

COM

Presentation – Nailsea Swimming Pool Interest Group (Agenda Item 8.1)

Nat Tucker, the Chairman of the above Steering Group and Ruth Brozaitis, Swimming Instructor, gave a presentation on swimming facilities in North Somerset including Nailsea. The report was distributed with the agenda. Ruth Brozaitis highlighted a serious shortage of facilities to teach young people to swim in North Somerset and she demonstrated a considerable public need.

The following issues were raised:

· The community section of North Somerset is involved with the project to assist with funding.

· The North Somerset Community Development Officer should be contacted to assist with grant applications.

· Section 3 in the report identified contacts for swimming pools outside of North Somerset.

· Capital funding via the lottery is now very restricted funding only one main capital scheme per year in the South West.

· The Sport for England Matrix facilities planning model has been used to assess the need for a facility. This model has since been discredited as it shows North Somerset as having all the facilities it needs.

· Section 106 Agreements were discussed as being a possible funding source although the Deposit Local Plan up to 2011 highlights areas in Weston-super-Mare and Portishead for new housing.

· North Somerset Council Planning would assist with the planning application.

The Chairman thanked Nat Tucker and Ruth Brozaitis for their informative presentation.

CONCLUDED: that North Somerset officers were currently working on a Swimming Pool Strategy and this report would be noted for possible inclusion. This Panel would receive continued progress updates from officers and would receive a report on this Strategy at the next Panel meeting. The Leisure Management Contracts with letting and management details would be submitted to this Panel.

COM

Best Value Review of Partnership and Challenge Workshop – Chief Executive Officer Representative (Agenda Item 8.3)

Background Information on Voluntary and Community Sector “Compact” Contracts (Agenda 7.1)

The Chief Executive Officer`s representative submitted a report and a short presentation on Best Value Review of Partnership Working to provide background information for a guided discussion session with the Panel. A copy of the presentation would remain in the Minute Book.

CONCLUDED: that members of the Panel noted the content of the report; Best Value Review of Partnerships and Challenge and identified the weaknesses in the way North Somerset worked with partnerships, the strength of current arrangements and proposed improvements. Due to time constraints the Panel agreed that the Chairman should view the Improvement Plan prior to its submission to the Executive. Members noted the report content of Voluntary and Community Sector Local Compacts.

COM

Report on Young People’s Leisure Time Linked to Increasing Community Safety and a Reduction of Crime (Agenda item 8.2)

A report was submitted by the Youth and Community Manager offering details on the key issues and background to the leisure time needs of young people in North Somerset, as requested at the last Panel Meeting.

CONCLUDED: that a representative from the Development and Environment Directorate would attend the next Panel meeting and give a presentation on Young People’s Leisure Time for members to investigate the topic further. Sally Tabrett would be invited due to her knowledge of skate parks.

COM

Performance Monitoring Report (Agenda Item 8.4)

The Chief Executive Officer’s representative had submitted a report on the performance management framework including details of the progress made in respect of the Council’s Key Corporate Performance Indicators (KCPIs) relevant to this Panel. The Chief Executive Officer’s representative suggested that the Panel may wish to identify areas where further investigation was necessary and build it into their work plan.

Performance Areas discussed

(a) The local authority does have an input into reducing crime as crime can be designed out in new housing developments.

(b) The Council can influence grant aid for older properties.

(c) This Panel will have the opportunity to look at care of the elderly in the community. It is within the Housing Health and Social Care remit.

(d) The Organisational Effectiveness Policy and Scrutiny Panel overviews all Panels, and Councillors receive all papers.

CONCLUDED: the Panel noted the results of the first quarter monitoring report.

________________________________

Chairman

________________________________

AGENDA ITEM 6.1

NORTH SOMERSET COUNCIL

UPDATE ON ‘LEISURE MANAGEMENT 1’ AND ‘LEISURE MANAGEMENT 3’ CONTRACTS

TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES POLICY AND SCRUTINY PANEL MEETING

ON WEDNESDAY 5 NOVEMBER 2003

OFFICER:	Russ Currie
OF:	Development & Environment Directorate
SUBJECT:	Update on ‘Leisure Management 1’ and ‘Leisure Management 3’ Contracts

The ‘Leisure Management 1’ Contract, comprising Portishead Outdoor Pool, Scotch Horn, Backwell and Strode Leisure Centres and is due for renewal in February 2003. The ‘Leisure Management 3’ Contract, comprising Parish Wharf Leisure Centre, is due for renewal in July 2004.

Following discussions with the current contractor, Quadron Services Ltd, an agreement was reached to terminate both contracts on the last day of March 2004. This presented the opportunity to examine the existing facility provision, including its ability to meet future needs, method of service delivery and the current contract packaging.

All of the facilities involved are in need of investment if they are to continue to offer a good level of service to the community.

It was felt that, with the exception of Backwell Leisure Centre, this investment could come from an incoming contractor at the beginning of the new contract period, provided that the contract was long enough to allow a return on the capital investment.

The level of investment required at Backwell Leisure Centre was considered to be too great to be sought in this way. There is a persistent damp problem with a resulting risk of structural damage. The pool plant is in need of major investment and both pools need completely re-tiling. There have been a number of attempts to improve Backwell through refurbishment, but these have had little impact. It is felt that the building needs major investment or replacement in order to meet current and future expectations.

Quite apart from the re-letting of the leisure contracts, pressure is growing in Nailsea for a swimming pool in the town. If a swimming pool is to be provided, the best site available is considered to be at the Scotch Horn Leisure Centre. Nailsea and Backwell are close neighbours, therefore it seems logical to take a wider view of swimming provision in the central area of North Somerset. However, time does not allow for a proper study of swimming provision to be made and acted upon prior to a decision being taken on contract length and packaging.

Therefore it was decided to package Scotch Horn and Backwell into a short contract to allow for this study to be undertaken and acted upon. The two centres now form the ‘Central Contract’ to run from April 2004 for 2 years.

The remaining facilities, Strode, Parish Wharf and Portishead Outdoor Pool, have been packaged into the ‘North and West Contract’. This will also run from April 2004, but for a period of 8 years to allow a return on the £500,000 investment that is required from an incoming contractor.

Both contracts are being let simultaneously and the procedure is now well advanced.

Advertisements for suitable contractors attracted 17 expressions of interest, 12 companies returned pre-tender questionnaires and, following evaluation, 7 have been invited to tender.

Tenders are to be returned by 28^th November 2003 and a recommendation will be made to the Executive at its meeting of 23^rd December 2003. The contracts will commence on 1^st April 2004.

A timetable has been produced to undertake a study of swimming pool provision. A brief will be produced by mid-November to allow consultants to be employed during January 2004.

The completed study will be presented to the Executive at their meeting of 9^th March 2004.

Russ Currie

24^th October 2003

Agenda Item No: 6.2

Section: A - For Decision

Part:

COMMITTEE	Community Services
REPORT AUTHOR (& tel no)	Derek carter – 01934 644075
DATE OF COMMITee	10th September 2003
REPORT TITLE	Young People & Leisure Time

1 Report Summary

To scope the parameters of a working party to consider the leisure time needs of young people in North Somerset

2 Recommendation

i A Working Group is established to consider the leisure time needs of young people and to report back to the Community Services Policy & Scrutiny Panel.

3 Funding Implications

	Approved Budget	Extra Bid?	Recurring/Base Budget?
Revenue	0	0
Capital	0	0

4 Other/Resource Implications Specific

Legal	Crime & Disorder	Health & Safety	Equal Opportunities	Trades Unions	Other
	x		xx

5 Community Impact Parish specific

Environment	Life Long Learning	Health & Wellbeing	Prosperity
x	x	x	x

6 Policy Implications (If Any)

7. The topic of Young People and their Leisure Time is a vast area of interest that requires in-depth exploration. It is essential to define the parameters for this exploration.

Age Range

There are many definitions of young people and age range is one determinate, few agencies have a consistent age range.

The European Commission in its focus on Youth Issues identifies 30 at the top end, the Youth Services in England and Wales works with 11 – 25 year olds with a priority focus on 13 – 19 years, Connexions the new Youth Support Service identifies 13 – 19 years, Learning Skills Council 13 – 18’s whilst young people can leave school and fight for their country at 16 but not vote until they are 18 years.

Obviously where the various bars are drawn has a significant effect on the accessibility and range of leisure pursuits that young people can undertake. The three most identified issues affecting leisure time pursuits by young people are price, availability and transport.

Numbers

Depending on the definition of age reflects on the total client group. North Somerset has approximately 60,000 young people under the age of 25, 30,000 aged 11 – 25 and 16,000 aged 13 – 19 year olds. The number of young people under 16’s is 38,000, encompassing the school age population. Although for this group school attendance is a significant factor in their life, they only spend 18% of their waking time at school.

Age Range	Total	Males	Females
0 - 4	10483	5371	5112
5 - 9	11109	5765	5344
10 - 14	11918

Approved Budget

Revenue

Trades Unions

Age Range

Numbers