Agenda item

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Maia Whitelegg)

Report of the Head of Cultural Services. 

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Maia Whitelegg)

The Head of Cultural Services submitted a report that sought approval and adoption of the Sport and Physical Activity Strategy (SPAS) 2008 – 2011 and associated Implementation Plan, sought approval for the Council to manage the overall scheme in terms of monitoring and evaluating all the projects and reporting back to Sport England and sought approval for the Council to act as the accountable and delivery body for the district’s Community Investment Fund allocation of £219,000; subject to a successful stage 2 application to Sport England and finally sought approval for the Council to act as the accountable body for some of the match funding associated with the above bid.  The total match funding associated with this bid was £547,700 (including £141,200 in-kind contribution), with the City Council being accountable for £337,500 (combined public/private sector match). 

Supplementary information was made available at the meeting which advised that the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) was currently facing a shortfall in its Spending Plan for the year 2008/09.  Members were requested to take this information into account when considering the funding of the SPAS. 

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment, were set out in the report as follows: 

Options regarding the Sport and Physical Activity Strategy:

Options regarding the Sport England Bid:

The preferred officer options were options 1 and 3. 

This would allow the district via the local authority to access the potential £219,000 Sport England funding and associated match funding based on an adopted sports and physical activity strategy with the Council acting as the accountable body. 

Due to the nature of the proposed projects and the lack of an alternative the City Council are in the best position to deliver the portfolio of projects. 

Note:  Councillor Evelyn Archer left the meeting. 

It was moved by Councillor Jon Barry and seconded by Councillor Eileen Blamire: -

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.” 

Members then voted as follows.

Resolved unanimously:

(1)     That the Sport and Physical Activity Strategy and associated Implementation Plan be adopted and that the Stage 2 application to Sport England be approved. 

(2)               That approval be given for Lancaster City Council to act as the accountable body for £337,500 match funding and the potential Sport & Physical Activity Community Investment Fund allocation of £219,000 (Sport England Grant). 

(3)     That subject to (1) and (2) above being approved and the outcome of the Stage 2 bid being successful the Head of Financial Services be authorised to update the General Fund Revenue Budget in 2008/09 to 2010/11 to reflect the additional expenditure and financing of the project. 

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

Corporate Director (Finance and Performance). 

Head of Cultural Services. 

Head of Financial Services. 

Reason for making the decision:

The decision allows the district, via the local authority, to access the potential £219,000 Sport England funding and associated match funding based on an adopted sports and physical activity strategy with the Council acting as the accountable body. 

Due to the nature of the proposed projects and the lack of an alternative the City Council are in the best position to deliver the portfolio of projects. 

Opportunities for children, young people and adults to participate in good quality, accessible and affordable sports and physical activities is essential to their health and wellbeing.  They provide enriching experiences that can help with a range of issues including contributing to addressing adult and childhood obesity, tackling anti social behaviour and juvenile nuisance and developing community cohesion.

An opportunity has been presented to the Council that will allow new methods of supporting and developing sport and physical activities.  Providing opportunities for people to participate in sport and physical activities always feature highly within communities, for children, young people and adults. This strategy and programme of activities will enable a coordinated approach to be provided to develop new approaches that will lead to an increase in regular participation in sports and physical activities. 

Cabinet noted that the matching funding contributions from the Community Safety Partnership and the Neighbourhood Management Board still had to be confirmed, but would be subject to further reports to Cabinet. 

With regard to the supplementary information it was noted that the CSP was unlikely to be able to provide match funding in terms of diversionary activities.  It was also noted that when setting the Council’s budget for 2008/09, a sum of £20,000 was allocated to maintain the capacity of the Community Safety Partnership. Funding was for one year only and continuation of this funding was dependant upon a review of the Council’s overall contribution to community safety activity within the district.  It is intended to bring a further report back to Cabinet making recommendations for the use of this budget once the Community Safety Partnership has concluded its research into options for reducing the identified shortfall in funding for 2008/9.  At this stage it will be clear if matching funding from the CSP will be available. 

Members took the above information into account when considering the funding of the SPAS and noted that any shortfall in match funding could be managed by reducing the proposed programme accordingly.