Agenda item

The Assistant Director of Housing and Communities presented the first of three Strategies for Active Communities. The purpose of the Strategy was to set out a vision and strategic outcomes over the next five years.  

The strategy would draw on the demography, community and stakeholder engagement as well as other key data to establish the key themes which Active Communities would be developed.

·       Healthy Communities

·       Connected Communities

·       Thriving Communities

·       Green Communities

The Assistant Director Housing and Communities gave an in-depth explanation of the methodology of the strategy, explaining that the objective was to get as many stakeholders as possible to engage. Barriers were an issue with inactive residents, and they needed to be encouraged to join in, the nearer to the activity the more likely they would be to join.

Understanding North Northamptonshire was key, particularly its demographic, Health profile and  reviewing LAP data and understanding differences across the council’s area.

The standard of venues was a high priority for the council, all facilities needed to be used but some were in a poor state of repair.

An Active Communities Partnership had been set up, its aim to co-ordinate North Northamptonshire’s contribution towards the overall system-wide Move Northamptonshire framework.

Sport England’s Uniting the Movement strategy had committed to work in areas of greatest need, tackling inactivity levels and the associated inequalities. The Sport England Place Partnership programme had selected Northamptonshire in the first phase of new partnerships, led locally by Active Partnership (Northamptonshire Sport). The two Local Authorities along with Integrated Care System and VCSE sector would form two of Sport England’s new Place Partnerships covering four Priority Areas, in the North Northamptonshire area they are:

·       Kingswood, Corby

·       Lodge Park, Corby

·       Queensway, Wellingborough

The Assistant Director asked if Councillors would provide feedback on what residents in their wards would like to see in the way of activities.

Cllr Helen Howell (Chair) thanked the officers and MAX Associates for a very full and informative Strategy and explained that the other two strategies would bring this all together.

Cllr Paul Marks commented that people say they cannot get into town, it was necessary to get people to be positive.

Officers emphasised that they wanted people to be active, encouraging families to be active as a group. Case studies had been undertaken encouraging older people to get active and this had proved to be very positive.

Cllr John McGhee acknowledged the excellent document and congratulated the officers. He said there was good support in his ward, but it was slowing, more help for families was required, noting  personal reasons could restrict participation. Cllr McGhee queried that if the Council gathered information, how often would this need to be done and who would receive this information.

The Assistant Director assured Cllr McGhee that Kingswood ward would continue to be supported. As far as feedback from Councillors was concerned, this was something that was still be worked out.

Cllr John McGhee also raised the issue of obesity, noting that lifespans for residents in Corby were poor and queried how will this would be dealt with.

The Assistant Director advised that data was being analysed, it was important to be available and to keep encouraging people to take part, some things needed to be done differently.

Executive Director of Adults, Health Partnerships and Housing and Assistant Director of Public Health advised that there were discussions ongoing with the Wellbeing Board regarding a Leisure Card for care leavers and its benefits to the NHS, this would be a crossover with the Health & Wellbeing Strategy.

Cllr Russell Roberts liked the report and the discussion it had achieved. He said young children needed to feel safe and were less active than older people. People needed to challenge themselves, Wicksteed Park had invested a large sum of money and people needed to be encouraged to use these places.

The Strategic Lead Officer for Leisure added that there were 110 support networks attending an Active Finding fun day, it was hoped this would help to encourage people to find something to try, the council would be attending to talk to people.

A Junior Leisure Club was being introduced, this would see a golf simulator installed at Priors Hall Golf Club to encourage younger people to get involved in the sport, also a driving range and coach, and accessibility for the disabled. The Executive Director of Adults, Health Partnerships and Housing commented this would offer an opportunity for local schools to attend.

Cllr Helen Howell (Chair) thanked the team for all their hard work.