Agenda item

The panel was provided with the background and context to the Active Communities Framework, a suite of strategies that would come together to produce the framework over a period of approximately 12-18 months. Initial phases of production would involve significant informational input to shape the vision of the framework, with a series of presentations being made to Council members to seek views.

The meeting heard from representatives of Max Associates, industry experts working alongside the Council in the production of the framework. It was noted that work had been undertaken over the previous couple of years to pull together the leisure services inherited from the legacy councils, with details provided to the meeting of these services. Unitarisation had provided the Council with the opportunity to develop a cohesive approach to leisure services across the whole of North Northamptonshire.

It was noted that the sector was moving towards a focus on movement, health, wellbeing and prevention and a place-based approach. It was heard that there could not be a “one-size fits all” approach, with an understanding of communities required to ensure the offer reflected need and demand and encouraged people to be more active, more often.

The initial round of engagement had commenced, with evidence documentation, including examination of existing policies, data mapping and a review of current facilities, users, finances and competition offer. A Management Options Appraisal would be undertaken to provide a good basis for decision making, with evaluation of different options to understand benefits and disadvantages of both.

The outcome of the above work would be the production of the Active Communities Strategy with a view to work being completed by the end of 2024.

Members were asked to consider four discussion topics as set out below:

·       How can increased participation in physical activity contribute towards the Council’s wider strategic outcomes?

·       What do you perceive the purpose of the ‘leisure service’ to be?

·       Thinking about what you want the service to achieve and the Active Communities 'branding' what are the keywords that need to form part of the vision for the Active Communities Strategy?

·       Are you aware of any opportunities and/or benefits for co-location and/or co-service delivery across the Council area? E.g., libraries, GP surgery/health services, council offices etc.

Councillors made the following comments in relation to the discussion items listed above:

·       Educational facilities and “left-behind” areas should be encouraged to engage

·       Affordability and ease of access to facilities needed consideration

·       Working in strategic partnership would help maximise offer and budgets

·       Consideration needed to be given to activities that were not “pitch-based” including dance and theatre

·       Maximising the use of green space assets across North Northamptonshire

·       Improving physical activity among Council staff to offer healthy benefits for the workforce

·       Consideration of the requirements of differing demographics and those with existing health and wellbeing risks

·       Improving inequalities by making paid leisure services more affordable and utilising open spaces effectively

·       Early engagement with children to offer a lifetime approach

·       Promotion of use of sustainable transport, including walking and cycling

·       Utilise the expertise of both the voluntary sector and private sector

·       Understanding of existing facilities and leisure offer in North Northamptonshire and how this could be improved

·       Involving local health services, including GP surgeries in the Active Community Strategy to help target those in need and promote the local offer

·       An opportunity to work with Family Hubs to embed activity into family life

·       Linking strategies with other elements of partnership joint working

Members thanked all those involved for their work in relation to the Active Communities Strategy to date.