Meeting documents

COMMUNITY AND LEISURE COMMITTEE

Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on

9 November 1998

PRESENT

     Cllr J W Preston (in the Chair)

* Standing Deputies

(Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Miss D Lewis and Mrs B J Sadler).

1.     MINUTES

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 14 September 1998 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

2.     PANEL MINUTES

The substantive Minutes discussed at the Community and Leisure Panel held on 7 October 1998 were as follows:-

Minute No 11 – Corporate Action Plans 1998/99 – First Progress Report

Minute No 12 – Performance Review of Major Spending Areas – Community Safety

The performance monitoring report was received with a request that further details about citizens’ workshops and the Hazard Alley programme be circulated to the Panel for information.

Minute No 13 – Review of the Summer Arts Development Programme

     The development programme was received.

Minute No 14 – Ernie Energiser Summer Sports Roadshow 1998

The report was received and a full report will be submitted to the next meeting of the Panel.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Community and Leisure Panel held on 7 October 1998 be received.

3.     COMMUNITY RELATIONS FORUM

The substantive Minutes discussed at the Community Relations Forum covered the following topics:-

“New Deal” for Ethnic Minorities; Equalities Development Programme Report; International Year Of Older Persons 1999 – Towards A Society For All Ages; Youth Provision 1998/99.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Community Relations Forum held on 6 October 1998 be received.

4.     MARLOW SWIMMING POOL

The report detailed the results of the recent public survey undertaken in Marlow on the proposed Marlow Swimming Pool as requested by Community and Leisure Committee on 14 September 1998.

A representative of Cooper Moruzzi, the Company which undertook the research, presented the results of the survey which showed emphatic support for the pool project from Marlow residents and those that lived up to 10 miles distant.

During discussion on the proposals Members noted that the questionnaire had been carefully prepared to ensure minimum bias and prejudice whilst dealing fairly with an issue of considerable, local interest and widely publicised opinions both in favour and against the proposals.  A script had been prepared for fieldworkers to use as part of the survey, which explained the pool proposals giving dimensions and the likely financial impact on local Council taxpayers.

Furthermore, Members were informed that listed building consent had been received from the Government Office for the South East.

The Committee noted that in order for the project to be considered for National Lottery Sports funding of up to 65% of the total costs, Wycombe District Council should agree to fund the sum of £1.05 million if the project was to progress.  It was therefore:

RESOLVED: (i) That Policy and Resources Committee be recommended to allocate £1.05 million from existing reserves representing the Council’s contribution towards this project should the application to the National Lottery Sports Fund be successful; and

(ii)  An application for grant aid be submitted to the National Lottery Sports Fund.

The Committee was informed that at the start of the estimate process consideration needed to be given to service targets and a decision taken on on-going service developments or capital investment.  The report detailed the proposed service enhancement schemes for the financial year 1999/2000 to 2001/2002 and the capital programme review for the financial year 1999/2000 to 2002/2003.

A detailed review of the Committee’s service provision had been undertaken and several areas highlighted where further investments should occur.  The Committee considered the service provision under the following three headings;-

During a detailed discussion on the bids particular reference was made to the Princes Risborough Day Centre under recurring revenue service enhancement bids and it was noted that the support now required was £5,000 and not £10,000.  Whilst the Day Centre bid was not recommended for approval, some support was expressed for the grant of a one-off sum of £5,000 towards the running of the Day Centre.  However, it was explained that further information had been sought from Buckinghamshire County Council into the proposals for the Day Centre and, in view of this, it was agreed to provide Policy and Resources Committee with this additional information at its meeting on 30 November 1998.

With regard to the capital programme bid, some Members expressed regret  that works to the Guildhall Extension/Undercroft and improvements to Higginson Park Water Front were not being recommended for enhancement.  It was felt that if the opportunity occurred then these two bids would be held in reserve for possible consideration by Policy and Resources Committee.

RESOLVED: That the following Revenue Service Enhancement and Capital Schemes be recommended to Policy and Resources Committee for consideration in the order of priority shown:-

Recurring Schemes

Non-Recurring Schemes

Capital

* Expected to have a particular positive effect on work in relation to the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

(Cllrs D A B Green, Mrs J E Gabbitas and Mrs C E Mill declared interests in particular aspects of this item but remained in the meeting).

6.     BUCKINGHAMSHIRE : A COUNTY STRATEGY FOR SPORT

It was noted that “Buckinghamshire : A County Strategy for Sport” had now been completed.  The final document would include the strategy and background research, but only the strategy had been finalised and was submitted for attention.  The “Bucks Strategy for Sport” supported the aims and objectives of Leisure 21 – a Plan for Leisure, which had been adopted by the Community and Leisure Committee in January 1998.

The County Strategy for Sport provided a common framework for the various partners involved in the strategic delivery of sport across the county and it was very much in line with the English Sports Council’s “World Class” and “Active Sport” Programmes.

RESOLVED:  That Councillor D A B Green be appointed as the Council’s representative on Wycombe and Marlow Area Sports Council with Councillor A D Collingwood as Standing Deputy.

8.     FILE ON ACTION TAKEN UNDER DELEGATED POWERS

The file on action taken under delegated powers since the last meeting was submitted for the Committee’s attention (Sheet Nos 11-13 inclusive).

9.     INFORMATION SHEETS

The Panel received Information Sheets distributed since the last meeting (Issue Nos 14/98 – 17/98 inclusive).

EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

RESOLVED:  That pursuant to Section 100(A)(iv) of the Local Government Act 1972 the Press and Public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Minute Nos 37 and 38 because of their reference to matters which contain exempt information as described in Paragraph 8 (Amount of any Expenditure Proposed), Paragraph 7 (Financial Business Affairs) and Paragraph 9 (Terms Proposed) to the aforementioned Act as set out in the agenda.

10.     WYCOMBE SPORTS CENTRE

The Committee was asked to consider the possible advantages in the relocation of the athletics track and artificial turf pitch at Wycombe Sports Centre to another location within the District should the opportunity arise.  At this stage no definite proposals for such a relocation has been identified, however, an in principle agreement will allow officers to commence detailed work in order to determine whether this proposal was achievable.

RESOLVED:  That agreement in principle be given to the general proposal as outlined in the report and that a further detailed report be submitted to a future meeting of this Committee.

Details of the tender exercise undertaken for Grounds Maintenance Contract – Area 3 (Marlow) were set out for the committee’s attention. Committee approval was sought to accept the second lowest tender (1.8% greater in total value) in view of the lowest tenderer including high unit costs for non-scheduled works, which would lead to higher costs as the contract progressed.  The Committee also noted that extremely good client/contractor relationships had been established with the second lowest tenderer who was currently providing a range of services to the Council for several other contracts.

RESOLVED:  That the bid made by Ecovert Ltd in the

sum of £141,921.26 a year for 5 years, adjusted for

inflation in the second and subsequent years to

undertake defined grounds maintenance works in the

Marlow area be accepted.  

(The meeting commenced at 7.00pm and concluded at 9.10pm)

__________________

CHAIRMAN

The following officers were in attendance at the meeting.

Neil Roberts     -     Director of Leisure, Health and Community

Paul Marston-Weston     Head of Leisure Services

David Picken     -     Head of Community Services

Brenda Watson     -     Principal Accountant

David Ruddock     -     Assistant District Solicitor

Mike Conroy     -     Principal Committee Administrator