Agenda item

The Leisure Strategy Manager gave a presentation that updated the Panel on the progress that had been made in implementing the Council’s Five Year Leisure Strategy, Get Active Slough.

The Panel noted that although childhood obesity remained relatively high and levels of activity were low, Slough was the most improved local authority area in the country since 2006 in effecting change in the level of physical activity.  In addition to the major programme of capital investment in leisure facilities there was strong community based programme and local facilities such as ten new green gyms, trim trails and fitness trails.  The community programmes had proved successful in terms of participation with 10,836 participants against the target of 2,650.  There was a scheme in place with GP surgeries offering activity such as yoga and pilates.  A weight management programme was being piloted at Priory School for 12 weeks involving nutritional workshops and physical activity.

Members discussed the potential impacts on health outcomes of the major capital investment in Slough’s leisure centres and the facilities mix proposed for the refurbished Salt Hill facility were scrutinised.  The importance of monitoring key targets and evaluating the health and wellbeing benefits of the investment was emphasised.  The difficulty in evaluating the direct impacts of preventative programmes on health outcomes was recognised, however, Members felt that it was important to establish clear baselines and monitoring wherever possible.  The Panel welcomed the high levels of participation achieved by the Get Active programme and queried the future funding of the programme.  The Leisure Strategy Manager stated that the team was pursuing any available funding sources.

Other issues discussed included the promotion of the leisure programmes and particularly the effectiveness of social media marketing.  It was requested that further information be provided on the figures for Facebook use and the leisure team was encouraged to involve councillors in the engagement programme.  In response to a question, it was noted that a GP referral programme was in place to help patients access activity programmes where appropriate and it may be possible to provide some discounted passes for relevant patients to facilities operated under the new leisure contract.

(Councillor Holledge left the meeting at this point)

At the conclusion of the discussion, the Panel noted the presentation and welcomed the progress being made.

Resolved –  That the update presentation on the progress of the Five Year Leisure Strategy for Slough be noted.