Agenda item

Active Slough- A Leisure Strategy for Slough

Decision:

That the report and progress made in implementing the Leisure Strategy be noted.

Minutes:

The Lead Member for Health & Wellbeing and the Leisure Services Manager gave a comprehensive presentation on the progress made in delivering the Council’s five-year Leisure Strategy which had been agreed by Cabinet in 2014 and aimed to get “more people, more active, more often.”

 

The focus of the strategy had been an ambitious capital programme to transform the Council’s core leisure offer and provide facilities and programmes in communities across the Borough.  Major facilities such as Arbour Park Community Sport Stadium, Slough Ice Arena, Salt Hill Activity Centre, Langley Leisure Centre and The Centre had been built or refurbished on budget and within predicted timescales.  A new leisure contract had been procured with Everyone Active managing these facilities and current projections were that total usage in 2019/20 would be 1.2 million.  In addition to the increased use of facilities the new contract would result in an estimated saving to the Council of £10m over the next ten years.  The neighbourhood programme included 26 green gyms, 7 multi-use games areas, cricket pitches and walking tracks.  The Active Slough programme had provided more than 100 mainly free sessions each week out in communities.

 

The Cabinet congratulated Officers on the success in delivering the programme to upgrade Slough’s facilities, several of which had received national awards and recognition.  It was expected that any sustainable increases in the levels of activity in Slough would take some time to come through in official figures, however, it was noted that key measures such as membership and usage of the facilities and programmes was very positive.  The next phase of the leisure strategy would focus on the wellbeing and health of residents and would be informed by the ‘health beliefs’ research currently underway in Slough.  Lead Members commented on the importance of understanding the factors influencing residents levels of activity at ward level including ethnicity, age, cost of facilities etc.  Effective communication and messaging to target groups would be crucial in promoting more active lifestyles.

 

Speaking under Rule 30, Councillor Strutton raised several issues including some operational and parking issues at the Salt Hill Activity Centre and safety issues in facilities in Salt Hill Park following recent incidents.  The Officer reported that car parking at the centre was being reviewed with the option of introducing charges or enforcement if required.  The Lead Member for Planning & Regulation confirmed that additional CCTV coverage would be provided in Salt Hill Park.

 

At the conclusion of the discussion the report was noted.

 

Resolved –  That the report and progress made in implementing the Leisure Strategy be noted.

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