THREE RIVERS DISTRICT COUNCIL
At a meeting of the Leisure and Community Safety Policy and Scrutiny Committee held in the Penn Chamber, Three Rivers House, Rickmansworth, on Tuesday, 9June2009 from 7.30pm to9.35pm.
Present:Councillors: Steve Drury (Chairman),Mary Connolly (Vice-Chairman), Tony Barton,Kemal Butt (substituting for Councillor Russell Smith), Brian Norman,Keith PeuthererandPeter Ray.
Officers:Peter Brooker, Director of Community and Environmental Services
Julie Hughes,Principal Landscape Officer
Adam Huntley, Voluntary Sector Funding and Partnerships Officer
Charlotte Masters, Active Communities Officer
Alison Phin, Leisure Development Manager
Phillipa Scott, Community Safety Manager
Chris Fagan, Committee Manager.
An apology for absence wasreceived from CouncillorPhilRedshaw.
Also in attendance:Councillors Francis Durham, Paula Hiscocks, Alison Scarth, AnnShawOBE and Chris Whately-Smith and Messrs PhilCollins and Ian Pluck of Hertsmere Leisure.
L.PP01/09MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Leisure and Community Safety Policy and Scrutiny Committee held on 10 March 2009 were confirmed as a correct record and were signed by the Chairman.
L.PP02/09NOTICE OF OTHER BUSINESS
The Director of Environmental and Community Services reported that Patrick Martin, Leisure Performance and Contracts Manager, had recently become a father to a baby girl. Members asked that their congratulations and best wishes be passed to him and his family.
The Director also gave details of two forthcoming events to which all Members were invited:
(a)a tour of the LeavesdenCountryPark on 16 June at 6pm and
(b)a visit to Bury Lake Young Mariners Club on either 8 July at 6.30pm or 11 July at 3.00 pm to observer the activities. He asked Members to let him know their preferences.
It was agreed that all Members would inform the Director of their preferred dates.
L.PP03/09DECLARATION OF INTEREST
Councillor Brian Norman declared personal and prejudicial interests in the following agenda items:
7 (a) – Leisure grant to Flowers4Croxley and 8 - Barton Way Play Area Adult Gym Equipment, as Chairman of Croxley Green Parish Council. He left the meeting-room during the discussion and decision of these items.
.L.PP04/09HERTS COMMUNITY MEALS SERVICE
The Committee received information on the Herts Community Meals Service as requested at the March meeting. The report compared levels and costs of service with the service provided currently by the three local providers,Women’s Royal Voluntary Society (WRVS) the Red Cross and Sarratt Care, and outlined the issues which would arise following a transfer of the service provision to the Herts Community Meals Service.
Members noted the service offered by the Community Meals Service, but drew attention to the additional work performed by the local providers in checking on the welfare of the people to whom they provided meals. They also observed that the providers used volunteers to deliver meals and the costs of the service would be likely to increase substantially if a transfer took place.
Councillor TonyBarton stated that Sarratt Care raised additional funding through social events. He had ascertained from the officers that they could apply for a District Council grant if a need was established.
Councillor Brian Norman noted that the providers operated out of local facilities and used volunteers. He asked if the District Council could use its good offices to assist recruitment of volunteers and if necessary to seek to provide additional facilities or revive former facilities where these were needed by the organisations.
ACTION AGREED:-
(1)that the report outlining the Hertfordshire Community Meals service be noted;
(2)that at the current time the Committee did not wish to receive a presentation by the Planning and Commissioning Manager for Older People, Hertfordshire County Council; and
(3)that the Committee wished to state its support for the work of the WRVS, the Red Cross and Sarratt Care in providing a cost-effective meals on wheels service within Three Rivers District and would support activities fostering recruitment of volunteers and the provision of additional or improved facilities for the preparation of meals.
L.PP05/09LEISURE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT CONTRACT – HERTSMERE LEISURE PRESENTATION
The Committee received a report and a presentation by Hertsmere Leisure Trust on their performance during 2008/09 and their Management Plan for 2009/10.
Councillor Tony Barton asked whether the amount of the loss of revenue caused by the continuing non-availability of swimming facilities at the William Penn Leisure Centre was known. The Director of Community and Environmental Services said that these would be provided with the minutes of the meeting.
Councillor Francis Durham asked whether Hertsmere Leisure paid staff at or above the minimum wage. Ian Pluck for Hertsmere Leisure Trust replied that the Company maintained the pre-existing terms and conditions for staff transferred under TUPE, while paying other staff under Hertsmere Leisure Trust terms and conditions. The lowest-paid staff were paid at rates above the national minimum wage.
The Committee was informed of the nomination of Denise Adams, Hertsmere Leisure’s Site Manager at the William Penn Leisure Centre,for a national industry award and the Chairman offered her the Committee’s congratulations. He stated that the Committee had taken note of the Company’s stated objectives for 2009/10 and would look forward to assessing how far they had been achieved.
The Chairman thanked Phil Collins and Ian Pluck for theirinformative presentation.
ACTION AGREED:-
that the report and the Management Plan be noted.
L.PP06/09LEISURE AND COMMUNITY GRANT APPLICATIONS
The Committee considered the first round of applications from groups and organisations for grant support from the Leisure and Community Grants 2009/10 revenue budget.
The applications to be considered were for Leisure grants to Get Set Grow, Bushey Cricket Club, Springwell Avenue Allotment Association and Flowers4Croxley and Community grants to Relate and Cruse.
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 36(b) (Representations at Committee etc) Mr John Friend spoke in favour of the application by Get Set Grow and Ms Adele Ryntjes spoke in favour of the application by Relate.
Members questioned both speakers on details of their applications and also sought information from the Officers on the other applications.
The Flowers4Croxley application was supported and it was noted that other Parish Councils would be eligible to apply for funding for similar planting schemes. Members wished it to be made clear that a grant could not be guaranteed for future years. The Voluntary Sector Funding and Partnerships Officer confirmed that this was made clear to all applicants.
It was noted that Bushey Cricket Club had relatively low cash balances in relation to their proposed expenditure on repairs and maintenance and that in 2008 the Club had received a grant of almost £4,000 to replace practice nets. They received no assistance with grass-cutting form the District or the Watford Rural Parish Council and the Club’s own grounds maintenance equipment was very old. There appeared to be a need for the Club to be encouraged to get its finances onto a sounder footing and the Committee wished for additional information to be provided before a decision on funding was taken.
In relation to the Relate application, the Relate representative stated that Relate currently provided family oriented intervention in Three Rivers which was not grant-funded, in circumstances where children were identified as suffering from the effects of family breakdown. It was also reported that Relate received an annual grant of £4,000 from the Council, but not from the Community Grants budget. Members wished to be informed of the budget from which that grant was paid, and its purpose. They also asked whether Relate received any funding from other organisations such as the District Childrens Trust Partnership. Without the information requested they did not consider it appropriate to take a decision on the application.
The Director of Community and Environmental Services undertook to investigate and supply details of the annual grant to Relate.
ACTION AGREED:-
(1)that the Committee recommends to the Executive Committee that grantsin the sums stated (subject to the conditions detailed in the Appendices) are awarded to the following : -
£
Get Set Grow1,700
Cruse1,270
Springwell Avenue Allotment Association1,000
Flowers4Croxley2,000
(2)that the application from Bushey Cricket Club be not considered but referred to the Executive Committee for consideration, as the Committee considered that more information was required on the future financial viability of the Club; and
(3)that the application from Relate be not considered but referred to the Executive Committee for consideration, together with further information on other possible sources of funding and on the basis for the ongoing funding of £4,000 pa paid to Relate. When obtained, the additional information to be provided to all members of the Committee, for them to forward their comments to the Executive Committee.
L.PP07/09PLAYBUILDER, BARTON WAY PLAY AREA, ADULT OUTDOOR GYM AND DESIGN FOR PLAY: A GUIDE TO CREATING SUCCESSFUL PLAY SPACES
Members were informed of the project plan for Barton Way play space and adult outdoor gym, together with a summary of new design guidance with associated risk management guidance issued by the Department for Children, Schools and Families as part of the Government’s Playbuilder programme.
The Leisure and Community Portfolio Holder advised that the capital sum referred to in the report included funding for the adult gym.
ACTION AGREED:-
(1)that the Playbuilder information, Design for Play guidance, Managing Risk in Play Provision guidance and the recommended procurement process be noted; and
(2)that the Leisure and Community Safety Policy and Scrutiny Committee recommend to the Executive Committee:
(a)that the additional Playbuilder funding of £52,310 capital and £2,510 revenue is accepted and included in addition to the existing capital budget, in order to enhance the development at Barton Way play space;
(b)that Delegated Authority is given to the Director of Community and Environmental Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Community, to award the contract to the contractor that offers best value for money;
(c)that Members agree an exception to the Council’s Procurement Procedure as detailed in the Constitution under 5(a)(i) and (b) of the Contracts Procedure Rules in order to progress the installation of the outdoor gym equipment and that Park Leisure is approved as the contractor for the works as set out in paragraph 2.8 of the report, subject to the justification for this decision being reported to full Council;
(d)that Officers seek planning permission for the new play area and adult outdoor gym at the appropriate time;and
(e)that the revenue growth shown at paragraph 5.2 of the report is approved and included in the budget monitoring process.
L.PP08/09PROPOSED TRANSFER OF OAKLANDS AVENUE PLAY AREA AND PUBLIC OPEN SPACE, OXHEY
Members were requested to approve the transfer of ownership of Oaklands Avenue play area and public open space, Oxhey, from the developers Taylor Wimpey to the Council, to sustain the future provision and maintenance of the new community asset, in accordance with the signed Section 106 agreement.
The Director of Community and Environmental Services advised that the transfer would proceed subject to a site condition survey, compliance with the conditions of the planning permission and the agreed commuted sum being made available.
Members welcomed the transfer as it would facilitate future maintenance and repair work.
ACTION AGREED:-
that the Leisure and Community Safety Policy and Scrutiny Committee recommend to the Executive Committee that, subject to the commuted sum payment of £38,795, the Council adopt ownership of the public open space and children’s play area off Oaklands Avenue, Oxhey from Taylor Wimpey Housing developers, as per the S106 agreement, to ensure that the new public asset is maintained to the required service and customer standards.
L.PP09/09EROSION AND RECREATIONAL ISSUES AT BATCHWORTH LAKE, RICKMANSWORTH AQUADROME
The Committee was informed that erosion had been a long-standing problem at BatchworthLake.
Recent attempts to reduce the level of erosion through the establishment of emergent vegetation and reed beds had been successful only in part and as a result officers had sought an independent assessment of the site. The consultant’s report had identified five causes of erosion, some of which were associated with specific uses of the Lake. Action was required to remedy the situation and the Officers wished to discuss the report and its findings with user groups at the recently-formed Aquadrome Forum.
Members agreed that discussions with user groups were required and supported the recommendation.
ACTION AGREED:-
(1)that the contents of the consultants’ report be noted; and
(2)that the report be forwarded to the Aquadrome Forum for their views, prior to recommendations for updating the Management Plan being prepared for consideration by this Committee and the Executive Committee.
L.PP10/09COMMUNITY SAFETYACTION PLAN2008/09 – QUARTER 4/END OF YEAR REPORT
The Committee received an update of the Community Safety Action Plan for 2008/09 at the end of quarter 4.
Members observed that in the section Performance against Targets the outcomes reported for 2008/09, showed considerable achievement. The Chairman commended the Community Safety Co-ordinator on a comprehensive report.
ACTION AGREED:-
that the updated Community Safety Action Plan for 2008/09 contained within Appendix A of the report be noted.
L.PP11/09LEISURE AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PLAN 2008/11 - MONITORING AND REPORTING FRAMEWORK - 2008/09 YEAR END REVIEW
The Committee received an update of the Leisure and Community Service Plan review for 2008/09 at the end of quarter 4.
Members noted that outcome data on a number of Leisure projects reported in the progress against targets section of the report was not yet available and asked whether Members would be informed when the information was available.
The Director of Community and Environmental Services confirmed that the outcome data would be published when known.
ACTION AGREED:-
that the report be noted.
L.PP12/09REPORTS ON POLICY MATTERS – PROGRESS TOWARDS IDENTIFIED PERFORMANCE TARGETS
The Committee received a report on the performance to date of projects involving new policy or financial commitments against their identified objectives. The information was intended to facilitate the Policy and Scrutiny Committees’scrutiny of performance in achieving performance targets contained in reports made tothem.
ACTION AGREED:-
(1)that the Committee adopts the procedure of requiring updating reports on policy decisions approved by full Council or the Executive Committee as appropriate; and
(2)that the updating reports relating to this Committee be included in the Committee’s work programme.
L.PP13/09WOODSIDE LEISURE CENTRE
The Committee received usage information of the Woodside Leisure Centre by Three Rivers residents as requested by Members. The figures indicated that the proportion of users of the Centre from Three Rivers District who took out Everyone Active cards was over 55%, although the period covered only the first eight months since the Centre had opened. The initial figures indicated that the Council’s investment represented good value for money.
Councillor Tony Barton stated that the report did not fully show whether the Council was receiving good value for money from its investment in the Centre. He wished to obtain an analysis of the overall return on the investment and also figures for monthly savings to Three Rivers resulting from its adoption of the Free Swim scheme.
The Director of Community and Environmental Services observed that the usage of the Centre by Three Rivers residents generally and the costs and savings arising from the Government’s Free Swim scheme for over-60s and under-19s were distinct. He would obtain and supply both sets of figures. Those for the Free Swim scheme would be drawn from the first quarter returns for 2009/10.
The Leisure and Community Portfolio Holder advised that the Council had based its decision to participate in the construction of the Centre on a calculation of a Three Rivers user participation rate of 20% to meet the value for money targets.
Councillor Mary Connolly asked whether the Director of Community and Environmental Services could provide a comparison between the actual take-up against the original anticipated take-up. The Director replied that this could be done.
ACTION AGREED:-
(1)that the report be noted; and
(2)that the Officers be requested to provide more specific information on the breakdown of the usage figures set out in the report and the savings arising from the adoption of the Free Swim scheme.
L.PP14/09THE AQUADROME FORUM