BOROUGH OF POOLE
ROSSMORE COMMUNITY USE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2007
The Meeting commenced at 4:00pm and concluded at 5:45pm.
Present:
Councillor Representatives:
Councillor Wilson – Elected Member (Chairman)
Councillor Mrs Lavender – Elected Member
Councillor Trent – Elected Member
User Representative
John Long – Gymnastics and Trampolining Club (Vice-Chairman)
Deborah Wheatley – Poole Swimming Club
Also in Attendance
Sally Apps – Headteacher, Rossmore Community College (RCC)
Dave Greenwood – Contracts Manager (SLM)
Michelle Cooke – Director of Communications (RCC)
Anthony Rogers – Recreation Manager, Leisure Services (BoP)
Sean Gabriel – General Manager, Rossmore Leisure Centre (SLM)
Andy Read – Office Manager, Rossmore Leisure Centre
Lisa Gardner – Legal and Democratic Services (BoP)
Kate Gibbings – Legal and Democratic Services (BoP)
Members of the public present: 0
1.APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Reverend Gomm, George Sanger and Councillor Montrose.
2.MINUTES AND RATIFICATION OF BUSINESS
The CUMC noted that the Meeting was quorate and that members were therefore able to ratify the business of the last three meetings which had not been quorate. It was therefore:
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the last meetings of the Rossmore CUMC of 12 March, 25 June and 24 September 2007 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
MATTERS ARISING
Minute 5, 24.9.07
Anthony Rogers reported that Leisure Services was funding the installation of additional CCTV cameras at the far end of the campus adjacent to the OLGA Gymnasium to enhance the security of the Skate Park and working with SLM with regard to installation of the system.
Minute 7, 24.9.07
Members were informed that the defective lighting in the car park had been repaired by the Borough.
3.CAR PARKING ON THE ROSSMORE CAMPUS
The CUMC discussed the issue of car parking on the Rossmore Campus and the following points were highlighted:-
(i)Parking had become a pressure area due to increased usage of the facilities of the campus;
(ii)Consideration was being given to establishing zebra crossings in front of the main entrances to the leisure facilities;
(iii)A member of the public had highlighted the parking pressures at a recent Area Committee meeting;
(iv)Consideration could be given to converting certain sections of the car park into additional parking spaces;
(v)A second tier to the car park could be considered for the future as there was limited ground space to expand on;
(vi)Parking availability was limited at certain times of the day (for example, when parents were collecting children from school or when fitness classes were running);
Members endorsed a proposal that a representation be made to John Nash (Strategic Director, Education) by the CUMC, that it should have input into the ‘Schools for the Future’ plans for the site and suggested that parking should be a key consideration when formulating plans for the site.
AGREED
That a representation be made to John Nash that the CUMC should have input into the ‘Schools for the Future’ plans for the site and that parking should be a key consideration when formulating plans for the site.
4.USER REPRESENTATIVE’S ITEMS
Michael Gregory expressed concern that there had been no hot water in the showers in recent weeks and Andy Reed advised that the boilers would be repaired within the next two weeks.
5.GOVERNING BODY/HEADTEACHER’S ITEMS
Pupil Access to Leisure Centre
Members were advised that the School had been in contact with SLM over concerns:
(i)that some pupils were spending time in the Leisure Centre during School Hours; and
(ii)with regard to the continuing vandalism.
Andy Reed explained that there were over 20 access points to the Leisure Centre and further improvements to the Leisure Centre could be difficult to justify if the vandalism was on-going. The internal doors were regularly vandalised by pupils wishing to gain access to the Leisure Centre and consideration would be given to replacing the existing doors with steel doors.
The CUMC agreed that consideration could be given to implementing the following security measures at an approximate cost of £6,000 each:-
(i)installing more security doors at the access points throughout the Campus;
(ii)Fitting magnetic locks to the security doors;
(iii)Extending CCTV coverage to include the access points.
AGREED
That the School and SLM explore implementing the security measures outlined in (i) to (iii) above.
Changing Facilities
Sean Gabriel explained that the communal changing areas for the Leisure facilities were presently shared between the public and pupils and Members proposed that a new design be considered as part of the ‘Schools for the Future’ Project.
Vacancies for the Governing Body and Student Representative
Members were informed that the School had given further consideration to seeking a Student Representative for the CUMC, but felt that it was preferable for pupils to be represented as the School’s Student Council, as the CUMC Meetings could be an intimidating setting for young people. Feedback would be provided to pupils following the CUMC meetings and the Student Council could also make representations to the CUMC.
6.COUNCILLOR ITEMS
Gymnastics Event
Councillor Mrs Lavender informed Members of a Gymnastics Event which had taken place recently for young disabled people and requested that congratulations be extended to all those involved for what had been an excellent event. The event had been attended by children from all over the Country and had been a great success.
Poole Youth Forum
Councillor Trent advised that neither school or Leisure Centre had been represented at a recent meeting of the Poole Youth Forum and Sally Apps undertook to establish why the School had not been represented at this Meeting.
Poole Safe Together Partnership
The Chairman reported that a Government Minister was visiting the Rossmore area the following day to look at the Community Safety projects being undertaken locally. A significant amount of good, multi-agency work was being completed in the area and consideration could be given to innovative ways of attaining funding for further initiatives.
- ROSSMORE LEISURE CENTRE MANAGER’S REPORT
Sean Gabriel, Leisure Centre Manager, circulated the Rossmore Leisure Centre Manager’s Report and drew Members’ attention to the following:-
Contract Overview
The capital works had been completed across al 3 Leisure Centres (Rossmore Leisure Centre, the dolphin Centre and Ashdown Leisure Centre).
SLM had completed a management re-organisation and Sean Gabriel had been appointed as the new General Manager at Rossmore, Dave Greenwood as the Contracts Manager and a Duty Manager was to transfer from Ashdown Leisure Centre.
Sports Development and Out of School Activity Programmes
SLM was in the process of recruiting an Activities Manager to drive forward Sports Development, enable further usage of dry-side spaces and to work on the ‘fundamentals’ (a programme for the under 11’s which was unique to SLM and concentrated on developing key motor skills using different sports, such as basketball, badminton, athletics and tennis, as a base for developing skills for life).
- Leisure Services, the School and SLM would be working in partnership with regard to Sports Development work and the Dry-Space programme;
- SLM, Leisure Services, the School, Children and Young People’s Strategy/ Quality and Improvement Service, External Clubs (e.g. the Swimming Club) and other Agencies were working in partnership to deliver out-of-school sporting activities;
- SLM had worked closely with the Schools Partnership Team to continue to supply quality sporting activities over the School Holidays, which had been successful over the previous half-term with over 60 children attending and football sessions had started on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Gymnastics Results
- The latest Gymnastics results were reported to the Committee.
Health and Fitness
- The Leisure Centre was currently working towards achieving IF1 Level 2 accreditation which worked towards the target of becoming a specialist population gym, specifically targeting GP referral patients and people with additional needs;
- New Senior exercise classes had started and a new Zumba dance class was commencing on 13th November;
- Phase 4 cardiac rehab classes had started in the gym and were running at 85% capacity, the Aqua gym sessions continued to go from strength to strength and were currently running at 95% capacity;
- SLM was investigating the possibility of redeveloping the bar area into a Group Exercise Studio and were hoping to offer body pump classes in the New Year.
Splash School
- There were currently 520 pupils enrolled in Splash School and although this was currently off the target of 700, SLM was confident that this would be achieved as the School developed the continuous development ethos;
- All Splash School pupils were offered swimming sessions free of charge and parents of children under 5 automatically received this benefit;
Dry-Side Activities
- The Leisure Centre would be focussing on re-launching the Dry-Side Activities programme and would be appointing a Dry-Side Activities Co-ordinator to focus on after school and holiday activities;
- The Co-ordinator would also be developing children’s birthday party packages at all three of the Leisure Centres.
Club Use
- The Leisure Centre would be hosting new bookings for Poole Netball Leagues on Sundays and an additional Five-A-Side club block booking.
Everyone Active
- The new ‘Everyone Active’ brand would be launched in January 2008 and workshops were taking place to raise awareness of the brand;
- SLM would consider sponsoring a reward system whereby young people received credits for involvement in sporting activities and a Walking Bus Scheme;
- The Dry-Side Activities Co-ordinator would develop and take such projects forward;
- Linkages could also be explored with the Borough’s Youth Services with regard to such work.
Maintenance
- There were plans to resurface the Sports Hall in the New Year, to paint the walls blue and replace the flooring in the concourse at a later date;
- Discussions were to take place to provide improved changing facilities for children.
Turnstiles
- The turnstiles had been installed and SLM was working to ensure all customers had their ‘Everyone Active’ cards, including OLGA and Splash parents and Club and Silver Swim users.
AGREED that:
(i)the Leisure Centre Manager’s Report be noted;
(ii)Michelle Cooke, Sean Gabriel and the Activities Co-ordinator discuss opportunities for introducing a reward system for young people’s involvement in sporting activities and a Walking Bus Scheme; and
(iii)Linkages be explored with the Borough’s Youth Services Unit with regard to these and future projects.
MRM Booking/Reporting System
Members were informed that a MRM booking/reporting system had been introduced enabling marketing activities to be planned and budgeted and the system was already providing data for profiling customers attending the Leisure Centre.
Clubs based at the Rossmore Campus
Members agreed that a list of the Clubs based at the Rossmore Campus could be provided to pupils since this could generate interest in the activities on offer.
Planning Obligations for Recreation/Heathland Mitigation Funds
Anthony Rogers informed Members that Leisure Services had also developed a Green Card Scheme, which could be used by anyone wishing the Council to consider funding and deliver a project, from either the Planning Obligations for Recreation or Heathland Mitigation funds. The Green Card Scheme would formalise requests for Leisure Services staff to consider against policy, strategy and various constraints. The purpose of the Heathland Mitigation Fund was to improve open space in the Borough and to encourage some of those activities, like Bicycle BMX which was damaging to heathland, away from heathland areas. Consideration could be given to whether funding could be attained from the Heathland Mitigation fund for facilities on the campus (e.g., the Skate Park/Play Schemes etc).
- DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
Monday, 14th January 2008 at 4.00p.m. at Rossmore Community College.
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