Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Mrs PM Bryant.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Leisure and Community Policy Development and Review Panel held on 5 March 2014..

It was AGREED that the minutes of the meeting of the Leisure and Community Policy Development and Review Panel held on 5 March 2014be  confirmed and signed as a correct record.

There were no Chairman’s announcements made at this meeting.

To receive any declarations of interest from members in accordance with Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct and disclosures of advice or directions received from Group Leaders or Political Groups, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

In accordance with Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct a declaration of interest was made by Councillor Mrs Pankhurst regarding item  8 – “Lockswood Community Centre – Presentation by Lockswood Sports and Community Association” ( see minute 8 below).

To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged.

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

To consider a petition of 70 signatures, which has been submitted to the Council requesting the following:-

“We the undersigned petition the Council to work with the Everyone Active Fareham Leisure Centre to continue providing childcare services for members of the Leisure Centre during the time of the pool refurbishment and after the refurbishment is complete”.

The Panel were to have considered a petition of 70 signatures, which had been submitted to the Council requesting the following:-

“We the undersigned petition the Council to work with the Everyone Active Fareham Leisure Centre to continue providing childcare services for members of the Leisure Centre during the time of the pool refurbishment and after the refurbishment is complete”.

Members were advised that following submission of the petition, the matter had now been resolved to the satisfaction of the petitioner. For the Panel’s information, the Chairman circulated a copy of a newspaper article which confirmed that crèche facilities would be resumed after completion of the pool refurbishment.

The Director of Community informed members that the petitioner had decided not to address the Panel as originally intended, but instead had written to express her thanks to the Council and to the management of Fareham Leisure Centre, Everyone Active, for their support in arriving at a positive outcome.

It was AGREED that the matter be noted.

To receive a presentation by the Director of Community together with the Head of Leisure and Community.

The Panel received a presentation by the Head of Leisure and Community which covered the following matters:-

·                Members were informed that the role of the Panel included   assisting the Executive in the development of policies and submitting recommendations to the Executive and reviewing service performance at eg. Fareham Leisure Centre and Ferneham Hall;

·                Promotion of the corporate priorities of Leisure for Health and Fun  and Strong and Inclusive Communities. This to be achieved   by  developing community facilities in the Western Wards,  implementing the findings from the review of community buildings and sports facilities and the development of new and improved play areas;

·                Details were provided of recent achievements which included the refurbishment of Fareham Leisure Centre, borough-wide review of community buildings, success in obtaining external funding for the Fareham Park Project and the Play Area Improvement programme.

·                The priorities for 2014/15 were listed as:-

ØDevelopment of the new Western Wards swimming pool including associated community facilities at Coldeast;

ØThe Fareham Park Project;

ØProgress with the Fareham Park Lane Recreation Ground Vision;

ØVisioning exercise for improved sports facilities at Cams Alders Recreation Ground;

ØBath Lane Pavilion refurbishment;

Ø Fareham Cultural Facilities Integration; and

ØHook Recreation Ground drainage.

The Head of Leisure and Community answered members’ questions on various matters covered in the presentation.  In particular, concerns were expressed about the future of Westbury Manor Museum in light of the recent establishment of the Hampshire Solent Cultural Trust and proposals for the integration of cultural facilities in Fareham.  It was reported that officers of both Hampshire County Council (HCC) and Fareham Borough Council (FBC) were in discussion about these matters.  It was suggested that at a later date when the Trust was more established HCC officers be invited to a future Panel meeting to update members on progress.

A question was also raised about the range of sports facilities provided and whether more pitches could be made available for hockey players. The Head of Leisure and Community advised that a review of the playing pitch strategy is carried out on a 5 yearly basis. Recent studies indicate that there remains a shortfall in the number of junior football and cricket pitches needed but does not indicate a need for additional pitches for hockey.

It was AGREED that the Head of Leisure and Community be thanked for the information provided in his presentation.

To receive a presentation by representatives of Lockswood Sports and Community Association.

The Panel received a joint presentation from representatives of Lockswood Sports and Community Association, namely Mr Ray Randall, (Vice-Chairman and Treasurer) and Mr Geoff Eales (Chairman).

Members were updated on the successful progress made by the community association since it was established by a group of trustees in 2013, with financial assistance from Fareham Borough Council.  It was reported that the Community Centre is open from 9am to 10pm on weekdays, there are events taking place each Saturday and a wide range of people use the facility for a variety of activities. Over the last year the number of users of the community centre has shown an increase.

The representatives stated that one particular project the association would like to pursue is to make improvements to the activity room so it could also be used as a dance studio. A lottery funding application has been made for this purpose. The main problem was the poor heating system in the sports hall which could potentially have an adverse effect on income if, during the winter period, the room is too cold for some centre users.

The Panel was informed that an Annual General Meeting of all Centre users will be held on 2 September 2014 and all members were invited to attend.  Mr Randall and Mr Eales wished to express their thanks to Centre staff and user groups for their support and also to the support received from Council officers and Fareham Community Action.

Councillor Mrs Pankhurst declared a non-pecuniary interest in this matter on the grounds that she works at the nearby Waitrose store.

It was AGREED that Mr Randall, Mr Eales and others on the Community Association Board of Trustees be thanked for the success they have achieved over the last year and for the hard work and enthusiasm of all those involved with the Community Centre.

To consider a report by the Director of Community which presents an update on the review of community buildings following completion of the needs assessments for all of the Community Action Team areas.

The Panel considered a report by the Director of Community which presented the draft master plan for the review of community buildings, following completion of the needs assessments for all of the Community Action Team  areas.

Members raised questions concerning a number of the facilities referred to in the report which were addressed by the Leisure Development Manager.  In response to an enquiry by Councillor Price regarding detailed accounts for Portchester Community Centre, the Director of Community agreed to provide Councillor Price with a summary of the figures.  Comments were also made on the need, in particular, for improvements to the roofing and guttering at Abshot Community Centre.

Members were referred to paragraph 3 of the report which listed projects for inclusion in the action plan following completion of the needs assessment for Fareham Town, Titchfield and Western Wards CAT areas. It was the general consensus that there was a need for priority to be given to the provision of community facilities in Fareham Town CATs area.

It was AGREED that the outcome of the review of community buildings detailed in the report and the comments made at the meeting on potential schemes for inclusion in the action plan be noted.

To consider a report by the Director of Community and Streetscene regarding the Panel’s proposed work programme for 2014/15.

The Panel considered a report by the Director of Community regarding the Panel’s proposed work programme for 2014/15.

A proposal was made that the following two items be added as unallocated items on the work programme and to be scheduled into the programme at an appropriate time:-

(i)            a presentation by Y services, a new youth work charity in Hampshire that works with young people;

(ii)          a presentation on progress regarding the establishment of Hampshire Solent Cultural Trust (minute 7 above refers).

It was further suggested that a visit by Panel members to Community Centres and possibly other community facilities in the Borough could be added to the work programme at a suitable future date.

It was AGREED that, subject to the inclusion of the above proposed additions to the work programme as unallocated items, the Panel’s work programme for 2014/14 be approved.