3^rd March 2004

March 2004

Reporting Area

Leisure & Culture

Lead Director

Peter Rowntree

1. Progress / Issue Reporting

Progress Made

Issues to be addressed

Who

By When

Leadership

Updates on previous report

· 10 year Leisure partnership transfers property risk, secures investment in Bath, Keynsham and Midsomer Norton and reduces running costs.

· 2 Board meetings have been held

· Achievement of top 25% performance for the service

· Financial plan adjustments approved

· Balance between sensitive "commercial" decisions and political aspirations for the service

HoS LAS

Dir

Dir

Over the contract period

· Royal Victoria Park - application for Green Flag Award successful

HOS LAS

· New Trustees appointed to 4 Circus Trust -Bath Spa University College paying charges to cover all running costs.

· Maintain good working relationship; examine options for 1st floor rooms

HHoS

ongoing

·

·

People

Updates on previous report

· Museum of Costume / Assembly Rooms Development Manager has resigned; will not be replaced

· Resources will be concentrated on addressing short term development issues and refocusing the attraction to address marketing and customer feedback issues

HHOS

04-2005

Progress Made

Issues to be addressed

Who

By When

· Library restructure went live on October 1^st 2003, merging Libraries with Customer Services and enabling Library Vision to be implemented

· Restructure needs to be combined with changed processes and procedures to deliver Vision and changed ethos

HoSL

People

New items

· All staff now in post following restructure in Customer Services, Libraries and Information, including Social Inclusion Officer and Life Long Learning Officer.

· Large training requirement for new and existing staff

LIB HOS

Partnership & Resources

Updates

· Bid made for funding from ODPM "Liveability Fund" to support safety works in parks & open spaces.

Decision awaited

HOS LAS

· New irrigation tank & system at Approach Golf Course subject to tender to comply with Wessex Water order.

· Independent evaluation received and work exposed to tender. Decision on funding to be made.

HOS LAS

05/04

· Play equipment replaced as agreed in budget)

· Improvements to DDA access, CCTV and first aid posts plus refurbishment of mound area at RVP

HOS LAS

04/04

· PSA funding agreed for Leisure. £90k pump priming and £300k UCA

· Targets of extra 100k visits pa and extra 1,500 people attending twice per week

2006

· Roman Baths and Record Office partnership with British Library for literacy project funded by DCMS of £50k

· Three year literacy project

03 06

· Roman Baths partnership with the Bath Foyer started, in HLF-funded Campaign for Learning project with disadvantaged 16-24 year olds

· Engage hard-to-reach audience

03 06

· Purchases made with PSA funds for new spoken word materials in Customer Services, Libraries and Information.

· To ensure PSA targets met.

LIB HOS

· Writhlington library project underway with opening date in Spring 2004.

· To track results and monitor usage to inform further pilots.

LIB HOS

Partnership & Resources

· Self Issue project commenced in Customer Services, Libraries & Information funded by PSA

· Ensure targets met (extra 35K visits and improved satisfaction)

LIB HOS

2006

· E innovations bid submitted for funds to implement home delivery and lending - vending machines for Customer Services, Libraries and Information. We are also a partner in Somerset CC bid for technology to be used in libraries, and South Gloucs. bid for libraries to be used as community centres.

· Awaiting results from ODPM.

LIB HOS

Progress Made

Issues to be addressed

Who

By When

· S 106 improvements completed in Beacon Fields Peasedown St John

· New paths, youth facilities, play equipment and landscaping installed; reseeding and tree planting still to complete

HOS LAS

Mar 04

· Chew Valley Sports Centre - extension of operating contract

· Need to ensure affordable and still able to attract Sport England funding for improvements

HOS LAS

04/04

Policy and Strategy

· Cemeteries memorials testing agreed in budget to comply with safety requirements

· Memorial testing started

HOS LAS

· Plan For Sport & Active Leisure draft for consultation

· Plan will focus on social benefits of sports participation and link to Local Plan

HOS LAS

04/04

· Senior Officers of the 4 Unitary Authorities along with Sport England have agreed to develop a joint sports plan to cover the 4Uas

· Establish areas where joint working beneficial. Need to agree a way forward to ensure funding beyond 2005

HOS LAS

· Playing Pitch Assessment completed (funding support from Sport England)

· Issues arising will be considered as part of wider Green Spaces Plan and separate action plan

HOS LAS

2004/05

· Green Spaces Plan project initiated

· Bid for continued funding included in 2004/05 Service Plan.

HOS LAS

2004/05

Policy and Strategy

· Scoping study in draft for replacement of library management system before OJEU tender in 2004 (replacement due for 2005). Considers inclusion of Bristol in consortium.

· Study needs to be reviewed with involvement of HBS. and discussion as to strategic direction of consortium.

LIB HOS

Ongoing

· Position statement submitted to DCMS for Libraries (replaced annual library plan) - awarded a "2" fair overall.

· Need to implement Vision which will improve mark for next year.

LIB HOS

Processes

Updates on previous report

· Bath & North East Somerset Resident's Discovery Cards issued now 12,500 compared with 10,000 at last report

HHOS

Ongoing

· Pump Room and Assembly Rooms catering contracts decision delayed to allow further analysis of financial information

· Continue selection process and appoint caterers to each contract

Progress Made

Issues to be addressed

Who

By When

Processes

Updates on previous report

· Measures to protect Stall Street Roman Bath undertaken

· Complete interventive conservation on the Bath

12 04

Processes

· Victoria Art Gallery and Assembly Rooms / Museum of Costume both received 2^nd year of quality accreditation under the ETB Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme

· Maintain standards of customer care

Ongoing

· Victoria Art Gallery voted "best activity for free" in the Bath Chronicle `Best of Bath Awards'

· Maintain public profile

HHOS

ongoing