Meeting documents

1 THE ISSUE

1.1 The London Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games in 2012 offers a unique opportunity for the sub-region. The area is ideally positioned to secure economic and social advantage from the Olympics with a cultural and sporting offering which can attract funding, global media attention and international athletes. A partnership has been formed to represent key partner organisations and lead on the work required to maximise the benefits of the Games to the sub-region.

2 RECOMMENDATION

2.1 that the authority will be a member of the West of England Working Group for the 2012 Olympic Games and commit to the principles and funding obligations as itemised at paragraph 3 and further itemised in the attached business case to support this.

2.2 to fund the current year cost within the Tourism, Leisure and Culture budget and to consider future funding through the Service Plan process.

2.3 that, should additional funding not be approved within the Financial Plan for future years, the committed costs will also need to be absorbed within the Tourism, Leisure and Culture budget.

3 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

3.1 Outline costs have been drawn up and it is proposed that these costs are met by the three sectors forming the partnership (i.e. local authorities, businesses and universities). Full details are contained within the Business Plan. Costs include the employment of staff by the West of England Partnership (with payroll and other support provided by Bath & North East Somerset Council as provided for within the existing sub-regional partnership arrangements).

3.2 It is recognised that the greatest economic benefits to the sub-region will fall in the main to Bristol and Bath, whilst the sporting legacy benefits will be more evenly felts. It is proposed therefore that local authority cost will be apportioned as follows:

3.3 Only the first three years have been financially forecast at the moment. As the partnership develops further, a revised business case will be presented to cover the years 2009 onwards.

3.4 One off funding only is available in 2006/07 through the Sport & Active Leisure budget, including a corporate contribution. Funding for future years is being pursued through the Service Plan process.

4 COMMUNITY STRATEGY OUTCOMES

4.1 Involvement with the 2012 Olympic Games is likely to promote sporting activities and therefore improvements in health and well-being, with potential reduction in anti-social behaviour. Part of the supporting evidence given in Britain's successful bid was that we are a tolerant and multi-cultural society. One of the main aims will be to promote equalities and celebrate diversity. This Partnership therefore has the potential to bring benefits and opportunities to all sectors of our community, promoting participation and inclusion. The following community strategy outcomes are therefore supported;

Promoting a 'sense of place' so people identify with and take pride in our communities

Celebrating the contributions people from different backgrounds and with different experiences can make, and promoting equality of opportunity

Sharing resources, working together, and finding new ways of doing things

Building communities where people feel safe and secure

Improving local opportunities for learning and gaining skills

Improving our local economy

Improving our local environment

Improving our local health and social care

5 CORPORATE IMPROVEMENT PRIORITIES

5.1 This partnership's outcomes will also contribute particularly to achievement of the following corporate priorities;

Improving life chances for disadvantaged teenagers

Improving the environment for learning

Cultural Development

Developing a sustainable economy

Improving customer satisfaction

6 CPA KEY LINES OF ENQUIRY

6.1 The partnership outcomes will contribute to CPA key lines of enquiry as follows;

Creating and developing a better quality of life for the area through

Sustainable Communities and Transport

Safer and Stronger Communities

Healthier Communities

Improving engagement with and a range of services for Older People and Children and Young People

7 THE REPORT

7.1 The announcement that London will host the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games in 2012 offers a unique opportunity for the sub-region. The area is ideally positioned to secure economic advantage from the Olympics with a cultural and sporting offering which can attract funding, global media attention and international athletes.

7.2 There is strong competition from other countries and regions so representatives of relevant organisations across the sub-region have acted swiftly to establish an approach that will promote the interests of the area in a concerted and co-ordinated way. A West of England Working Group for the 2012 Games has been set up and membership is given in the attached Business Plan.

7.3 This Group will work with the South West Office for the London 2012 Games who will co- ordinate the efforts of the seven sub-regional partnerships and link with the London Organising Committee on the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), and the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), which will construct the venues and the necessary infrastructure.

7.4 The South West Team, led by Guy Lavender, South West England Director for the 2012 Games, are represented on LOCOG's Nations and Regions Group which has been established to ensure that the whole of the UK benefit from the Games. The team is co-ordinating regional activity including the liaison with each of the sub regional country groupings. The West of England Working Group relates directly to the South West Team which in turn relates to the LOCOG.

7.5 Regional events are taking place to highlight the opportunities and to consult over the development of the regional plans, under the banner `Lighting the Flame', and Councillors and Officers have been invited to these.

8 RISK MANAGEMENT

8.1 The report author and Lead Executive member have fully reviewed the risk assessment related to the issue and recommendations, in compliance with the Council's decision making risk management guidance. Arrangements outlining the governance of this Project are as set out in the Business Case attached at Appendix A. The Project Board will agree a detailed Project Plan and Risk Register.

9 RATIONALE

9.1 The West of England Working Group has been formed to represent key partner organisations and lead on the work required to maximise the benefits of the Games to the sub-region. The Business Case attached sets out the outline plan to maximise the opportunities presented by 2012 in the period leading up to the event and to ensure that the sub-region achieves a lasting legacy for community and economic benefits.

9.2 The Business Case also sets out the necessary infrastructure which will provide the platform to seize these opportunities and proposes how such an approach can be resourced.

9.3 The LGA in their recent publication `A real legacy: getting the games on track for our communities', urges local authorities to get involved as they are best placed to be able to deliver the facilities which will provide the legacy of the Games and the benefits identified. Local authorities are identified as the community leaders to be involved in the Nations and Regions sub-groups.

9.4 The Council has a number of facilities which could be used for training if required. Should this be the case, the partnership will work with organisations such as Aquaterra and the Universities and other providers to provide a co-ordinated response to need.

10 OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED

10.1 The option of not joining the partnership was considered but rejected, on the basis that the Partnership can contribute meaningfully to achievement of our corporate improvement priorities, CPA lines of enquiry, and community strategy outcomes.

11 CONSULTATION

11.1 Members and Officers from the Unitary Authorities and local businesses and Schools/Universities were invited to the West of England `Lighting the Flame' Event on 10 July 2006 at Bristol.

12 ISSUES TO CONSIDER IN REACHING THE DECISION

12.1 Issues to consider include social inclusion, sustainability, young people and equality (age, race, disability, religion/belief, gender, sexual orientation).

13 ADVICE SOUGHT

13.1 The Council's Monitoring Officer (Council Solicitor) and Section 151 Officer (Strategic Director - Support Services) have had the opportunity to input to this report and have cleared it for publication.