Agenda item

This report has been provided to update the Scrutiny Panel regarding the Physical Activity & Leisure Services in B&NES, setting the scene around the benefits of physical activity across a wide range of outcomes and data regarding current levels of activity across the local population.

The Director of Public Health introduced the report and explained to the Panel that Leisure Services moved to within the remit of Public Health in 2021 and said that this had proved to be an excellent decision.

The Head of Leisure & Physical Activity addressed the Panel and said that producing the report had been a useful process to have undertaken. He said that the changes to the service over the years have been monumental and that it was fantastic to now be part of the Public Health service.

Kevin Burnett asked if further comments could be given regarding any barriers to participation, gaps in provision and key priorities / funding options.

The Head of Leisure & Physical Activity replied that these matters can depend on where you live within B&NES and it was known that certain populations were not so active. He added that any increase in activity is encouraged and does not have to be through a recognised sport or event.

He explained that they are working with certain community groups such as the Bath City Football Foundation to try to address the disparity and find other locations for them to hold activities.

He said that cost does remain a barrier to take part in certain activities.

In terms of gaps in provision he said that they were assessing what local leisure facilities are available and whether any can be enhanced. He added that they were looking at how green spaces can be used more and were working with the Green Infrastructure Team to look at areas across the Council.

He said that the element of ‘play’ would also be a focus to see how that can be developed in order to achieve healthy / active outcomes. He added that the team has a good relationship with GLL, the Council’s leisure facilities provider and the Dragonfly Trust that are based in Midsomer Norton who have recently opened a community garden and outdoor play space.

Kevin Burnett asked what resources would be required to expand any provision.

The Head of Leisure & Physical Activity replied that there were only two members of staff within the Physical Activity Team, but said they were creative in finding additional resources and that funding opportunities and innovative solutions were worked upon with GLL.

The Director of Public Health added that an advantage of working within a relatively small council was being able to work with other services such as the Parks Team, in terms of play and officers working on the Local Plan to see what opportunities can be maximised. She said that Active Travel was also an element to their future work.

Councillor Joanna Wright commented that she would have liked to have seen a section within the report on Active Travel and how people of all ages can be encouraged to travel to the facilities mentioned in an active way.

She said that a large focus within the report was on group / pitch based activities, but said it was known that many girls do not want to take part in these sports. She suggested that any future report has a section addressing individual sports.

She stated that the site of the current weekly Park Run was on top of a large hill, meaning that the majority of people taking part would have to drive there to take part. She asked if any consideration was being given to finding a more accessible site for this.

She asked what work was being done to keep pricing low for certain activities at leisure centres such a family swimming and trampolining.

She referred to the HAF programme and asked what barriers there were for attending this initiative as it only had a 72% participation rate for a free activity.

She stated that the subject of ‘play’ needs to be considered in the context of all age groups.

She said that the Climate Change section of the report could have also been expanded to address areas such as travelling to and from leisure facilities / activities.

She explained that within North East Somerset it was a difficult situation as Parishes are not able to invest large sums of money into play areas.

The Head of Leisure & Physical Activity thanked Councillor Wright for her comments and said that they do work with providers with regard to travel plans. He added that for the use of active spaces, in particular team sports, that they were seeking to encourage car sharing where possible.

He stated that family memberships were incoming to the GLL run sites and that a number of concession schemes were also planned.

He suggested that Parishes could seek to apply for additional funding through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and that they have helped in recent bids for track development at Bath BMX and lighting improvements at Saltford Tennis Club and Writhlington Sports Centre.

He explained that the HAF programme was funded separately within Public Health and that compared to other areas the 75% participation rate was seen as good.

With regard to encouraging to the activity levels of girls he said that they were working with a number of local football clubs to attempt to build on the recent successes of the England Women at international tournaments. He added that the numbers of female cyclists taking part in activities at the Odd Down Cycle Track had increased recently.

Councillor Dave Harding said that he would echo the comments relating to Parishes trying to gain additional funding through the CIL as he was aware that this had been successful within the Chew Valley. He added that there was also a loss of provision of the dual-use leisure centre services at Chew Valley School as this was now solely run by the school and that membership was required to use the facilities.

Councillor Liz Hardman queried whether the strategy and approach was Bath centric and asked if they worked with any of the Parishes to seek to increase the levels of activity. She added that the HAF programme was only able to take place in Paulton once over the Summer as there was not enough funding for additional visits.

The Head of Leisure & Physical Activity replied that they do try work across the whole of the Council and have carried out activities at Paulton Community Hall, Bishop Sutton FC and Bishop Sutton Tennis Club. He added that they have worked with Parks teams in Midsomer Norton and Radstock to establish local Park Runs and said they were working with the Park Run team nationally in order to seek other sites.

He said that he was willing to discuss the HAF programme in more detail with colleagues to analyse provision for any future events.

Councillor Ruth Malloy began by highlighting the relatively new Foot Golf facility, based in Victoria Park. She said that she was keen to promote the elements of informal physical activity such as Active Travel and was pleased to hear of the involvement of the Green Infrastructure Team.

She added that she was pleased to hear that the team are engaged with the Local Plan and improving our Green Spaces. She said that a good source of activity was walking and working on an allotment or garden in general as well as any localities that have access to a Community Garden.

The Head of Leisure & Physical Activity replied that the Foot Golf had been well received as a new activity to the area and he was pleased that the introduction of Ten Pin Bowling and a Trampolining area to Bath Leisure Centre, replacing the previous Squash courts, had been successful and allowed for a multi-generational use.

Chris Batten asked if any of the current sites could begin or increase their use of solar panels.

The Head of Leisure & Physical Activity replied that there was potential for this to happen and was aware that this was already due to take place at Midsomer Norton and Keynsham Leisure Centres and Odd Down Sports Ground.

The Chair commented that she would welcome the swimming pool at Culverhay Leisure Centre to be considered in potential use of solar panels to see if that would assist in bringing that local facility back into use.

The Head of Leisure & Physical Activity replied that they were about to embark on a playing pitch and built facilities strategy as part of the Local Plan and said that the use of Culverhay would form part of that study.

The Chair said that to have available facilities close to their localities would be of benefit especially in any identified areas of deprivation.

Councillor Ruth Malloy proposed that the Panel could receive a presentation from Alison Herbert, Bath BID on their second Rebalance Wellbeing Festival at some point.

The Chair thanked the officers from the Physical Activity Team for attending on behalf of the Panel.

The Panel RESOLVED to note the content of the report.