Agenda item

(a)  Input to Work Programme - To consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development providing information and guidance to assist the Board continue to develop its work programme for 2008/09.

(b)  Determine Work Programme 2008/09 – To consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on determining the Board’s Work Programme for 2008/09.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report providing Members with information and guidance to assist the Board in developing its work programme for 2008/09 in the particular areas of culture and leisure.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting Councillor John Procter, Executive Board Member with portfolio responsibility for Leisure, Jean Dent, Director City Development, Martin Farrington, Acting Chief Recreation Officer and Catherine Blanshard, Chief Libraries, Arts and Heritage Officer, to speak on current issues in culture and leisure and to respond to questions from the Board.  Paul Maney, Head of Performance Management was also in attendance.

The Executive Board Member with portfolio responsibility for leisure and the Director summarised the key activities, priorities and challenges facing the department for the year ahead.  Particular reference was made to the continued pressures on the budget in culture and leisure, reduced funding streams, rising heating costs, the economic down turn and the proposals not to proceed with the Sports Trust.

Members commented on and sought further clarification on particular issues for possible inclusion in the Board’s future work programme.  These included:

·  Cross border activity – the extent to which Leeds City Council was providing services to non-residents and that Leeds as a focal point for visitors helped to generate income.

·  Tennis provision in Leeds, particularly for the young – the need to publicise the recent decision to abolish charges and a view that more needed to be done to promote tennis.  It was reported that a similar argument could be put for all other sporting activities whose popularity changed on a regular basis.

·  Swimming provision and the funding implications and impact of the Government’s proposal to provide free swimming to 2012.

·  On-line booking of services - It was reported that, whilst a number of services could be booked on-line e.g. 90% of Grand Theatre bookings for some shows done on-line, the complexity of the service and charging arrangements was hindering progress and consideration was being given to finding ways to simplify these.

·  The over subscription and competition for places at swimming classes in Wetherby.

·  Improving the visitor experience at sports centres.

·  Arts Grants provision: an outstanding issue from the previous Scrutiny Board (Culture and Leisure) – Members requested information on the allocation and administration of this grant.

·  The Sports Trust – Members requested more information on the proposals not to proceed with the Trust and the likely effects.  Members were advised that a report would be presented to the Executive Board later in the week recommending that the Council did not proceed with the Sports Trust at this moment in time.

·  Sports Centres – Members were advised of the challenges faced by the Council to improve facilities at sports centres, in particular to encourage more customers and to make them more fuel efficient.  It was pointed out that a quarter of all customers attending Leeds City Council sports centres either don’t pay or pay a reduced rate.

·  The Carriage Works Theatre – seating, sight lines and the heating.  It was stated that this development had been extremely successful and popular and that income generation had exceeded expectations, but there was recognition of the issues referred to, particularly the amount of legroom and comfort of the seating.

·  Pudsey Leisure Centre – A Member expressed concern at the level of cleaning at this Leisure Centre and the appropriate officer agreed to investigate.

·  Parks and Greenspace Strategy – Members requested an update on this strategy.

·  Parish Councils and their relationship with the Planning Unit.

The Chair thanked Officers for attending.  The Board agreed to consider Agenda Item 7(b) ‘Determine Work Programme 2008/09’ at the end of the meeting under Agenda Item 10 ‘Current Work Programme’ (Minute No. 27 refers).

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and appendices be noted.

(b)  That information on the Arts Grant be circulated to Members of the Board.

(c)  That information on the Sports Trust submitted to the Executive Board on 16^th July 2008 be circulated to Members of this Board.

(d)  That a report on the Parks and Greenspace Strategy be submitted to the Board at a future meeting.