Agenda item

Further to the cancelled Call-In meeting on 23^rd January, to receive and consider an update report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development. The Executive Member (Leisure) and the Acting Chief Recreation Officer have been invited to the meeting to discuss the decision to re-instate the Leeds Half Marathon for 2008, but to move it from May to 21^st September 2008, and the proposals and timetable for a review of the event’s long-term future. 

Further to the cancelled Call-In meeting scheduled for 23^rd January 2008, following a decision to reinstate the Leeds Half Marathon for 2008 and to review its long-term future, the Committee considered a report submitted by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development and also received further evidence in respect of this matter.

Present at the meeting to respond to Members’ queries and comments were Councillor John Procter, Executive Member (Leisure), Martin Farrington, Acting Chief Recreation Officer and Mark Allman, Head of Sport and Active Recreation. Also invited to speak were Bob Jackson (Valley Striders running club), Colin Morath (Abbey Runners) and Bob Foulkes (Horsforth Harriers).

In brief summary, the main areas of discussion were:-

·  The background to and reasons behind the original decision to cancel the Half Marathon in 2008. Principally, these had been a desire to provide effective support to the Jane Tomlinson ‘Run for All’ 10k event, the close proximity of the proposed dates of the two events in May 2008, the pressures imposed on the Sport and Recreation Service by organising either of these events, let alone two virtually simultaneously, the relative importance and status of the Half Marathon and the number of participants in comparison with the ‘Run for All’, and long standing issues regarding the route and condition of the Half Marathon course and the amount of disruption caused by the necessary road closures. The officer decision to cancel the Half Marathon in 2008, taken in consultation and with the agreement of Councillor Procter, and pending a review of the long term future of the event, had therefore been taken for valid reasons.  However, this decision had proved unpopular, especially amongst the running fraternity, and a decision had been taken to reinstate the race, but to move it to September.  One possible date had been 21^st September, but it was now more likely to be 7^th September, and this date was currently being canvassed with interested parties;

·  The lack of consultation with Members and interested parties, which had it taken place might have avoided the controversy, and the need for appropriate consultation to always be a prime consideration whenever delegated decisions were taken. Two specific suggestions arising from the discussion were the proposed formation of a forum comprising representatives of local running clubs, with whom the Council could consult, and the Council publishing details of local running events on its website,  both of which it was felt would aid communication and co-ordination. The decision also did not appear to have been included in the Forward Plan of Key Decisions, and the Head of Scrutiny undertook to investigate.

·  The long term future of the Half Marathon – Councillor Procter indicated that the decision to reinstate the Half Marathon in September provided a breathing space for the Council and interested parties to review the longer term future of the event. In its early years, the Leeds Half Marathon had been an extremely popular, well supported and high profile event. Perhaps due to the proliferation of events since then, its popularity had waned somewhat, although it still attracted in the region of 3,000 runners. Councillor Procter indicated that while ever there was sufficient demand from participants for the Leeds Half Marathon, he was happy to support its continuation – it was up to the entrants to prove its popularity. The documented problems with the route, and the strain imposed on the Sport and Recreation Department in organising the event, were matters which would have to be taken into account when planning for the future.

The  original decision had, in part, been taken in order to allow  the Council and the Department to concentrate on trying to establish a high profile, nationally recognised event for the City, and it was possible that the Jane Tomlinson ‘Run for All’ would provide that opportunity in terms of possibly up to 10,000 participants, sponsorship and media coverage.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report be noted and Members be informed of the agreed final date of the 2008 Leeds Half Marathon.

(b)  That the matter be referred to the Scrutiny Board (Culture and Leisure) with a view to that Board monitoring the proposed review of the event for 2009 and beyond.

(c)  That OSC receive a further report in due course when the proposed future of the event is clearer.