Council celebrates the spectacular success of Team GB and Paralympics GB at the London 2012 games, and in particular the outstanding achievements of the Leeds athletes.
Council applauds schools across Leeds who have taken inspiration from the Olympics and Paralympics, and who have organised many sporting events.
Council reaffirms its commitment to becoming a Child Friendly City including the outcome of encouraging children and young people to chose healthy lifestyles. Council further recognises that a key part of this is school sports.
Council notes with deep concern the actions of Education Secretary Michael Gove in authorising the selling-off of school playing pitches, in some cases against the advice of the independent school playing fields advisory panel, and removing the minimum outdoor space guidelines for schools.
Council believes this latest policy change, following on from the removal of the School Sports Partnership Funding, undermines school sports and is at odds with the aim of an Olympic legacy.
Council resolves to instruct the Chief Executive to write to ministers to lobby for a true Olympic legacy including protecting school playing pitches and reinstating Schools Sports Partnership funding to its pre-cut level.
Council believes this will enable school children to develop a love of sporting activity that will help them choose healthy lifestyles and improve health outcomes.
J BLAKE
Minutes:
It was moved by Councillor Blake, seconded by Councillor Mulherin, that this Council celebrates the spectacular success of Team GB and Paralympics GB at the London 2012 games, and in particular the outstanding achievements of the Leeds athletes.
Council applauds schools across Leeds who have taken inspiration from the Olympics and Paralympics, and who have organised many sporting events.
Council reaffirms its commitment to becoming a Child Friendly City including the outcome of encouraging children and young people to chose healthy lifestyles. Council further recognises that a key part of this is school sports.
Council notes with deep concern the actions of Education Secretary Michael Gove in authorising the selling-off of school playing pitches, in some cases against the advice of the independent school playing fields advisory panel, and removing the minimum outdoor space guidelines for schools.
Council believes this latest policy change, following on from the removal of the School Sports Partnership Funding, undermines school sports and is at odds with the aim of an Olympic legacy.
Council resolves to instruct the Chief Executive to write to ministers to lobby for a true Olympic legacy including protecting school playing pitches and reinstating Schools Sports Partnership funding to its pre-cut level.
Council believes this will enable school children to develop a love of sporting activity that will help them choose healthy lifestyles and improve health outcomes.
An amendment was moved by Councillor S Bentley, seconded by Councillor Campbell, to delete paragraphs 4, 5 & 6 and replace with:-
‘Council welcomes the greatly reduced rate of playing field sales when compared with the previous government and notes that the vast majority of sales by the current secretary of state have been in line with independent advice.
Council notes with deep concern the increase of £83 in the cost of hiring a council sports pitch in two years under the current administration.
Council believes this latest policy change, undermines school sports and is at odds with the aim of an Olympic legacy.
Council welcomes Liberal Democrat proposals to restore the percentage of Lottery funding spent on sport to 20% after it was cut to 16% by the previous government and for a £32 million scheme to encourage 14-25 year olds to try new sports.’,
A second amendment was moved by Councillor Lamb, seconded by Councillor G Latty, as follows:-
Between ‘the Leeds athletes’ and ‘Council applauds schools’ insert:-
‘This Council congratulates Boris Johnson, Lord Coe, LOCOG and representatives of both the current and previous government for their efforts in delivering a truly inspiring and hugely popular Olympic and Paralympic Games.’
Delete all after ‘many sporting events.’ and replace with:-
‘This Council further applauds the efforts of the many thousands of volunteers that make amateur sport a reality for both young and old by giving their time freely to coach, officiate and facilitate sporting events and matches throughout the city.
Council believes that much more ambition is needed to ensure that the Olympics and Paralympics have a lasting impact in Leeds and Council therefore commits to:-
- A cast iron guarantee that will mean that no sports’ pitch, playground or park will be sold off without the express permission of the Council or Executive Board;
- using the UDP process to deliver innovative solutions to the creation of more sports’ pitches, green spaces, park land and playgrounds;
- looking again at how community groups access sports facilities;
- ensuring that there are sufficient qualified coaches operating in the city to meet the aspirations of all sportsmen and women;
- providing support to sports clubs in meeting the stringent CRB requirements associated with coaching children and young people;
- ensuring that the Council is encouraging sports’ clubs to access the many Government grants that are available and that the Council itself is aware of and is applying for grants to maximise the service offer available to people in Leeds.
This Council is fully committed to delivering on the ambition of becoming a child friendly city and sees sport, leisure and healthy lifestyles as a key aspect of that process.’
The motion would read:-
‘This Council celebrates the spectacular success of Team GB and Paralympics GB at the London 2012 games, and in particular the outstanding achievements of the Leeds athletes.
This Council congratulates Boris Johnson, Lord Coe, LOCOG and representatives of both the current and previous government for their efforts in delivering an inspiring and hugely popular Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Council applauds schools across Leeds who have taken inspiration from the Olympics and Paralympics, and who have organised many sporting events.
This Council further applauds the efforts of the many thousands of volunteers that make amateur sport a reality for both young and old by giving their time freely to coach, officiate and facilitate sporting events and matches throughout the city.
Council believes that much more ambition is needed to ensure that the Olympics and Paralympics have a lasting impact in Leeds and Council therefore commits to:
- A cast iron guarantee that will mean that no sports’ pitch, playground or park will be sold off without the express permission of the Council or Executive Board;
- using the UDP process to deliver innovative solutions to the creation of more sports’ pitches, green spaces, park land and playgrounds;
- looking again at how community groups can access schools and other Council owned property to deliver sporting activity;
- ensuring that there are sufficient qualified coaches operating in the city to meet the aspirations of all sportsmen and women and that more support is available for those wanting to become coaches;
- providing support to sports clubs in meeting the stringent CRB requirements associated with coaching children and young people;
- ensuring that the Council is encouraging sports’ clubs to access the many Government grants that are available and that the Council itself is aware of and is applying for grants to maximise the service offer available to people in Leeds.
This Council is fully committed to delivering on the ambition of becoming a child friendly city and sees sport, leisure and healthy lifestyles as a key aspect of that process.’
The amendments were declared lost and, upon the motion being put to the vote, it was
RESOLVED – That this Council celebrates the spectacular success of Team GB and Paralympics GB at the London 2012 games, and in particular the outstanding achievements of the Leeds athletes.
Council applauds schools across Leeds who have taken inspiration from the Olympics and Paralympics, and who have organised many sporting events.
Council reaffirms its commitment to becoming a Child Friendly City including the outcome of encouraging children and young people to chose healthy lifestyles. Council further recognises that a key part of this is school sports.
Council notes with deep concern the actions of Education Secretary Michael Gove in authorising the selling-off of school playing pitches, in some cases against the advice of the independent school playing fields advisory panel, and removing the minimum outdoor space guidelines for schools.
Council believes this latest policy change, following on from the removal of the School Sports Partnership Funding, undermines school sports and is at odds with the aim of an Olympic legacy.
Council resolves to instruct the Chief Executive to write to ministers to lobby for a true Olympic legacy including protecting school playing pitches and reinstating Schools Sports Partnership funding to its pre-cut level.
Council believes this will enable school children to develop a love of sporting activity that will help them choose healthy lifestyles and improve health outcomes.