Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Barton, Councillor Dawood and Councillor Shelton.

It was confirmed that the meeting was quorate.

The Chair noted that due to time constraints and low number of committee members present, the presentations/reports of substantive items on the agenda would be taken as read and the progress straight into discussion.

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed.

Members were asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed.

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting of the Heritage, Culture, Leisure and Tourism Scrutiny Commission held on 3 March 2022 are attached and Members will be asked to confirm them as a correct record.

Members were asked to confirm that the minutes of the meeting of the Heritage, Culture, Leisure and Tourism Scrutiny Commission held on 1 March 2022 were a correct record.

AGREED:

That the minutes from the Commission meeting held on 1 March 2022 be confirmed as a correct record.

Members will be asked to note the Terms of Reference for Scrutiny Commissions as set out in the Councils Constitution:

See our Constitution here

Members were asked to note the Terms of Reference for Scrutiny Commissions as set out in the Council’s Constitution.

AGREED:

That the Terms of Reference be noted.

Members will be asked to note the membership of the commission for 2022/23:

Councillor Halford (Chair)

Councillor Bajaj (Vice-Chair)

Councillor Barton

Councillor Broadwell

Councillor Dawood

Councillor Shelton

(1 unallocated Labour group place)

(1 unallocated non-group place)

Members were asked to note the membership of the Heritage, Culture, Leisure and Tourism Scrutiny Commission for the new municipal year 2022/23.

AGREED:

That the membership of the Heritage, Culture, Leisure and Tourism Scrutiny Commission be noted.

Members will be asked to note meetings of the Commission for the 2022/23 municipal year are scheduled to be held on:

Tuesday 7 June 2022

Tuesday 9 August 2022

Tuesday 20 September 2022

Tuesday 8 November 2022

Tuesday 10 January 2023

Tuesday 28 February 2023

All meetings to take place at 5.30pm at City Hall unless otherwise notified.

Members were asked to note the dates of meetings of the Heritage, Culture, Leisure and Tourism Scrutiny Commission for 2022/23.

AGREED:

That the dates of the meetings for the Heritage, Culture, Leisure and Tourism Scrutiny Commission for 2022/23 be noted.

The Chair commended the staff for the hard work and success of the Riverside Festival.

The Monitoring Officer to report on the receipt of any petitions submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedures.

The Monitoring Officer reported that no petitions had been received.

The Monitoring Officer to report on the receipt of any questions, representations or statement of case submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedures.

The Monitoring Officer reported that no questions, representations or statements of case had been received.

The Director of Tourism, Culture and Inward Investment to provide a presentation overview of the Cultural Ambition Fund for 2021/22.

The Director of Tourism, Culture and Inward Investment submitted a presentation on the overview of the use of the Cultural Ambition Fund in 2021/22.

Councillor Clair, Deputy City Mayor for Culture, Leisure and Regulatory Services and The Director of Tourism, Culture and Inward Investment, Mike Dalzell, were present to answer questions put forward by the Commission.

It was clarified that leverage in the context of project leverage, referred to all support, financial and otherwise, given to groups that applied for the Cultural Ambition Fund. Financially, there was a total of £14k available in the fund, with a maximum of £3k available to individual groups that applied.

It was noted that the Cultural Ambition fund had successfully engaged with and supported new groups and start-ups in the 2021/22 municipal year, which allowed the fund to help the smaller groups most in need. Successful groups that had also applied for Arts Council funding were assisted with their application for more funding.

In relation to the determination and allocation of funds and collection of data of those decisions, it was advised that group applicants were proactively assisted by the Arts Advisory and Grants Officer to tailor their applications according to what each group needed from the Cultural Ambition Fund. Each application was then given leverage depending on what was requested, although funding support wasn’t guaranteed, and each application went through a rigorous assessment process.

In terms of repeat funding for successful groups, it was noted that groups couldn’t request funding the year after a successful application.

Members queried whether more funding would be available in the coming years and were informed that there was an aim to increase the total amount of the Cultural Ambition Fund in consecutive years.

AGREED:

That the Commission be kept up to date on the success and funding of Arts, Heritage and Cultural groups and events in the city.

The Director of Tourism, Culture and Inward Investment to provide a presentation on the Leicester Stories Gallery at Leicester Museum and Art Gallery.

The Director of Tourism, Culture, Leisure, and Inward Investment submitted a presentation on the Leicester Stories Gallery.

Members welcomed the presentation and commended the Leicester Stories Gallery staff for a successful opening and exhibition.

AGREED:

That the Leicester Stories Gallery presentation be noted.

The Director of Public Health to provide a presentation update on the Active Leicester Strategy.

The Director of Public Health submitted a presentation on the progression of the Active Leicester Strategy in the city.

Andrew Beddow, Head of Sports, and Victoria Ball, Sport & Active Recreation Manager, were present to answer questions put forward by the Commission.

Members expressed concern about the success and delivery of the Active Leicester strategy in 2021/22. It was noted that due to the impact of Covid-19, the city population were 6% more inactive in comparison to pre-pandemic rates and a notable impact was seen in children and young people, alongside an increase in obesity levels. Effort was now being placed on developing the new Active Leicester strategy and taking a more focused approach to areas and residents most in need, while continuing to support a balanced, universal provision of sport and fitness across the city.

Members questioned the impact of the pandemic on women in caring roles and the health challenges women faced as a result and whether the impact of women prioritising responsibilities were acknowledged in researched health statistics. It was noted that evidence from Sports England had acknowledged the challenges faced by women in balancing a personal, family and active life.

The Chair referred to the recent task group review that had been looking at women’s participation in physical activity and sport across the city and suggested the recommendations from that work be fed into the new strategy in due course.

AGREED:

1.    That the Women’s Participation in Physical Activity and Sport in the City Task Group review work be acknowledged and to feed into the new strategy.

2.    That a report detailing the developmental statistics of the previous Active Leicester strategy be presented to the Commission

3.    That the new Active Leicester strategy be brought to the Commission upon draft completion for consideration.

The Director of Public Health to provide a report on the Sports Capital Programme.

The Director of Public Health submitted a report on Phase 2 of the Sports Capital Programme.

Andrew Beddow, Head of Sports, was present to answer questions put forward by the Commission.

It was noted that there was potential to consider further improvements where there was a need.

Members discussed the presentation which included the following points:

·       Phases 1 and 2 had shown evidence of demand to support an increase access of health and fitness facilities.

·       There was potential to consider further improvements to city leisure centres where there was a need.

·       In comparison to the 3.5k membership rates for City leisure centres in 2017, rates had now increased to 10k across the city.

·       During development, additional funds had been secured to address concerns about environmental health and were combined with the capital funding available to ensure that the environment was at the forefront during development. All facilities were fitted with solar panels and energy saving lighting.

·       Due to the age of some of the buildings in the programme, the buildings were inefficient in comparison to newly built leisure spaces. The Council was working with building services to increase their efficiency.

·       The cost of membership for leisure centres were lower for those on low income, government benefits or who were students.

Concerns were expressed about the impact of the current rising costs across the economy on the running of the leisure facilities, and noted that budget forecasting had taken place, which suggested an extra £300-350k increase in costs were projected in energy consumption. Overall, the situation was difficult to assess but would be explored further in the ongoing year.

AGREED:

That the Commission receive an update on the Sports Capital Programme in six months’ time.

The Chair to provide a verbal update on the Task Group Review work.

The Chair provided a verbal update on the work of the Task Group Review, ‘Women’s Participation in Physical Activity and Sport in the City’.

It was noted that the work of the Task Group had made good progress. Several evidence gathering sessions had taken place over the last few months and further sessions were planned. A soft deadline of August / September was agreed for the final report, which would include the task group findings and recommendations.

Members of the Commission were invited to participate in the task group, and directed to contact Scrutiny Policy Officer, Anita Patel.

AGREED:

                     That the verbal update be noted.

Members will be asked to consider the Work Programme for 2022/23 and to suggest possible items for future meetings.

Members were asked to consider the Work Programme for 2022/23 and to suggest possible items for future meetings.

AGREED:

                     That the Work Programme be noted.

There being no other business, the meeting closed at 6:15pm.