Leisure and Youth Policy and Review Panel - Monday, 7th September, 2015 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 8th June, 2015 (copy attached)

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 8th June, 2015 were agreed as a correct record.

To receive a presentation on the Hampshire County Council Youth Consultation from Mr. Ian Langley, Strategic Lead for the Supporting (Troubled) Families Programme.

The Panel welcomed Mr. Ian Langley, Youth Support Services Board Member of Hampshire County Council (HCC), who attended the meeting to report on the impending Youth Support Services consultation. Mr. Langley advised that a service consultation had been held in 2014 on the Youth Support Services, but this had not been completed. Subsequently, the Executive Lead Member had agreed that financial support for 2015/16 would remain unchanged with the majority of commissioned Youth Support Service providers receiving a twelve month extension to their grants. The new consultation would start in November 2015 and the period prior to the start date would be used to consult with district and borough councils and district groups to inform them of the requirements of the consultation.

It was noted that further savings needed to be achieved in 2016/17 and the shape and delivery of Youth Support Services would need to undergo further transformation. However, it was important to ensure that vulnerable young people still received the service they required and HCC welcomed the views of what was considered important in each local area across the County. By consulting with district and borough councils, prior to the consultation, it was hoped that there would be no surprises when the consultation documents were released. In preparation, HCC needed to consider challenging the traditional ways of working, working together with partners to offer the best possible service and to keep young people at the centre of its thinking.

The Panel was advised that engagement events had taken place with key stakeholders and providers in April 2015; following this, local engagement events had taken place in Hart/Rushmoor, East Hampshire, Havant, Fareham, Eastleigh, New Forest and Test Valley. In addition, discussions had been held with groups associated with the early help offer; these included children, young people and their families. Emerging themes from these discussions had been identified, including the need for frequent communication with the voluntary sector to give them sufficient notice to retain staff to deliver current services and to plan for any changes. It was also felt important to ensure focus on locality and the needs of the local providers; every area had different needs and requirements.

Mr. Langley reported that the next steps would be to continue the dialogue, and jointly consider the needs of each locality, identify any gaps and how they could be overcome. It was also important for each local authority to ask “what can we bring to the table?” Consideration would also need to be given to future delivery and commissioning models, examples of which could be:

·         a grants based model,

·         a third sector partner, or

·         to run something through the local Children’s Partnership, which in Rushmoor was a very active and productive group.

Members were asked to consider a number of things, for example; any groups that would benefit from advanced consultation on the review before the formal consultation began and any key issues, gaps and best practice in the locality. The Panel noted that the consultation would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To receive an update from Mr. Peter Amies, Head of Community and Environmental Services, on the current position with the Aldershot Lido.

Mr. Peter Amies, Head of Community and Environmental Services, and Mr. Ashley Sharpe, Contracts Manager, attended the meeting to give the Panel an update on the Aldershot Lido Review.

The Panel was advised that the season had now finished and due to the poor weather over the summer months the number of visits (17,500) had dropped considerably in comparison to the previous two seasons (28,000 in 2014 and 48,000 in 2013). The Council had offered a number of initiatives to increase usage for 2015; these included season tickets, loyalty schemes, military discount and discounted entrance from 3.30p.m (previously 4.30p.m.). These initiatives had been advertised via social media, the press, in the town centres and via a video on Facebook. Mr. Amies advised that the Council had entered into a “risk and reward” contract with the contractor. However, in view of the low attendances, caused by weather conditions, it was likely that for 2015 the Council would have to increase its contribution towards the running cost of the facility.

Mr. Amies reported that before the season had started a number of improvements/refurbishments had been made to the facilities at the Lido. £11,000 had been spent upgrading the changing room facilities, £2,000 on new outdoor lockers and £1,000 on new picnic tables for the Café. Wi-Fi had also been provided in the grounds.

A snap shot of users postcodes showed a 60/40 split in favour of use by local residents.

The Panel was advised that the Friends of Aldershot Lido (FOAL) had applied to list the Lido as a place of historical and architectural value; it was noted that the application had been refused which was likely to make it more difficult to secure lottery funding. It was noted that the facility would continue to run in its current format until an alternative approach had been agreed by Members. The Task and Finish Group would continue its work in conjunction with FOAL and other interested parties to develop the best options for the future of the Lido. The next meeting of the Task and Finish Group was scheduled for 15th October, 2015.

The Panel discussed the report and commented on a number of points, in particular:

·         The links to the 1948 Olympic Games, especially as there would be Olympic games held in 2016, and how to use them to market the Lido

·         Market the season ticket and discount ticket options earlier as the timescales had been tight for the 2015 season

·         Continue the work to assess viability of the various options being considered by the Task and Finish Group with the aim to provide a more sustainable facility.

The Chairman thanked Mr. Amies and Mr. Sharpe and requested that further reports would be made to the Panel as the work progressed.

To review the Panel’s current work programme (copy attached), and to agree priorities where necessary.

            The Panel NOTED the current work programme.