Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Graham Dunn, Geoff Russell and Rosemary Russell.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda.

If you have a pecuniary interest you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

There were no declarations of any interest.

To confirm the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group – Select Move meeting held on 5 September 2013 (enclosed)

a)            Confirmation

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group – Play and Open Spaces Strategy be confirmed as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

b)            Matters arising

13.PO.3 – Play and Open Spaces Strategy

It was AGREED that the list of play areas, playing pitches and open spaces would be amended to reflect the correct neighbourhood area allocations before the list was circulated to all the Elected Members of the Council.

This was something that officers had strived to do and it was now considered that all the places listed had not been correctly allocated. Both Borough Councillors and Parish Councillors had submitted a number of suggestions that needed to be looked into further and Councillor Mark Perks requested that this information be brought back to the Group along with details on progress being made. It was AGREED that this would be brought to the next meeting of the Group.

The Group will look at the four case studies that were identified and using the Integrated Impact Assessment will consider how health and wellbeing benefits can be maximised and what needs to have taken place to achieve this.

·         Southlands High School: Playing Pitches – Chorley Town West

·         Canal Walk: Play Area – Chorley Town East

·         Greenside: Playing Pitches – Euxton, Astley and Buckshaw

·         Coronation Recreation Ground: Multi-use facility – Chorley Town West

The Group looked at the first two case studies in turn to assess whether they thought that the health and wellbeing benefits where being maximised to their full potential.

An Inequalities Impact Assessment is the tool used to make this assessment and one of the sections contained within relates specifically to health. The current Health Impact Assessment asks - What potential impact does the activity make upon:

Encouraging healthy lifestyles across Chorley’s population, with possible issues to consider being:

·         Diet and nutrition

·         Exercise and physical activity

·         Substance use; tobacco, alcohol and drugs

·         Risk taking behaviour

·         Education and learning, or skills

Promoting a positive social environment for all of Chorley’s residents, with issues to consider being:

·         Social status

·         Employment (paid or unpaid)

·         Social/family support

·         Stress/Mental Health

·         Income

Promoting a positive physical environment across Chorley with possible issue to consider being:

·         Living conditions

·         Working conditions

·         Accidental injuries or public safety

·         Transmission of infectious disease

The latest health indicators across the borough had recently been released and the Chair requested that these be brought to the next meeting of the Group.

The Chair also inquired as to how other authorities measured their health impact in relation to play areas and open spaces and asked if some benchmarking could be done with our neighbouring councils.

Southlands High School:

Members thought that the whole site and facilities were fit for purpose and that the ground that was available on site was being maximised. There appeared to be good access to the facilities and adequate parking.

The High School is classified as a Sports Academy and works in partnership with the Councils Sports Development Team. A Business Manager is in post and the facilities are advertised to the wider community for use at a cost. The Academy is structured and activities are planned and well organised.

The Group thought that it would be beneficial to interview the Business Manager and asked officers to make the necessary arrangements.

Members had a number of questions that they wished to ask that included:

·         How many different sectors of the community used the facilities

·         Are the facilities used by the immediate community or the wider community?

·         Are there sufficient facilities to meet demand?

·         Are there any negative impacts on local residents, for example parking issues outside school hours?

·         How are the community encouraged to use the facilities that are on offer?

·         Do the school keep any records of the health and fitness levels of its pupils?

·         Does the Academy link in with any other secondary or primary schools in the borough?

Canal Walk:

The land has two different owners and as such the open space is not maintained as it should be. Poor consultation in the past had resulted in the space not being used to its maximum potential and reports of anti-social behaviour were becoming more frequent. Places for People had submitted a planning application for housing development that had since been retracted.

Access is not great and with a Canal nearby, there is a danger to children. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.PO.8

The Consultation draft is enclosed for Members consideration.

The Group received the draft consultation document for the Play, Opens Spaces and Playing Pitches Strategy 2013 – 18 for information.

Consultation on the Play, Open Space and Playing Pitch Strategy 2013-18 will be carried out with statutory and non-statutory partners, local residents, sports clubs/organisations, community groups and neighbourhood partnerships from November 2013 to January 2014.