NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL
LEISURE SERVICES COMMITTEE
16 June 1999
PRESENT:- Councillor Smith in the chair.
Councillors Whiteley (vice-chair), Barkley, Billam, Mrs Bromby, Carlile, Gosling, M Kirk, P Kirk, Long, Mrs Metcalfe, Phillips, Mrs Redfern, Sherwood, Stewart, Vickers and Wood.
Councillors Barkworth and Rocks attended the meeting under the provisions of Standing Order 40(b).
The committee met at the Community Hall, Crowle.
658 CHAIR'S REMARKS - The chair informed the committee of the death of former Councillor Oliver Duffelen. Members paid tribute to his services to local government and this council over the years.
Members and officers observed a minutes silence in tribute to Councillor Duffelen.
659 North Lincolnshire Mobile Library Service - The chair reported that the Library Service had recently won the Mercedes Benz trophy at the U.K. Mobile Meet held in Swindon. He indicated that the North Lincolnshire Mobile was voted best in the show by all the delegates who had attended.
Resolved - That the North Lincolnshire Library Service be congratulated on its success.
660 Helping Hands Award - The chair also reported that the Community Recreation Section had been awarded the Helping Hands Award for 1999. This award was in recognition of the extra support and help given to young people with special needs from local schools and colleges whilst in the workplace.
Resolved - That the Community Recreation Section be congratulated on the award.
661 (1) PETITION - WOODBINE PARK - In accordance with Standing Order 38, the Director of Corporate Affairs reported on a petition received from a number of residents in connection with flooding in certain areas of Woodbine Park, Brigg. A corresponding report on the matter was submitted by the Director of Education and Personal Development. A representative of the petitioners attended the meeting and addressed the committee on the subject matter of the petition.
The report submitted by the Director of Education and Personal Development described the situation at Woodbine Park and outlined proposals to deal with the matter as quickly as possible. The Director also updated the committee at the meeting on progress achieved to date.
Resolved - (a) That receipt of the petition be noted, and (b) that the efforts and work being carried out to alleviate the problem of flooding in parts of Woodbine Park be noted.
662 MINUTES - Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of this committee of 24 March and 20 May 1999, having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and be signed by the chair.
663 SUB-COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS - Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Cultural Development Sub-Committee of 12 April 1999 be received, and where necessary, approved and adopted.
664 SPECIAL SUB-COMMITTEE ON THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT (SCHOOLS AND DIRECTORATE SERVICES) - Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting of the Special Sub-Committee on the appointment of the Assistant Director of Education and Personal Development (Schools and Directorate Services) held on 4 May 1999 be received.
665 MILLENNIUM WORKING GROUP - Resolved - That membership of the group comprise the chair and vice-chair of this committee, the chair of the Finance, Land and Property Sub-Committee and one member of the Conservative group (Councillor J England) or their nominated substitutes.
666 (2) REVENUE AND CAPITAL OUTTURN 1998/99 - The Director of Education and Personal Development and the Director of Corporate Affairs submitted a joint report informing the committee of the revenue and capital outturn position for the committee for the 1998/99 financial year.
The report indicated that the committee had an approved revenue budget of £6,029,730, for 1998/99, excluding centrally controlled items such as repairs and maintenance, insurance, capital financing and central establishment charges and a capital budget of £848,130 relating to six schemes. The committee's controllable net revenue expenditure for 1998 was £5,926,666 compared with the approved revenue budget, an underspend of £103,064 or 1.7%. Appendix A to the report showed the actual expenditure against approved budget by division of service. Appendix B to the report detailed an explanation of the revenue budget major variances, Appendix C detailed the capital budget variances and Appendix D an explanation of these. On the basis of the level of underspend referred to above and in accordance with the council's approved scheme the committee would be permitted to carry forward £81,200 into the 1999/2000 financial year.
Resolved - (a) That the report be noted, and (b) that the Director in consultation with the chair and vice-chair be authorised to determine and approve how to spend any unallocated carry forward into 1999/2000.
667 (3) OPENING OF FACILITIES OVER THE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR HOLIDAY PERIOD 1999/2000 - The Director of Education and Personal Development submitted a report seeking approval of proposed hours of closure for the council's sports and leisure sites, libraries, museums and arts facilities over the Christmas/New Year holiday period 1999/2000.
Resolved - That this matter be deferred for further consideration.
668 (4) PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AT NORMANBY HALL COUNTRY PARK - A report was submitted by the Director of Education and Personal Development advising members of promotional opportunities for Normanby Hall Country Park and seeking approval for taking part in promotional initiatives.
Following the opening of the walled garden in April 1997 work had been underway to gain a regional and national profile for the Victorian Walled Garden and the park as a whole. However, it was far too costly to pay for regular advertisements in the horticultural press and it was widely recognised that editorial and appropriate journals was far more effective in gaining the attention of readers. As part of the marketing plan adopted by the committee in March 1999 (minute 632 refers) it had been agreed to identify appropriate marketing and promotional opportunities for the park. The report described some of these and in particular referred to a potential promotional opportunity which had arisen in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). The RHS had expressed a wish to visit Normanby to see if the walled garden was suitable for inclusion in their access scheme as the fourteenth approved garden in the U.K. The society was particularly interested in Normanby because as yet it did not have any historic gardens or kitchen gardens in the approved list. Paragraph 3.3 of the report described the benefits for Normanby Park in joining the scheme.
In addition to arrangements with national organisations such as the RHS, there was also scope for one-off promotions with local groups and special offers at certain times of the year for individual visitors. It was suggested that decision on these opportunities should be made at an operational level.
Moved by Councillor P Kirk and seconded by Councillor Smith -
(a) That approval be given to entering into discussions with the RHS as described in the report; (b) that approval be given in principle to developing special promotional opportunities for local organisations and special events as appropriate, and (c) that one-off promotions with local groups and special offers at certain times of the year for individual visitors be decided at an operational level in consultation with the chair and vice-chair of the committee.
Moved by Councillor Stewart and seconded by Councillor Billam as an amendment -
The motion with the inclusion in (c) of one member of the Conservative group.
Amendment Lost
Motion Carried
669 (5) ARTS AWARDS - FIRST ROUND 1999/2000 - With reference to minute 469, the Director of Education and Personal Development submitted a report advising the committee of a number of Arts Award applications which had been received and seeking approval of appropriate funding levels.
At the meeting of the Cultural Development Sub-Committee on 26 June 1998 approval had been given to establish the Arts Award budget of £2,500 which was divided into ten parts, making a total of ten awards of £250 available throughout the year. Applications were considered bi-annually by the committee and awards given to groups based on the extent of local benefit, each group being eligible for a maximum of one award each year.
The report indicated that applications had now been received from the following organisations -
(1) Scunthorpe Indian, Dance and Music Association.
(2) Kirton Lindsey Art Group.
(3) Brigg Music Club.
(4) Broughton Carnival and Millennium Association.
The report contained further detailed information about each of the applications received and reference was made to the criteria for dealing with the applications.
Resolved - (a) That the application from the Scunthorpe Indian, Dance and Music Association be not approved on the basis that it does not meet criteria 5b and 5e as set out below -
5b - Applicant organisations must provide evidence of financial need and sufficient support to ensure a degree of permanence of the project for which assistance is sought. This must normally be demonstrated by the submission of audited accounts in respect of the two previous years.
5e - Award applications must be submitted and approved prior to the supported project taking place. Projects which have already begun will be ineligible.
(b) that progress on the bid from the Kirton Lindsey Art Group be reported
to the next appropriate meeting of this committee; (c) that the Brigg Music
Club be granted an Arts Award of £250 to promote a two night festival at the end of July 1999 called "Briggstock", and (d) that Broughton Carnival and Millennium Association be granted an Arts Award of £205 to fund a circus skills workshop for children at their annual carnival in September 1999.
670 (6) SCUNTHORPE YOUTH THEATRE FUNDING 1999/2000 - Further to minute 409 the Director of Education and Personal Development submitted a report seeking confirmation of the level of grant to the Scunthorpe Youth Theatre for the financial year 1999/2000.
In recent years the Youth Theatre had received revenue annual funding of £12,000 from the Arts Development budget and from support in kind from the Arts Development Officer and Entertainments and Theatres Manager. The Youth Theatre had also successfully secured a three year funding commitment from the Rural Development Programme of £5,000 per year for three years beginning in 1998/99 and Yorkshire Arts (YA) had granted the Youth Theatre £5,000 for the last two years with early indications suggesting that this arrangement would continue in 1999/2000. It was recommended, therefore, that this committee support the Youth Theatre on the same basis as in previous years with a grant of £12,000 to enable the project to develop its work with young people in North Lincolnshire.
Resolved - That approval be given to grant £12,000 to the Scunthorpe Youth Theatre in the financial year 1999/2000.
671 (7) CIVIL WEDDINGS AT NORMANBY HALL - Pursuant to minute 613, the Director of Education and Personal Development submitted a report advising members of the progress being made towards holding civil weddings at Normanby Hall and seeking approval to set an appropriate fee.
The former Cultural Development Sub-Committee at its meeting held on 15 February 1999 had agreed that an application should be made for a licence to hold civil weddings at Normanby Hall and discussions had since taken place with the council's registrar and licensing section to resolve the practicalities of holding these events. The report indicated that a licence to hold civil weddings had been granted on 26 May 1999 for three years and research had been undertaken on the fees charged for civil weddings in the area and it was now possible to recommend a fee of £200 (plus VAT) for weddings at Normanby Hall. Ten provisional bookings for such weddings at the hall had been received pending the outcome of the licence application.
Resolved - (a) That the report be noted, and that a fee of £200 (plus VAT) be set for civil weddings at Normanby Hall for this financial year to be reviewed with other fees and charges in February 2000, and (b) that a further progress report be submitted to this committee at an appropriate time.
672 (8) PORTABLE ANTIQUITIES SCHEME - A report was submitted by the Director of Education and Personal Development informing members of the progress of the Portable Antiquities Scheme and seeking approval to extending the hours of the Finds Liaison Officer.
The North Lincolnshire Museums Service had been chosen in 1997 as one of six centres in the country to run a pilot project to record finds by metal detectorists. The pilot project was established and funded by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), and the Finds Liaison Officer was appointed on an annual contract in September 1997.
The report described the successful work being undertaken within the scheme and in particular referred to the North Lincolnshire scheme being different from the other five pilots schemes in that all finds brought to the Museum for recording were drawn in detail and recorded with all other available information before being returned to the finder. This approach had proved so successful that the DCMS had increased the other five pilot schemes to adopt the North Lincolnshire approach. North Lincolnshire was seen as leading the field in this work and featured in the DCMS annual report of the project and the Portable Antiquities website launched by Ann Howarth, Under-secretary for Culture, Media and Sport in March this year. The DCMS had also offered funding to increase the hours of the Finds Liaison Officer from 18.5 to 26 and whilst it could not guarantee future funding it would seem likely that the scheme would continue after April 2002.
Resolved - That the report be noted and the hours of the Finds Liaison Assistant be increased to 26 per week, and (b) that all the officers involved in the scheme be congratulated on their efforts.
673 (9) SWIMMING LESSONS - The Director of Education and Personal Development submitted a report on the effects of changes to the swimming programme at Scunthorpe Leisure Centre and on work to reduce the waiting lists for swimming lessons at Ancholme Leisure Centre, Baysgarth Leisure Centre and Scunthorpe Leisure Centre.
At the meeting of this committee held on 3 June 1998, (minute 463 refers) changes to the swimming programme at Scunthorpe Leisure Centre had been approved in order to allow more swimming lessons to take place and as a result of the changes usage at Scunthorpe Leisure Centre had shown an increase of over 5% or 2433 users in the period from September 1998 to March 1999 when compared to the corresponding period in 1997/98. The increase in pool usage at Scunthorpe Leisure Centre had led to a review of the swimming waiting lists at Ancholme Leisure Centre and Baysgarth Leisure Centre where there were a total of 435 people waiting to commence swimming lessons at the two centres.
In view of the information contained in the report and in order to meet the growing demand for swimming lessons additional classes needed to be introduced into the programmes of the three leisure centres and paragraphs 3.4.1 and 3.4.2 of the report described how these could be accommodated. The proposed changes in the swimming programme would create an extra 30 places a week on swimming lessons.
Resolved - (a) That the progress report on the changes to the Scunthorpe Leisure Centre swimming programme be noted; (b) that the proposed changes to Ancholme Leisure Centre and Baysgarth Leisure Centre swimming programmes contained in paragraph 3.4.2 of the report be approved, and (c) that the contract to be given approval to extend the opening hours of all pools subject to approval from the authorised officer in an effort to meet the rising demand for swimming lessons.
674 (10) HORTICULTURAL NURSERY - A report was submitted by the Director of Education and Personal Development which considered the future of the council's horticultural nursery. The report contained detailed background and other information in relation to this matter with particular reference to a review by the Grounds Maintenance DSO which had concluded that savings could be made by withdrawing from the site and buying the vast majority of plants from external suppliers. This decision had been confirmed by the Commercial Services Sub-Committee on 1 June 1999 (minute 2697 refers) and consequently, this meant that there was no need to consider investing in replacement glasshouses and alternative uses for the site would need to be considered.
Resolved - That consideration be given to finding alternative uses for the horticultural nursery site and that a further report on the matter be prepared and submitted to this committee in due course.
675 (11) FOXHILLS SPORTS GROUND - The Director of Education and Personal Development submitted a report informing members of an approach by the Foxhills Institute to develop and manage the Foxhills Sports Ground.
The Club and Institute Union (CIU) had developed a Sports Lottery Fund initiative which involved identifying clubs, particularly in inner city areas, with the potential to develop and deliver community sports programmes. Foxhills Institute with support from consultants appointed by the CIU wished to regenerate community involvement in their club through the CIU Sports Lottery Fund initiative. However, to achieve this the club would require the council to offer them a lease on Foxhills Sports Ground and match funding to support a bid to the Sports Lottery Fund. The consultants estimated the council's contribution to be around £157,500.
The report described how the Institute would like to develop the facilities at the Foxhills Sports Ground and contained further information in relation to the matter.
Resolved - That further information be requested from Foxhills Institute and that officers prepare a report on the full range of development options for the Foxhills Sports Ground.
(Councillor Long declared an interest in the following item (minute 676 refers) insofar as it related to the Ashby Decoy Golf Club)
676 (12) SPORTS GRANT AID/SPONSORSHIP - The Director of Education and Personal Development submitted a report which considered applications received for sports grant and/or sponsorship.
Resolved - That the applications received be dealt with as follows:-
| David Lamb |
British Judo Association National Espoir Squad |
50% of the cost of travel to attend national squad training in Kendal on 14/15/16 May 1999 subject to a maximum of £15. Payment for travel to be made in accordance with the petrol element of the approved mileage rate, appropriate to the engine size of the vehicle used. |
| Ashby Decoy Golf Club |
Support towards the cost of providing Junior Golf coaching lessons |
£225, subject to the club agreeing to work with schools identified by the Sports Development Unit and the individual schools successfully applying for matched funding from the Golf Foundation. |
| Adam Boulton |
Karate World Cup |
50% of the cost of travel and accommodation in respect of attending the Karate World Cup in Sweden from 11 to 13 June 1999, up to a maximum of £320 subject to evidence being provided that the event is a closed competition. |
| North Lincolnshire Schools Sports Association |
Support towards the cost of the provision of out of school activities for 1999/2000 |
£1000 |
677 EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC - Resolved - That the public be excluded from the meeting for consideration of the following items (minutes 678 to 679 refer) on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 11 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.
678 (13) COMMUNITY BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY - RESIDER II FUNDING - Further to minute 624, the Director of Education and Personal Development submitted a report advising members of the progress being made towards the construction of a new café at Normanby Hall Country Park and seeking approval for a bid to be made for European funding for the project.
Resolved - That the matter be deferred for further consideration.
679 (14) GRADING OF POST EPD501 - A joint report was submitted by the Director of Corporate Affairs and the Director of Education and Personal Development in connection with a proposal to increase the grade of post number EPD501 in the Entertainments and Theatre section following an increase in duties and responsibilities.
The report contained detailed background and other information in relation to this matter and referred to the resource implications involved.
Resolved - (a) That the proposal to regrade the post of Assistant Entertainments and Theatres Manager from Scale 5 to Scale 5/6 with effect from 4 December 1997 be approved, and (b) that the matter be referred to the Personnel Sub-Committee for approval.
This schedule does not form part of the Minutes
FOR MEMBERS’ INFORMATION - SCHEDULE OF DECISIONS MADE SINCE THE LAST MEETING BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE/DIRECTORS, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CHAIR OR VICE-CHAIR, IN MATTERS OF URGENCY AND UNDER DELEGATED POWERS
Decision Record
Reference |
Subject and Decision |
| LS/05/98 |
Approval of the revised Normanby Walled Garden Staff Structure. (Also see Decision Record P/PE/20/98). |
| LS/06/98 |
Approval of the Managed Leisure Facilities/Services schedule of fees and charges for 1999/200. |
| LS/07/98 |
Approval for sports grant aid to Haxey Playing Field Association. |