NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL
LEISURE SERVICES COMMITTEE
9 September 1999
PRESENT:- Councillor Smith in the chair.
Councillors Whiteley (vice-chair), Barkley, Billam, Mrs Brumby, Carlile, Chapman, England, Gosling, M Kirk, P Kirk, Long, Mrs Metcalfe, Phillips, Sherwood, Vickers and Wood.
The committee met at Pittwood House, Scunthorpe.
680 CHAIR'S REMARKS - The chair referred to a letter of appreciation received from a local resident thanking the council for arranging Carnival Week 1999 and to a letter received from Scawby Parish Council criticising the council for wasting financial resources allocated to the Carnival Week. The chair confirmed that the funding of the events in question was from specific monies granted from the European Regional Development Fund only.
681 (15) PETITION - MANOR PARK FAIR - In accordance with Standing Order 38, it was reported that a petition had been received from some residents of Dryden Road, Scunthorpe requesting the relocation of the annual fair on Manor Park to a more suitable location. At the request of the petitioners a copy of a letter summarising the objections to the location of the fair was circulated to all members, was available at the meeting and from the Committee Manager upon request.
The Director of Education and Personal Development submitted a corresponding report which identified action taken to lessen the impact of the annual fair on local residents. This included a questionnaire completed by some local residents, the results were summarised in the report, together with discussions with the fairground operator and subsequent monitoring by officers of his directorate.
Resolved - (a) That the petition be received; (b) that the actions taken to lessen the impact of the annual fair held at Manor Park as identified in the report be noted, and (c) that the future use of Manor Park as the site for the annual fair be confirmed.
682 (16) PETITION - ASTERBY ROAD CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND AND FORMER RIDDINGS ALLOTMENTS SITE, SCUNTHORPE - In accordance with Standing Order 38, it was reported that a petition had been received from residents in the area of the above sites highlighting anti-social behaviour of youths and associated social problems which needed to be addressed by the council. Representatives of the petitioners attended the meeting and one addressed the committee on the subject matter of, and background to the petition.
The Director of Education and Personal Development submitted a corresponding report which advised members of action taken to date by officers to alleviate problems identified by the petitioners within the terms of reference of this committee and outlined associated problems which would need to be addressed by other committees and sub-committees of the council. Reference was also made to the responsibilities and support provided by Humberside Police.
Resolved - (a) That the petition be received; (b) that actions taken to relieve anti-social activities as identified in the report be noted; (c) that the report be referred to the Education Committee, Housing Committee and Highways and Transportation Sub-Committee for appropriate action; (d) that the Director of Education and Personal Development liaise with the Local Community Police Team, and (e) that the issues be referred to the Community Safety Group for its consideration.
693 (17) PETITION - ROBINSON'S GROVE/GREENFIELD DRIVE, HIBALDSTOW, PUBLIC OPEN SPACE - In accordance with Standing Order 38, it was reported that a petition had been received from residents of Greenfield Drive/Robinson's Grove, Hibaldstow requesting that the council should convert the small football pitch (open space) separating the above properties to a car park and small road in order to eliminate parking problems. Anti-social behaviour of children/youths using the football pitch was also referred to in a letter accompanying the petition.
The Director of Education and Personal Development referred to minute 202 and 249 of the Leisure Services Committee and submitted a corresponding report which provided background information on the petition and action taken previously to improve the security and supervision of the site. Similarly, the report stated that the request for a car park and a small road was not an option both on the grounds of cost and because such action would remove a valuable area of children's playspace.
Resolved - (a) That the petition be received; (b) that no action be taken on the petition to provide car parking on the public open space off Robinson's Grove/Greenfield Drive, Hibaldstow, and (b) that a report investigating and addressing additional fencing issues and the removal of the goal posts at the site, as requested the petitioners be submitted to a future meeting.
684 MINUTES - Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of this committee of 16 June, 1999 having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and be signed by the chair.
685 (18) ITEMS REFERRED FROM OTHER COMMITTEES/SUB-COMMITTEES - Minute 2731 of the Finance, Land and Property Sub-Committee held on 24 June, 1999 'The Repair and Maintenance of Public Buildings 1999/2000' - The Director of Corporate Affairs submitted the above minute extract and his corresponding report which had been referred to all service committees for information.
Resolved - That the above minute and corresponding report be noted.
686 (19) Minute 2789 of the Policy Committee held on 8 July, 1999 'The North Lincolnshire Community Panel' - The Director of Corporate Affairs submitted the above minute extract and the corresponding report of the Chief Executive which had been referred to all service committees to consider relevant action in response to the first survey of panel members.
The Director of Education and Personal Development informed the committee of action being undertaken in-so-far as this committee was concerned.
Resolved - That the above minute and report of the Chief Executive together with the comments of the Director of Education and Personal Development be noted.
687 (20) ANNUAL LIBRARY PLAN - Further to minute 523 and 633, the Director of Education and Personal Development submitted a report seeking approval of the Annual Library Plan 1999 prior to its submission to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) by 30 September, 1999. Copies of the plan had been circulated to all members of the committee and were available from the Director of Education and Personal Development upon request.
Resolved - (a) That the Annual Library Plan 1999 be approved and be submitted to the DCMS by 30 September, 1999, and (b) that appropriate officers be congratulated on the production of an excellent document.
688 (21) OPENING OF FACILITIES OVER THE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR HOLIDAY PERIOD 1999/2000 - The Director of Education and Personal Development referred to minutes 127 and 667 and submitted a report seeking approval of proposed opening times and hours of closure for sport and leisure sites, libraries, museums and arts facilities over the Christmas/New Year holiday period 1999/2000. Closure dates requested by the Director of Commercial Services recognising the additional bank holiday during the above period were also set out in an appendix to the report.
Resolved - (a) That the opening times and hours of closure of the above sites and facilities over the Christmas/New Year holiday period 1999/2000 as detailed in the report be approved, and (b) that the director in consultation with the chair and vice-chair be authorised to consider and approve usage of the Baths Hall on New Years Eve 1999.
689 (22) BATHS HALL FEASIBILITY STUDY - Further to minute 624 and minute 1221 of the Youth and Adult Sub-Committee, the Director of Education and Personal Development submitted a report seeking approval of and members' comments on the draft brief for the Feasibility Study for the Baths Hall, prior to commencing the process of appointing consultants to undertake the study. A copy of the draft feasibility study was appended to the report.
The report reminded the committee that the aim of the feasibility study was to assess the desirability and feasibility for replacing the Baths Hall having established the demand for a multi-purpose entertainments and function venue. As one possible option for any new facility may include building on the site of the current Youth Club, the brief also required the consultant to assess the needs of the Youth Service in this area and make provision for suitable facilities as part of their work.
Resolved - That the draft brief, as appended to the report be approved and submitted for tender.
690 (23) SILICA COUNTRY PARK - Further to minute 466, the Director of Education and Personal Development submitted a report seeking approval of the revised management plan for Silica Country Park which served the communities of Riddings (Scunthorpe) and Bottesford. A copy of the management plan was appended to the report.
Resolved - That the Silica Country Park Management Plan as appended to the report, be approved.
691 (24) ST HYBALD'S CHURCHYARD, HIBALDSTOW - The Director of Education and Personal Development submitted a report informing the committee of a requirement placed on the council under the terms of Section 215 of the Local Government Act, 1972 to take on the maintenance of St Hybald's Churchyard, Hibaldstow.
The report explained that under the terms of Section 215 of the Local Government Act 1972 the maintenance of any churchyard that had been closed by Order in Council was the responsibility of the parochial church council. However the parochial church council may at any time serve notice on the local parish council or parish meeting requiring the civil parish to take over the maintenance function within three months. The parish council may in turn resolve to require the district council covering the area to assume responsibility.
North Lincolnshire Council which was already responsible for maintaining thirteen churchyards was requested by Hibaldstow Parish Council on 21 March, 1999 to take over the maintenance of the closed churchyard at St Hybalds. The council's Director of Commercial Services had provided a quotation in the sum of £400 per annum to maintain the soft landscaped areas of the churchyard.
Resolved - That the requirement on the council to take over the maintenance of the churchyard at St Hybald's, Hibaldstow be noted.
692 (25 ) MUSEUMS SERVICE WORK PLACEMENT SCHEME - Further to minute 479 and 491 the Director of Education and Personal Development submitted a report advising the committee of the success of the above scheme during its first full academic year (September 1998 to July 1999) and suggested ways in which the scheme could develop in the future.
Resolved - (a) That the success of the scheme be welcomed; (b) that the existing hours of placement be reduced to 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. as outlined in the report, and (c) that the possibility of extending the scheme to Higher Education students be investigated further with the findings to be submitted in a report to a future meeting.
693 (26) SCUNTHORPE CO-OPERATIVE JUNIOR CHOIR - The Director of Education and Personal Development submitted a report informing the committee of a request from the Scunthorpe Co-operative Junior Choir for Arts Awards Scheme funding to help subsidise the costs of young members of the choir performing in the Olympic Torch procession at the Australian Olympics in the summer of 2000.
The choir was the only choir performing at the international event from the United Kingdom. Details of the amount of sponsorship was set out in the report.
The Director in his report explained that although the application met the Arts Awards criteria the maximum award at present was only £250 and it was felt that this would not make a significant contribution towards the cost per young person. It was possible to offer four Arts Awards, contributing just under £10 per young person, or the matter could be referred to the Policy Committee to consider funding the choir from a different corporate budget.
Resolved - (a) That £1000 be awarded to the Scunthorpe Co-operative Junior Choir from the Arts Awards Budget; (b) that the request contained in the report also be referred to the Policy Committee for further consideration of additional funding, and (c) that the chair on behalf of the committee send a letter to the choir congratulating it on the achievement.
694 (27) SPECIAL SCHOOLS REORGANISATION - IDENTIFICATION OF LAND - The Director of Education and Personal Development submitted a report informing members of proposals to reorganise two of the council's special schools (St Luke's and St Hugh's, Scunthorpe) and to build one new special school on land off Grange Lane North, Scunthorpe which was public open space and managed by this committee. Details of the reorganisation proposals and associated resource implications were summarised in the report which had previously been endorsed by Schools and Special Needs Sub-Committee and Education Committee (minute 1231 refers).
The Director in his report explained that as the above land in question was managed by this committee, members would need to consider declaring the land surplus to its requirements.
Resolved - (a) That the development of a new Special School on the preferred site off Grange Lane North be supported, and (b) that the land referred to above be declared surplus to requirements subject to reassurances being received about the reinstatement of alternative public open space once the scheme is complete.
(Councillor Gosling declared an interest in the following item (minute 695 refers) in-so-far as the application from Gunness Parish Council was concerned, and took no part in the discussion or voting thereon)
695 (28) AID TO PARISHES APPLICATIONS - Further to minute 468, the Director of Education and Personal Development submitted a report which considered applications for grant aid to parishes received by 31 August, 1999 deadline, together with associated resource implications.
The report also sought approval to revise the deadline dates for submission of applications to the Aid to Parishes Scheme from 28 February and 31 August to 31 January and 31 July.
Resolved - (a) That the applications be dealt with as follows:-
| Bonby Parish Council |
Community Woodland Project |
£1900 |
| West Halton Parish Council |
External Notice Board |
Deferred |
| Gunness Parish Council |
Playground Equipment |
Defer pending receipt of additional information. |
| East Butterwick Parish Council |
Playing field Fabricated Building |
Defer pending receipt of additional information and site visit. |
| Brigg Town Council |
The Angel Suite Loop and P A System |
That the application be rejected. |
| Wrawby Parish Council |
Bus Shelter |
£800 |
; and (b) that the revised deadline dates for submission of applications to the Aid to Parishes Scheme of 31 January and 31 July, be approved.
696 (29) 'MILLENNIUM AWARDS' SCHEME - Further to minute 639 and (item before) the Director of Education and Personal Development submitted a report seeking approval of the proposed criteria and application guidelines for a community 'Millennium Awards' Scheme which were appended to the report.
The report explained that the remaining £7,511 of the Aid to Parishes budget would be used to support applications for financial assistance of up to £500 for groups/organisations planning celebrations in North Lincolnshire. This would facilitate the allocation of at least 15 awards in the final part of this financial year. Applicants would be considered on a rolling programme in relation to the Leisure Services Committee cycle with the first application being considered at the November, 1999 meeting.
The director in his report also explained that as part of the criteria successful applicants would be required to give due acknowledgement to the support of North Lincolnshire Council and must include the North Lincolnshire Council Millennium logo on all relevant publicity. North Lincolnshire Council must be invited, via the Millennium Co-ordinator to participate in any media coverage organised to coincide with the timing of the supported event/activity.
Furthermore the report suggested that a portion of the Aid to Parishes budget for 2000/2001 be set aside to allow the Millennium Awards Scheme to continue to December 2000.
Resolved - (a) That the temporary provision of a Millennium Awards Scheme for 1999/2000 in line with criteria and application guidelines appended to the report and funded by the balance of the Aid to Parishes budget be approved, and (b) that twenty five per cent of the Aid to Parishes budget for 2000/01 be reserved to support the Millennium Awards Scheme to 31 December 2000.
697 (30) SPORTS GRANT AID/SPONSORSHIP - The Director of Education and Personal Development submitted a report which considered applications for sports grant aid/or sponsorship.
The report also stated that in many instances the individual athletes supported were successful in receiving press coverage of their achievements, but North Lincolnshire Council received little acknowledgement of the financial assistance granted. It was proposed therefore that individual athletes be required to give due recognition to the support of the council in any press statement regarding their success as a condition of their grant.
The director also reported that letters of thanks had been received from Adam Reynolds and Tim Jackson for financial support towards the cost of attending the Gold Coast Schools Rugby Carnival this summer. The North of England Athletics Association had written expressing their gratitude for the council's support for the Inter Counties event held at Quibell Park in August. Scunthorpe Polytechnic Cycling Club had also given their thanks for this years sponsorship in the letter requesting support for next year.
The chair also informed the committee that the director had received a letter from the East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire Schools Amateur Athletics Association informing him of the proposal to hold next years National 3 AAAs Championship at Quibell Park, Scunthorpe.
Resolved - (a) That the applications received be dealt with as follows:-
| Scunthorpe Polythechnic Cycling Club |
Hosting a national cycling event in North Lincolnshire during July, 2000 |
£600 |
| Stephen Bennett |
Decathlete |
50% of the cost of travel and accommodation to attend the Five Nations International Athletics competition in Stuttgart in August this year subject to a maximum of £70, payment for travel to be based on public transport cost incurred. |
| David Lamb |
Judo |
50% of the cost of travel and accommodation to attend the British Judo Association International Summer Training Camp in Kendall in August this year, subject to a maximum of £35, payment for travel to be made in accordance with the petrol element of the approved mileage rates, appropriate to the engine size of the vehicle used. |
; (b) that consideration be given to the creation of a new grant aid criterion restricting the number of occasions an organisation can apply for financial assistance for a repeating event, when the Sports Grant Aid criteria are next reviewed; (c) that recipients of individual sports grant awards be asked to give due recognition to the support given by North Lincolnshire Council in any press or publicity coverage of their achievements as a condition of their grant, and (d) that letters of thanks from Adam Reynolds, Tim Jackson, Scunthorpe Polytechnic Cycling Club and the North of England Athletic Association be noted.
(Councillor Gosling declared a pecuniary interest in the following item only (minute refers) and left the meeting accordingly).
698 (31) SCUNTHORPE UNITED - POTENTIAL SPONSORSHIP - The Director of Education and Personal Development submitted a report which considered match sponsorship for Scunthorpe United Football Club during the current 1999/2000 football season.
The report explained that the council had sponsored Scunthorpe United Football Club (SUFC) for the past three years. Preliminary discussions with SUFC had again revolved around repeating the practice adopted in previous years when 1,000 children and young people from throughout North Lincolnshire were invited to the match rather than accepting the standard sponsorship package involving executive hospitality. This approach has been well received by those who have had the opportunity to attend and has been seen as an excellent ambassadorial exercise by SUFC.
Following their promotion to Division 2 match sponsorship opportunities were being reserved well in advance for 1999/2000. The home match against Colchester United on 4 March 2000 had been reserved for North Lincolnshire Council pending approval. The cost of match sponsorship in Nationwide Division 2 this season was £1500.
Resolved - That match sponsorship for Scunthorpe United Football Club for 4 March 2000 as outlined in the report be approved.
699 (32) MINI SOCCER - The Director of Education and Personal Development submitted a report on the development of 'Mini-Soccer' and its impact on junior soccer in North Lincolnshire, and considered a grant and application from the Caparo Junior Football League to assist the development of mini-soccer.
The report explained that the Football Association had committed £4.5 million together with £4.5 million of Sports Lottery Funding to develop min-soccer over the next three years and to ensure that children under 10 years of age had the very best introduction to football. As part of this initiative the Football Association was launching mini-soccer from September 1999
In the North Lincolnshire area league football for under 12 year olds was organised by the Caparo Junior Football League. Officers from North Lincolnshire Council and representatives from the Caparo Junior Football League had discussed the Football Association Mini-Soccer initiative and had agreed that to adopt it would be for the benefit of junior soccer in North Lincolnshire. The Caparo Junior Football League made a commitment to start a mini-soccer league in September 1999.
To meet the demands of the Caparo Mini-Soccer League the council would need to make available pitches throughout at its various schools, parks and playing fields. The sites had been identified in discussion with the Caparo League. The Football Association had made funding available to develop mini-soccer. However, the funding criteria required that leagues or clubs who wished to benefit must be affiliated to the Governing Body. The Caparo League was not currently affiliated to the Football Association but they had given assurances to both Lincolnshire Football Association and the council that they would meet this requirement.
There was a requirement to purchase new sets of mini-soccer goals for the proposed league to take place. The council on behalf of the Caparo League applied for twenty five sets of goals, of which fifteen have been granted. The Football Association have offered the council a grant of 65% of the £5,125 purchase price of fifteen sets of goals. The funding shortfall to the Caparo League for the purchase of goals is £1,794. The Caparo Junior Football League had applied under the council's Sports Grant Aid scheme for assistance to meet the shortfall in funding.
Further sets of goals may become available in September 1999 through this scheme, for which further funding would need to be applied. As a major equipment purchase, the application meets the Sports Grant Aid criteria. However, the league had not appreciated the need for a constitution and any grant approval would need to be conditional upon a satisfactory constitution being adopted at a future meeting of the league.
The Football Association had offered the council a capital contribution of £22,750 towards the cost of improving facilities for mini-soccer. Discussions would take place with interested parties on the best use of this money.
Resolved - (a) That the development of mini-soccer in North Lincolnshire be noted, and (b) that a grant of £1,794 be offered to the Caparo Junior Football League towards the cost of purchasing fifteen sets of mini-soccer goals, subject to the league adopting a constitution and Lincolnshire Football Association approving the leagues affiliation.
700 (33) PERFORMING RIGHT SOCIETY JAZZ PROMOTION AWARDS 1999/2000 - The Director of Education and Personal Development submitted a report informing the committee of a £500 award to the council from the Musicians' Union following submission of an application to help promote jazz at Scunthorpe Screen. Presentation of the award was to take place at the Cunningham Theatre, Nottingham on 23 September, 1999.
Resolved - (a) That the award of £500 from the Musicians' Union to support jazz programming at Scunthorpe Screen be noted, and (b) that the Director of Education and Personal Development (or his nominated substitute) accompanied by a local young jazz musician attend the above presentation day.
701 EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC - Resolved - That the public be excluded from the meeting for consideration of the following items (minutes 702 to 703 refer) on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972.
702 (34) MUSEUM ATTENDANTS' REVIEW - Further to minute 349 and 643 the Director of Education and Personal Development submitted a report advising the committee of the progress of the above review and sought approval to postpone the implementation of current proposals pending the outcome of further discussion with the Director of Corporate Affairs.
Resolved - (a) That the implementation of the current review proposals be postponed pending the outcome of further discussions with Corporate Affairs, and (b) that this committee confirms its intention to complete a review of the Museum Attendants.
703 (35) REGRADING OF POST EDP 523 - Further to minute 601 and decision record LS05/98/P/PE/20/98, the Director of Education and Personal Development submitted a report advising the committee of the outcome of the above post and sought approval for the recommended regrading as detailed in the report. The comments of UNISON regarding the proposed regrading were also reported to the meeting.
Resolved - (a) That the post EDP523 be regraded from SO1/2 to Band L (PO36-39) as detailed in the report, and be backdated to 27 January, 1999, and (b) that the report be referred to the Personnel Sub-Committee for its consideration and approval.