Apologies were received by Cllr Mrs Slade, Cllr Russell was present as a substitute.

Minutes of the Community & Health Committee held on 14^th March 2016.

The minutes for the Community and Health Committee held on the 14^th March 2016 were approved as a true record.

Report to follow.

The Chair informed the committee of the proposed forward plan for the municipal year.  This was noted by the members.

The Chair updated the members of the Committee on the items that were present to the Community & Health Committee.

The members were informed of the Terms of Reference that are listed within their agenda, with the inclusion of Leisure and cultural initiatives.

22 June 2015 

Service Plans for Food Safety & Health and Safety 2015-16

CCTV –new codes of practice and signs in public areas covered by CCTV in accordance with ICO recommendations.  CCTV report to be taken in the September Committee, following a public/Member consultation.

Ward budget guidance – No ward budget allocation for this financial year.

Mental Health Challenge Action Plan – link to progress on the Health and Wellbeing Board Strategy/Action Plan.

14 September 2015

Community Fund grant allocation – The 2016 fund was launched 4 April and closes on 4 September 2016 - this will be coming to the 5 December 2016 Committee for members to agree the allocation of funding.

Revised T of R for Local Health and Wellbeing Board – (Brentwood and Basildon) .

Outdoor Gym report- Recommendations  1. That the Leisure and Play Strategy consider the full business case for the provision of an outdoor gym facility in the Borough. 2. That formal discussions commence with providers of such facilities to explore full costings and joint venture opportunities, which may include a new revenue stream to the Council. The Leisure Strategy will look at this.

14 December 2015

The Bull PH Blackmore – Asset of Community Value – review has been asked for and completed, and listing still stands. Landowner has a final right to appeal to the First Tier Tribunal. Blackmore Bull Community Group has indicated that they wish to submit a community bid for the Asset, which triggers a 6 month moratorium on the disposal of the asset.

Fees and Charges  - Environment, Localism, Parks and Open Spaces  due to come to the December Committee. These are put forward as part of the budget setting and agreed by PF & R.

Community Events Programme 2016/17 – subject to the budget setting process.

Leisure Strategy –recommendation - That Members agree to establish a working group to develop a work programme to deliver the Leisure Strategy over the next five years.

Report before Members tonight and a further report will be presented on completion of the value for money and options appraisal.

Green Gym – recommendation that Members agree to request that Officers explore the possibility of setting up a Green Gym in Brentwood and to report back to a future committee.

This update was noted by the members.

In March 2015 the Council commissioned Ploszajski Lynch Consulting to assist in the development of a Leisure Strategy for the Borough. The initial draft was completed and became a “needs analysis” (Phase 1 of a complete leisure strategy) of leisure requirements and provided an evidence base of facilities in the Borough. A cross party Member Working Group was established in January 2016 to identify the key priorities and to develop a work programme to deliver the Leisure Strategy. A key priority identified by the working group was to establish income and expenditure on the Council’s current leisure facilities.

Now the Council is in possession of the needs analysis, It is proposed that the Council commission a full and thorough value for money review and options appraisal of the Council’s leisure facilities (Phase 2 of the leisure strategy) within the Borough which will include the Brentwood Centre, six community halls (which will include Bishops Hall, Hutton Poplars Hall, Hutton Poplars Lodge, Merrymeades, Nightingale Centre, Willowbrook Hall) and Hartswood Golf Course.

The value for money review and options appraisal will provide Members with a complete picture of the current provision. It will also provide them with an understanding of the various options available to them and associated risk profiles for securing future leisure provision in the Borough. It will also help members identify the ‘best fit’ for Brentwood. This work will inform any formal tender process which may follow the review.

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Parker and SECONDED by Cllr Trump to approve the recommendations set out in the report, subject to an amendment to 2.1 by the Chair as set out below.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY to:

1. To commission a Value for Money Review and Options Appraisal of the Council’s Leisure facilities to include the Brentwood Centre, Community Halls (to include Bishops Hall, Hutton Poplars Hall, Hutton Poplars Lodge, Merrymeades, Nightingale Centre, Willowbrook Hall, Hartswood Golf Course, Football and Rugby Pitches.

2.  For Officers to request support from the LGA Productivity Expert      Programme in respect of the Consultancy costs.

3.  Approve the release from the Transformation reserve of £30k, as allowed for in the 2016/2017 budget, to support the work of the Leisure Strategy and Value for Money Review and Options Appraisal.

4.    This budget be delegated to the Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Chair of Community, Health and Leisure Committee.

5.    That Officers report back to Members the outcomes of the Value for Money Review and Options Appraisal.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

As part of the Council’s due diligence in delivering a successful Leisure Strategy, Members and officers need to have a complete picture of the current associated costs and risk profiles of the borough’s Leisure facilities.

Comments received from Sport England as part of the Local Development Plan consultation, stated that a Leisure Strategy is required that assesses Council owned sports and leisure facilities in order that the Council can continue  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

The report set out the powers introduced to require all dogs over 8 weeks to be implanted with a microchip and the powers available to the Council to deal with keepers of dogs that have not been microchipped.

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Wiles and SECONDED by Cllr Mrs Davies to approve the recommendation set out in the report.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY to:

1.      Members agree to delegate authority to the Chief Executive and to the Environmental Health Manager and officers nominated by them to take appropriate action if dogs are found not to have been microchipped.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

To ensure that dogs are microchipped in the Borough and can be identified in case they are lost or stolen.

There were no items of urgent business.

The meeting concluded at 8:06pm.