The report within the agenda contained the report and recommendations of the Leisure Strategy Working Group which met on 9 July 2018, for consideration by the Audit and Scrutiny Committee. The Members of the Working Group consisted of the following Members: Cllrs Hossack, Poppy, Tierney, Davies and Barrett and they were supported by the following Officers: Philip Ruck, Kim Anderson and Stuart Anderson.

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Russell and SECONDED by Cllr Middlehurst to approve the recommendation in the report.

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

To note the Leisure Strategy Working Group and agree the recommendations contained within and refer it to the 11 September Community Health and Housing Committee.

Reasons for Recommendation

As part of the Council’s due diligence in delivering a successful Leisure Strategy, Members and officers needed to have a complete picture of the associated costs, risk profiles of the Borough’s Leisure facilities and identify opportunities for income generation.

Comments received from Sport England as part of the Local Development Plan consultation, stated that a Leisure Strategy was required that assessed Council owned sports and leisure facilities in order that the Council could continue to work with partners to ensure that appropriate provisions were made for the residents of Brentwood. The strategy should not only consider how the Council could provide services, but also how other partners could. The strategy should also use current sports facility evidence to identify strategic priorities to then inform what would be included in the Council’s Infrastructure Delivery Plan. Following the feasibility work, the Council would then be able to determine which projects would be funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and those funded by planning obligations.

The Council’s Asset Management Strategy 2014/15 also set out the need to obtain maximise income where possible from its asset portfolio.