Live broadcast to start at 7pm and available for repeat viewing.   

No apologies had been received.

The Minutes of the previous Community & Health Committee held on 15^th December 2020 were agreed as a true record.

Mrs Anderson was present at the meeting and gave Members a presentation reflecting on what has been achieved on behalf of the Community and Health Committee over the municipal year 2020-21 in line with the Corporate Strategy 2020-2025.

The presentation was well received by Members who thanked the officers for their hard work and congratulated them on all they had achieved through a challenging year.

There has been an active and admirable response to the COVID-19 pandemic by voluntary organisations. The response has offered the opportunity to consider and review the current partnership arrangements the Council holds with voluntary sector organisations and how these can be more effective going forward.

Mrs Anderson was present at the meeting and summarised the report.

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Poppy and SECONDED by Cllr Tierney to

approve the recommendation in the report.

A vote was taken and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY to:

1.    Agree for officers to undertake a review of current partnerships

arrangements with voluntary sector organisations, and;

2.    Agree to continue current funding and partnership arrangements for the forthcoming financial year of 2021/2022, whilst a comprehensive review of grant funding and other voluntary sector contributions is undertaken.

3.    Agree for a full review to be brought to the Community and Health

September committee.

Reasons for recommendation

To ensure that the Council’s voluntary sector partnerships continue to be

relevant, efficient and deliver outcomes appropriate to the landscape.

A valid nomination has been received to list Ingatestone Post Office, Ingatestone as an Asset of Community Value and this report asks the Committee to make a decision on this nomination.  This is in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, Community Right to Bid.

Mrs Anderson summarised the report. 

Ward Members Cllrs Bridge and J Cloke and were present at the meeting and spoke in support of the recommendations outlined in the report.

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Poppy and SECONDED by Cllr Tierney to

approve the recommendation in the report.

A vote was taken and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY to:

1.    List the land known as Ingatestone Post Office, as indicated on the site map in Appendix A of the report, as an Asset of Community Value

Reasons for Recommendation

The nomination has passed the Council’s due diligence tests including the

submission of evidence that the group is eligible to nominated. The nomination passes the first statutory test as it clearly furthers the social interests and wellbeing of the local community.

There is a realistic chance that the asset will continue to provide the activities

for which it has been nominated. The nomination therefore passes the second

statutory tests.

The Council could decide not to list the Ingatestone Post Office as an Asset of

Community Value, but this would mean that it was not fulfilling its statutory duty under the Localism Act 2011.

The Council has invested in its built facilities in King George’s Playing Fields with the new pavilion building, splash pad and adventure play. The Council wants to ensure that strategic investment is also made into the golf course as part of an overall improvement programme in the park and its facilities. It is planned that an audit of the golf course is undertaken which will inform the requirements of the improvement strategy. It is expected that with the planned improvement programme, it will encourage more golf participation and justify any green fee increases that the Council may want to make. The audit will also help to develop an Agronomic plan, Arboriculturist report and irrigation plan. This audit along with options to improve the golf offer at Hartwood will inform the overall five-year improvement strategy.

Mrs Anderson outlined the report.

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Poppy and SECONDED by Cllr Tierney to

approve the recommendation in the report.

Following a full debate a vote was taken and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY to:

1.    Agree for an Audit of Hartswood Golf Course to be undertaken which will identify works to be included in The Golf Improvement Strategy.

Reasons for Recommendation

Hartswood Golf Course is an important asset for Brentwood. To compliment the new built facilities in King George’s Playing Fields the audit of the golf course will inform the Golf Improvement Strategy and identify the future investment required for the golf course.

To follow.

Due to the insolvency of Brentwood Leisure Trust in November 2020, the Brentwood Centre is currently managed directly by Brentwood Borough Council. To establish the medium and long-term options for the Centre, the Council appointed The Sports Consultancy to undertake a procurement options review for the Brentwood Centre. The report is set out Appendix A.

Mr Campbell was present at the meeting and summarised the report.

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Poppy and SECONDED by Cllr Tierney to

approve the recommendation in the report.

Members raised concerns regarding the insolvency of Brentwood Leisure Trust.  Officers advised that there were two ongoing investigations looking into the matter.  These were being conducted via the Leisure Strategy Working Group and Audit and Scrutiny.

A vote was taken and it was RESOLVED to:

1.    Note the report and recommendations set out in Appendix A.

2.     Agree to continue with the present operating model of management of the Brentwood Centre with consultancy support.

3.    Agree that delegation is given to Corporate Director of

Environment and Communities to undertake a review and amend the consultancy support to reflect requirements for 2021/22.

4.    Agree that delegation is given to Corporate Director of Environment and Communities to progress feasibility study in consultation with Leisure Strategy Working Group.

5.    Agree that officers will work towards procuring a new management contract to operate the facility.

Reasons for Recommendation

As set out in the built facilities workstream of the Council’s Leisure Strategy,

there is a commitment to improve the facilities at the Brentwood Centre. It

needs to ensure that the facilities not only support Brentwood residents now but are fit for the future as well.

To follow.

The Leisure Strategy 2018-28 is one of the key strategies for the Council to ensure that its leisure facilities are not only fit for purpose now, but for the future. The Strategy and annual action plan set the vision, what the Council needs to achieve, the challenges it faces and how the priorities and outcomes have been identified.

In light of the Covid pandemic, and with the liquidation of Brentwood Leisure Trust it is proposed to undertake a review of the Leisure Strategy and ensure that it will still meet the needs of Brentwood residents.

The report also provided an update on the Leisure Strategy annual action plan 2020-21.

Mrs Anderson presented the report.

Cllr Poppy MOVED and Cllr Tierney SECONDED the recommendations in the report.

Cllr Davies raised concerns regarding Larkins Playing Fields and requested a site visit with ward members and officers to assist with residents’ enquiries.

Following discussion a vote was taken and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY to:

1.    Note the update on the Leisure Strategy Annual Action Plan 2020-

2021 attached in Appendix A.

2.    Agree that officers will undertake a review of the Leisure Strategy

and bring a revised Leisure Strategy back to this committee with the recommendations.

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, risk profiles of the Borough’s Leisure facilities and identify

opportunities for income generation.

In light of the coronavirus pandemic and it long-term impact, it was felt that the

Leisure Strategy should be reviewed to ensure that it remain relevant to the

needs of Brentwood residents.

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 to work with partners to ensure that appropriate provision is made for the residents of Brentwood. The strategy should not only consider how the Council can provide services, but also how other partners can. The strategy should also use current sports facility evidence to identify strategic priorities to then inform what will be included in the Council’s Infrastructure Delivery Plan. Following this feasibility work, the Council will then be able to determine which projects will be funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and those funded by planning obligations.

As part of the Council Asset Management Strategy there is also a need to

maximise income where possible from its asset portfolio.

There were no items of urgent business.

As this was the last meeting in this municipal year, Cllr Poppy took the opportunity to thank Members and Officers for their hard work, support and achievements over the last year.

The meeting concluded at 20.15