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

Apologies had been received from Cllr White and Cllr Russell was substituting.

The Minutes of the previous Community & Health Committee held on 9^th March 2021 were agreed as a true record.

Members noted the Chair’s update, and thanked Chair and officers accordingly.

The Mental Small Grants Scheme was created in partnership with the Health and Wellbeing Board to give Brentwood’s communities the opportunity to provide mental health initiatives in the Borough. Grants of up to £4,000 were available to not-for-profit individuals, organisations and groups for wellbeing projects delivered between 1 August 2021 and 31 March 2022. Projects must be delivered in the Borough and involve people with live experience in design planning and delivery.

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 recommendations in the report.

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

Agree to fund those projects highlighted in green as outlined in Appendix B out of the Mental Health Small Grants Scheme and Contain Management Fund allocations.   

Reasons for Recommendation

Each application has been subject to a robust, independent and transparent scoring process to ensure fairness in the allocation of funding.  Once reviewed, the applications were scored by a panel of officers including a representative from the Health and Wellbeing Board, considering the following key priorities:

·         Evidence that the bid meets the criteria, and the Health and Wellbeing Board expected outcomes

·         Evidence that the applicant has involved those with lived experience in the planning and delivery of the project.

·         Evidence that the bid has an effective monitoring system in place.

·         Evidence that the applicant has sought additional external funding or in-kind value (such as the use of volunteers) for the project

·         Evidence that the project is sustainable once the Mental Health Support Grant contribution has ceased.

The Localism Act 2011 introduced the Community Right to Bid, a new right for local people to nominate buildings or pieces of land they believe contribute to the social interests or wellbeing of their local communities to be listed on a register of Assets of Community Value (ACVs), managed by the Local Authority.

A valid nomination had been received to list La Plata Wood, as an Asset of Community Value and the report asked the Committee to make a decision on this nomination.

Mrs Anderson summarised the report.

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Poppy and SECONDED by Cllr Aspinell to agreed agree the recommendation in the report.

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

List the land known as La Plata Wood, as indicated on the site map in Appendix B of the report, as an Asset of Community Value.

Reasons for Recommendation

1.    The nomination had 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.

2.    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.

3.    The Council could decide not to list La Plata Wood as an Asset of Community Value, but this would mean that it was not fulfilling its statutory duty under the Localism Act 2011.

The report provided an update for Members on the Brentwood Centre and the work that is being undertaken.

Mrs Anderson presented the report to Members.

Members commended officers for their hard work in bringing the Centre up to its current condition, and for its current use as a vaccination centre.

Officers assured Members that regular safety checks were in place and regular monitoring was being adhered to.

The report provided an update to Members and was for information only.

The Leisure Strategy 2018-28 is one of the key strategies as set out in in Corporate Strategy 2025. Due to changes as a result of COVID, new strategic documents from Sport England and Public Health England, Officers felt that a refresh of the existing strategy was timely. It is key that our leisure facilities provide the right facilities that will ensure that our residents and visitors remain healthy and active. The workstreams remain the same to enable the Council to deliver the objective and an annual action plan will be presented to Members so that they can note the progress on the delivery of the Strategy.

Mrs Anderson summarised the report.

Members raised concerns regarding the use of the Football Hub and asked for assurance that adequate parking would be provided so as not to have a negative impact on the surrounding area.

Mrs Anderson advised Members a number of surveys will inform the football hub development including traffic and highways assessment. The Leisure Strategy was a fluid document and officers will work with the Leisure Strategy Working Group and Members to feed into the document looking strategically around the borough for the best sites and facilities.

Assurance was given to Members that the Football Hub would be for community use.

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Poppy and SECONDED by Cllr Tierney to agreed agree the recommendation in the report.

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

Agree to the refreshed Leisure Strategy 2020-28 and that an annual action plan is presented to the Community and Health Committee to update on progress.

Reasons for Recommendation

As Sport England and Public Health England have refreshed their 10year strategies, and in light of the ongoing impact of the Covid pandemic, it is essential that the Council’s Leisure Strategy is aligned with these strategies and supports the needs of its residents. It is a key strategy document under the Corporate Strategy and is also aligned to the Local Development Plan and Asset Management Strategy.   

The report provided an update for Members on the progress of the Football Hub development at the Brentwood Centre site and the work that has been undertaken.

Mrs Anderson presented the report.

The report was to provide an update to Members and for information only.

There were no items of urgent business.

The meeting concluded at 19:50