Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council.

The draft leisure strategy, published for consultation in August 2011, set out a vision and plan for sustainable leisure facility provision in Stockport. The consultation, which was widely publicised and extended over a three month period, used a range of methodologies for gathering views on the proposals for investment in existing and new facilities to ensure quality of provision in order to meet the needs of Stockport people.

The report summarises the outcome of the consultation and puts forward final proposals together with the Equality Impact Assessment and the final strategy document which includes a summary of the investment plan.

The Executive is recommended to agree the following final proposals:

1     Develop three new leisure facilities, in addition to the new facility opened in Reddish in 2010 by:

·      Identifying and securing the opportunity for new provision in a location suitable to meet the leisure needs of the Town Centre, Adswood, Bridgehall and Edgeley communities.

·      Re-providing a sports hall and fitness suite in a more accessible location in Brinnington with subsequent closure of Target Life Lapwing.

·      Replacing current Offerton provision in the Dialstone Centre with enhanced provision of a sports hall and fitness suite as part of the proposed development opportunity.

2     Provide high quality, fit for purpose facilities through:

·      Investment of £7M+ in Target Fitness Avondale, Cheadle, Hazel Grove, Marple and Romiley together with Target Life Council owned leisure facilities and Grand Central Pools.

3     Closure of Target Fitness Peel Moat and continue to provide high quality facilities at Target Fitness+, Houldsworth Village and Target Life Preistnall.

4     Utilisation of Capital Receipt gained from disposal of Peel Moat for on-site re-provision of a playing pitch with associated changing facility and for creation of a reserve to support the new centre provision for the town centre/ Adswood/ Bridgehall and Edgeley area.

Officer contact: Carol Morrison, 0161 474 4501, carol.morrison@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider the proposed Leisure Strategy that set out a vision and plan for sustainable leisure facility provision in Stockport, the draft of which had been published for consultation in August 2011 and which had been subject to wide publicity and a range of consultation methodologies for gathering views on the proposals for investment in existing and new facilities to ensure quality provision in order to meet the needs of Stockport people.

The report summarised the outcome of the consultation, contained the final Strategy document which included a summary of the investment plan, and an Equality Impact Assessment.

Executive Councillors discussed the proposed Strategy and emphasised that it was a document that sought to ensure the leisure needs of the whole borough were best met. It was stated that the closure of any individual facility was regrettable but should be balanced against the investment in other facilities.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Strategy for meeting the physical activity needs of Stockport people through leisure facility provision be approved.

(2) That the final proposals in respect of leisure facilities be approved, namely:-

(i)        The development of three new leisure facilities, in addition to the new facility opened in Reddish in 2010 by:-

·                Identifying and securing the opportunity for new provision in a location suitable to meet the leisure needs of the Town Centre, Adswood, Bridgehall and Edgeley communities.

·                Re-providing a sports hall and fitness suite in a more accessible location in Brinnington with subsequent closure of Target Life Lapwing.

·                Replacing current Offerton provision in the Dialstone Centre with enhanced provision of a sports hall and fitness suite as part of the proposed development opportunity.

(ii)       Provide high quality, fit for purpose facilities through:

·                Investment of £7m+ in Target Fitness Avondale, Cheadle, Hazel Grove, Marple and Romiley together with Target Life Council owned leisure facilities and Grand Central Pools.

(iii)      Closure of Target Fitness Peel Moat and the continuation of provision of high quality facilities at Target Fitness+, Houldsworth Village and Target Life Priestnall.

(iv)      Utilisation of Capital Receipt gained from the disposal of Peel Moat for on-site re-provision of a playing pitch with associated changing facility and for creation of a reserve to support the new centre provision for the Town Centre/ Adswood/ Bridgehall and Edgeley area.

(v)       That the programme be delivered by Life Leisure (Stockport Sports Trust) on behalf of the Council and in accordance with the agreed Medium Term Financial Plan developed by the Council and Life Leisure in both capital and revenue terms.