An opportunity for the Portfolio Holders to provide an update to the Panel on developments within their portfolios.
Minutes:
Cllr Mrs D Andrews, the Community Affairs Portfolio Holder, reminded members that the Task and Finish Group dealing with Community Grants would be meeting soon, and reporting to the January Panel meeting.
Cllr Andrews explained that the parish councils had for some years paid £732.00 per year per camera as a contribution to the District Council’s CCTV costs. It was intended that this arrangement would be formalised in a Partnership Agreement which had been circulated among parish councils. Once they had signed up to the Agreement as part of a wider community safety initiative, the fee would be reviewed on an annual basis.
It was explained that the CCTV Room was to be relocated to the basement area of Appletree Court. Officers were investigating procurement options for the provision of re-deployable cameras, and it was hoped that a trial would be undertaken in due course. It was explained that there had been a significant increase in the uptake of Careline Fall Detectors offered as part of the overall Careline package.
Cllr Andrews reported that a Safer New Forest Conference would be held at Brockenhurst College on 15 November 2018, bringing together community safety professionals from all over the District.
Cllr Binns, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Wellbeing, referred to the Leisure Review at item 5 of the agenda and thanked Cllr Steve Clarke for chairing the Group and the progress made to date. Contact had been made with schools to keep them abreast of the situation. Cllr Binns reported that phase 1 of the operational review had been completed, a single Management Team with 1 Service Manager and 2 Multi-Centre Managers is now in place. Feedback so far was positive. Phase 2 of the review was ongoing into October.
A number of themes had been identified to deliver the Service Operational Plan, each of which included real savings or income generation that would contribute towards closing the operational funding gap.
Cllr Binns also detailed progress on the roof work to New Milton Health & Leisure Centre which was due to finish in October and was likely to come in under budget.
Tenders for the Applemore Pre-School had been received on 13 September. This had yet to be evaluated.
Details were given of the ‘Pop-Up Road Show’, where families enjoyed various activities across the Forest during the summer, had attracted more than 1,500 people. Free activity days included many activities and ran 1 day a week throughout August at five recreation grounds across the District.
Cllr Binns also reported on the #ThisGirlCan national Sport England Initiative which aimed to encourage more women to be active in the Forest. The New Forest had the biggest gap in activity levels between men and women in Hampshire, with men being amongst the most active in the county, women the least.
On the Recreational Management Strategy, the Portfolio Holder felt the timing was appropriate to set up a steering group to advise him on the Council’s approach to the NPA’s proposals for the Recreational Management Strategy. The group would help inform the Portfolio Holder on appropriate recommendations to the December Cabinet meeting. It was agreed that all members be emailed to seek volunteers to sit on the group.
Dibden Golf Centre Working Group – Chairman’s Update
Cllr B Andrews, Chairman of the Dibden Golf Centre Working Group gave an update on the meeting of the Group held on 4 September.
The Dibden Golf Centre Working Group last met on 4 September.
Improvements have been made with the liaison arrangements between NFDC and MyTime, with the Council’s Open Spaces Service Manager (Steve Jones) now monitoring progress.
He and his experienced team were providing advice and guidance on grounds maintenance, as well as assisting with equipment resources.
It was intended to revisit the contract with MyTime, to ensure there was greater clarity on respective responsibilities for maintenance of the facility. It had also been agreed that MyTime will play a more prominent role in meetings with their user groups so that they have full accountability to their customers.
The clubhouse roof was shortly to be replaced, and discussions were ongoing regarding various schemes, eg to improve the appearance of the facility, including the car park and access road, the future location of the Pro Shop, and use of the related building. The aim was to continue to make full use of the location, its grounds and buildings, to make it an ever-more attractive place, both for golf users and for functions, and to improve income.
The Group will meet again with MyTime representatives in 6 months’ time.
Cllr Andrews was specially grateful personally and on behalf of the Working Group to Colin Read for all his work and support in turning this partnership round. He looked forward to a much more effective relationship and outcomes.