Presentation by Chris Duncan, Martin Miles and Peter Smith providing further details from Everyone Active following their presentation to the Committee in November 2023. To include updates on: works undertaken at the Gainsborough Leisure Centre, outreach programmes across the district and ongoing improvement plans.
Minutes:
The Chairman extended a warm welcome to Chris Duncan, Martin Miles and Peter Smith from Everyone Active. The Committee heard that their presentation would follow on from a previous meeting of the Committee in November 2022, when they had attended to provide details of works undertaken at the Gainsborough Leisure Centre, outreach programmes across the district and ongoing improvement plans.
On opening their presentation, it was explained that Members would hear details regarding the facilities in Gainsborough and Market Rasen, ongoing work for local communities and programmes upcoming in 2024. Specific attendance data was shared, with Members hearing that West Lindsey Leisure Centre (Gainsborough site) had a recorded attendance of 301,076 for the full previous year 2022 / 23, and attendances at West Lindsey Leisure Centre after nine months 23/24 (up to Q3) was 242,503 compared to 218,032 to the same period last year (22/23), meaning West Lindsey was on track to end the year with an increase of 8% on the previous year. Market Rasen was at 32,479 compared to 29,937 in the same period last year, and was on track to end the year with an increase of 6% on the previous year. Additionally, West Lindsey Leisure Centre had an independent Quest Plus assessment in July 2023, with an overall result achieving ‘Very Good’. Of note, the centre had received ratings of ‘excellent’ in the areas of ‘Partnership and Collaboration’, ‘Financial Management and Performance’, and ‘Swimming Lessons’.
In relation to facility maintenance at the Gainsborough site, it was explained that 2023 had been a challenging year, with the failure of a heating pump, floor lifting in the squash courts and a lift being out of action as new hydraulics were awaited. Alongside these unexpected repairs, all actions from the Condition Survey had been completed, and a new fire alarm system had been installed.
In relation to the local community impact, Members were handed a copy each of the Everyone Active newsletter, which detailed, among other things, the Cancer Rehab Fighting fit programme, the Healthy Aging Programme, Healthy Workplaces pilot, Kids Dynamo Cricket programme and dementia support and care home visits. Members heard a brief overview of these programmes alongside the other agencies involved, such as the Co-op Community Trust, NHS community services and local mental health charities. Further details of programmes based out of the Market Rasen centre were also provided, including a national lottery funded women and girls group fitness class.
At the conclusion of their presentation, Members were invited to ask questions, with all understanding that detailed answers or specific data sets may need to be shared outside of the meeting, if information was not immediately to hand.
In response to a series of questions regarding the Fit Village scheme, it was explained that whilst several Parish Councils had made contact, there had not been the take up that had been anticipated initially. It was recognised by all that rising costs such as utility bills could be a barrier to opening up some village halls. It was also recognised that since the initial approaches had been made, there may have been changed circumstances and parish Councils were invited to make contact with the Everyone Active Team if this was now something they could be involved in. In relation to social media contact, it was suggested that Everyone Active could make use of community Facebook pages, rather than just sharing posts on their own page which might not reach the same audience.
With regard to the independent Quest Plus assessment, it was confirmed this had taken place at just the one site, West Lindsey Leisure Centre, however the next assessment would cover both centres.
A Member of the Committee requested that further attention be given to the timings of young people’s gym sessions, as the current timings tended to clash with transport times from school, and after school revision sessions, meaning young people were missing out on the opportunity to attend. It was acknowledged that staff were required to have the necessary training to supervise a young people’s session, which could prove challenging if trained staff members left the centres, however there was a concerted effort to extend the training amongst staff and also to increase the sessions offered to young people across both sites.
There was significant discussion regarding outreach to care homes, with Members acutely aware of the pressures faced by care homes to provide both health and social care, whilst also facing budget difficulties and needing to manage/avoid the spread of illnesses. It was highlighted that Everyone Active were working with those care homes who had requested their involvement, and there were others who had expressed an interest in being able to deliver programmes themselves, without the need for Everyone Active to be in the home environment. A Member of the Committee suggested that engagement could start with over 55’s supported living facilities to give people the confidence to move at that stage, rather than in care homes where residents were perhaps less able to engage in the first place. This suggestion was welcomed and it was acknowledged that there could be further outreach undertaken in this area.
Further discussion covered the provision of in-person fitness classes rather than virtual classes, with a Member of the Committee enquiring as to the safety of users in a virtual class, especially if they were taking the class alone, as well as options for extended use of the centres, for example for children’s parties, ‘drop-in sessions’, or community groups to run active sessions. It was emphasised that the aim was for the two sites to be seen as ‘community hub centres’ rather than the more traditional ‘leisure centre’, and there was already evidence of this change of approach being embraced. There was ongoing work with the Recovery College, with two courses having been run from the centre already, and a third one due soon.
As a concluding question, it was enquired as to whether there were any plans in the offing for a replacement pool at the Gainsborough site, in recognition of the fact it had recently achieved 50 years of existence. Officers confirmed that consideration of possible options were already underway.
With no further questions or comments, the Chairman thanked Chris, Peter and Martin for their time, thorough presentation and engaging discussion. He extended an open invitation for them to return to the Committee at a future date, and expressed his, and the Committee’s, appreciation and best wishes for their work and further development of community engagement.
Note: The meeting adjourned at 7.20pm in order for the presenters to leave the Chamber, and reconvened at 7.25pm.