Agenda item

The Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture introduced the report and reminded Members that SSDC would work in partnership with groups and volunteers to deliver facilities, as they were enablers, not providers.  She said they would try to bring forward priority projects until 2028 within the resources which the council had. 

The Specialist (Strategic Planning) advised that although the Scrutiny Committee had questioned the number of responses to the consultation, she was content with the 50 responses from Parish Councils and local groups as the document was quite technical.  She noted the key priority projects listed on pages 110 to 113 and the area priority action plan.  She confirmed the document supported the evidence base at planning appeals for the need for facilities in the district and the identified gaps in provision.

In response to a question from a representative of Brympton Parish Council regarding the current position on the Yeovil Town Football Club planning application, the Chairman said that dialogue was ongoing and SSDC were waiting for the football club to bring forward their proposals and they would assist them in what was reasonable and realistic.

In response to questions from the Scrutiny Committee the Specialist (Strategic Planning) advised that they were trying to secure land in Chard for community use.

During discussion, it was noted that:-

·         Community use of school pitches should be secured via shared use agreements, particularly where they were awarded Section 106 funding.

·         Although the strategy document was based upon population projections within the Local Plan Annual Monitoring Report of 2016, the report would be formally reviewed and updated during its lifetime.

·         Some Members felt there was a need for Artificial Grass Pitches in Area East as hockey was no longer played in grass pitches and access to private school facilities was not formally secured.

·         Facilities for netball would be looked at as part of the needs assessment for built leisure facilities which would commence in July and take approximately 6 months.

·         SSDC had grant aided the covering of the open-air pool in Huish Episcopi but there was concern that the community use would reduce as the school use increased. 

The Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee thanked the Senior Play and Youth Facilities Officer and the Community Health & Leisure Manager for their help in facilitating the Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) in Ilton which had opened the previous week. 

At the conclusion of the debate, the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture thanked theSpecialist (Strategic Planning) for her work in bringing the Playing Pitch Strategy document forward.  The Chairman noted that community support for projects was required to progress them with support and advice from SSDC.  He then asked that a vote be taken on each recommendation and it was: