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FIFE COUNCIL

Adult Services Committee

23rd June 2004

Agenda Item No.

The Future of Leisure In Fife

    1. Introduction

1.1 The term Leisure lends itself to confusion mostly because of historical

over use. However, for the purpose of this Report Leisure will be

considered in its broader context and include formal recreation e.g.

sport and informal recreation e.g. walking and reading.

    1. Leisure in Fife is well developed and already plays a major role in the

wider social agenda of Fife, and is intrinsically linked to education, community learning health and other key themes within Community Services.

1.3 Notwithstanding the above, the main driver for this Report is the need

in Fife (as throughout the country) to consider all options for an enhanced investment in ailing facilities and an increased resource in infrastructure including support for individual and community development programmes.

    1. This Report outlines the background, examines some of the issues and

proposes a way ahead.

  1. Background

2.1 At a specially arranged Seminar in March 2003 Members recognised the importance of Leisure in helping the Council develop its main aims

in a Community Planning context. There was widespread recognition

for the argument put forward by Professor Fred Coalter that “Leisure

was critical to the general well being of individuals and communities”. A copy of the Presentation is available (see Note 1).

    1. The Head of Community Services considered the above in a Fife context and outlined the fact that many of the national issues were

prevalent in Fife. He proposed that many of the issues were becoming critical and this was particularly the case in terms of the Council's considerable facility stock. A copy of the Presentation is available (see Note 1).

  1. Issues

3.1 On the basis that Leisure plays a major role in the infrastructure of Fife it is imperative that all aspects are fully appreciated in order to provide

the impetus for an examination of the issues, research into potential

solutions and a detailed option appraisal.

    1. Some of the basic issues requiring to be addressed are.

*Pressures on capital and revenue spend.

*Developing recognition of Leisure's intrinsic value in cross cutting

agendas.

*The balance between local access and quality provision.

*The limitation in resources available for development of individuals

and communities through leisure.

*The debate over direct and indirect provision.

*The balance between Fife wide strategic planning and local

pressures.

*The balance between `social inclusion and income generation'

*The critical condition of facilities in Fife.

  1. Facilities

4.1 In broad terms and looking across the various functional elements of Community Services, it is estimated that a £60 million investment is required in our existing leisure facility infrastructure. By and large, this sum would simply allow us to maintain what we currently have in its existing condition. It probably wouldn't provide us with the quality of facilities that out customers now want and expect, particularly in what is an increasingly competitive market.

    1. As already intimated this situation is by no means unique to Fife and a

number of recent national audits have concluded that there is now a

massive backlog of work required to try and maintain (and improve) the

sporting and cultural infrastructure of Scotland.

    1. Among these, the best publicised was the aptly named “Ticking Time

Bomb” report published by Sportscotland in June 2000. This reviewed

the condition of Scotland's ageing swimming pool stock and concluded

that an investment of £540 million was required up until 2020, simply to

maintain (not improve) existing levels of provision. The Report indicated that the investment figure for Fife was some £30 million. There is other work in progress, also commissioned by Sportscotland, to assess the condition of the nation's remaining indoor and outdoor sports facilities and this is expected to conclude that an investment of some £2 billion is required in the same time frame.

    1. More recently, we have also engaged consultant engineers, Ove Arup, to undertake a detailed condition survey of all our swimming pool stock, within both community and school - based facilities. Their interim Report indicates that a total investment of some £6 million is required over the next ten years on the repair and / or refurbishment of the swimming pool plant. In addition, it highlights £10 million of buildings investment which is required specifically at the Carnegie Leisure Centre in Dunfermline and the Fife Sports institute in Glenrothes, most of which will be required in the next five years and £3 million of which is required immediately.

    1. Whichever approach is taken, the level of funding required is simply not

Available within the current three year capital programme and, whilst there may be some scope for additional borrowing given the imminent

introduction of the “prudential code”, this, alone, is not going to resolve the whole problem. Much of the external funding support from the Lottery Sports Fund is now being channelled via the recently launched National and Regional Sports Facilities Strategy, although there is still some funding support facilities from the mainstream LSF programme.

  1. Solutions

5.1 It is clear there is no single resolution to develop the service and in particular the facility base. However, some options might include:

  1. Trust Status

6.1 It has been stressed in this Report that there is no single option

to address many of the issues facing Fife. However, it is inevitable

that there will be considerable debate on the question of Trust status.

    1. Trust status is extremely complex and will require detailed analysis but the following outlines some of the matters based on wider national experience, which will require analysis.

Positive Negative

*Financial (Rates) *Marginal to Policy Making

*Conditions of Service *Confusion

(Business / Development)

*Culture (Single Business) *Council Commitment?

*Speedier Decision Making *Budget Reduction

Pressures

*Flexible Use of Resources *Misunderstood Status

    1. Many Trusts have been set up with the single intention of saving money from the overall budget rather than re-investment. It is critical in the context of the Future of Leisure in Fife that the Council avoids this simplistic view and examines the very complex arguments both for and against in the long-term interests of the people of Fife.

  1. Way Forward

7.1 Leisure in Fife is facing many issues, which largely relate to its ageing facility stock and urgent need for re-investment. There will be no single solution but whilst there are challenges there are also some possible support mechanisms. It is important that Fife Council takes steps to explore these challenges and considers an option appraisal before developing any implementation programme.

    1. The issues raised will be complex and will not be able to be considered

in the short-term. This in itself is a reason why steps require to be

taken now. It will also be important that members are involved at all

stages of this process given the major political as well as management

decisions that will require to be taken.

    1. It is proposed that a Short Life Member / Officer Working Group be set up with the remit to examine “The Future of Leisure” in Fife. This Group would require to be adequately resourced and could require external support. Work would include the examination of some existing provision outwith Fife.

    1. In line with previous practice it is recommended that the Working Group be structured as follows:

  1. Conclusions

8.1 Leisure makes a valuable contribution to life in Fife and is vital in achieving many aspirations in The Community Plan. However, it is facing many challenges if it is to continue to provide a quality service in and through appropriate facilities. It is important that all options are examined so that Fife Council is in the best position to make informed decisions about future provisions.

  1. Recommendations

9.1 It is recommended that members

- agree to a Member / Officer Group as outlined in Para 7.4 to examine “The Future of Leisure” in Fife with a remit to outline the challenges, examine examples of practice, consider options and to report back.

DAVID SOMERVILLE

Head of Community Services

27 May 2004

NOTE 1

Copies of the Presentations by Professor Fred Coalter and David Somerville are available from the Head of Community Services.

Ref - 005 - ASC/23 June 2004