Issue - meetings

To receive a verbal update regarding current activity in the Leisure Service.

The Group received, and NOTED, a verbal update from the Operations Manager for Leisure Services regarding current activity with the Leisure Services area.

This included summary information in relation to the following:

·       A staffing restructure to allow for clearer reporting lines and divisions of responsibility.

·       A digital transformation project affording far more accurate data and a smoother customer journey.

·       The service was being rebranded to ‘Active Mid Devon’. This would help to position the leisure service as one that other local authorities aspire to.

·       The service was currently working towards the UK Active Standard which was designed to help instil customer confidence in the safety and inclusivity of the Council’s fitness and leisure facilities.

·       Working with Devon libraries focussing on the benefits of being physically active.

·       Progress with the planned ‘Wellbeing Walks’.

·       Park runs – two areas had now been secured for Junior Parkruns, Westexe in Tiverton and CCA fields in Cullompton. Volunteers to facilitate these events were now being sought.

·       Training sessions in relation to Menopause awareness had been and will continue to be delivered.

·       The Culm Valley Sports Centre had hosted a Community Open Day and the feedback had been very positive with new memberships secured.

·       The PDG were invited to tour the leisure centres on several dates in March.

·       Changing room refurbishments had commenced at Lords Meadow.

·       Social Value - at the end of 2024 the leisure service had commissioned a social value report to look at the wider impact of the service being delivered.  The work leisure did went far beyond getting people mentally and physically healthier and even beyond teaching valuable life skills such as swimming.  Leisure had had its best year yet and by measuring social value in addition to revenue and participation the service could now see that Mid Devon sat proudly in the top 25% in the country for the social value contribution, benchmarked against over 2500 other providers using the same methodology.

Discussion took place with regard to:

·       It was felt to be a good idea to bring the libraries and leisure centres together for the benefit of residents.

·       It would be a great community asset if it was possible to succeed in setting up park run/s.

·       Leisure centre open days were a really good initiative and had proven to lead to visitors signing up for memberships.

The Chair thanked the officer for this useful update.