Decision Maker: Lead Cabinet member for Resources
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: Yes
Purpose:
Grants
Advisory Committee (GAC) met on the 28th May 2021 to
recommend to the Lead Cabinet Member for Finance the criteria and
evaluation methodology for applicants of the one-off Dual Use
Leisure Facility Grant Funding. A sum
of £50,000 had been allocated by the Council for Health and
Wellbeing from within the Central Government funding for Local
Authorities with the purpose of mitigating the impacts of
Covid-19.
Following discussion
between Officers and Lead Members it was proposed that the most
effective use of this funding would be to help improve the leisure
facility offer with the aim of encouraging the return of existing
facility members and attract new membership, thereby promoting
exercise and health and wellbeing post-Covid. These leisure centres have largely remained
closed for the past year. They are all
valued local community assets which promote community cohesion,
physical and mental health and
wellbeing.
It is anticipated that
a small investment into the décor and the introduction of
updated equipment and / or facility hire will help to encourage the
return of members, provide an attractive offer for new members and
help breathe new life into these facilities.
It was recommended
that the grants be assessed by officers and signed off by the Lead
Member for Finance.
11 dual use centres
are eligible for this scheme of which 7 centres applied for
funding.
Melbourn
Swavesey
Gamlingay
Impington
Sawston
Linton
Bottisham
Decision:
|
All applications were thoroughly reviewed. The
agreed grant allocations were given as follows:
|
Reference
|
Centre
|
Awarded amount
|
Summary
|
|
LJWLSDCR
|
Melbourn
|
£8,000.00
|
An
award of £8,000 has been recommended. This is less than the
requested amount. The panel felt that some of the general
maintenance costs should be met by other sources of funding. The
panel agreed to fund the refurbishment of the treadmill, the
purchase of 2 new treadmills, repairs to the trampoline and repairs
to the fitness suite floor.
|
|
TKJZXVCK
|
Swavesey
|
£14,100.00
|
Swavesey demonstrated clear plans
to innovate and promote, including introducing chair-based exercise
programmes and Nordic walking, offering a diverse range of
activities inside and out. Awarding the full amount of
£14,100 is recommended.
|
|
GXQPFGNK
|
Gamlingay
|
£7,454.00
|
A
group of community activists are in the process of setting up a
charity with plans to take on the management of the gym. Some
pieces of equipment are about 20 years old. Plans include
decoration of gym plus lease arrangement for 2 years and small
items of equipment to assist with Exercise on Referral. Awarding
the full amount of £7,454 is recommended.
|
|
LMLVBKLV
|
Impington
|
£8,589.63
|
Detail was provided around how the
centre would like to further benefit the GP referral scheme as well
as attract new non-exercising members to the sports centre. The
funding would be used to purchase equipment that can be used for
the GP referral scheme but also bolster their current offering to
gym members and users and included a variety of gym equipment. An
award of £8,589.63 is recommended.
|
|
TMSJFKTX
|
Sawston
|
£5,817.80
|
The application made up of 2
parts. Part 1 -The centre is working closely with the Council to
become the pilot for a modified exercise on referral scheme with
clear plans to promote the scheme and innovative ideas to extend
current offer. Part 2 of the application included a desire to offer
a hospital rehab package. However the
application did not include an outline business plan for this
project. It is
recommend grant funding is awarded for part 1 of their
application £5,817.80.
|
|
CJKPJZFH
|
Linton
|
£3,372.00
|
The Centre described clear plans to
increase activities and promote the exercise on referral scheme by
investing in the training of 2 new members of staff and numerous
items of low cost equipment. It is recommended that the full £3,372 is
awarded.
|
|
ZNJJLWKW
|
Bottisham
|
£2,666.57
|
The Centre described clear plans
re-introduce Exercise on Referral to encourage new clients from the
community. The application also contained clear plans to promote
services including case studies of success stories. The Centre
plans to extend its operating hours and the application includes
the training of 2 new members of staff and equipment. It is
recommended that that the total grant of £2666.57 is awarded
(80% reflective of South Cambridgeshire District Council
uptake).
|
|
Reasons for the decision:
The reasons are
provided in the Summary section outlined above.
Alternative options considered:
Publication date: 14/07/2021
Date of decision: 14/07/2021
Effective from: 22/07/2021
Accompanying Documents:
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