Agenda item

(NOTE: Councillors Ann Davies, Arwel Davies and Gareth Thomas declared an interest in this item)

The Committee received for consideration the updated Corporate Strategy 2018-23 - Draft Update June 2019 in relation to the following Well-Being Delivery Plans which fell within its remit:-

·       WBO 2. - Help Children live healthy lifestyles

·       WBO 6 – Creating more jobs and growth throughout the County;

·       WBO 7 – Increase the availability of rented and affordable homes;

·       WBO 8 – Help people live healthy lives (tackling risky behaviour and obesity;

·       WBO 14 – Promoting Welsh Language and culture

The following questions/observations were raised on the report:-

·       Reference was made to WBO 2 and to how the Council proposed to work with Town and Community Councils to invest in upgrading local leisure provisions.

The Business and Projects Manager advised that would be undertaken by officers providing advice and assistance to those authorities on how to promote activities within their parks and to help make best use of their facilities. That could also include signposting various grant streams and providing assistance with submitting grant applications.

·       Clarification was sought on how the Council would review and implement an improved pathway of aquatics provision to enable participants to reach their full potential (WBO 2 refers)

The Committee was advised that would involve a degree of restructuring within the Leisure Division including, the employment of additional staff to teach swimming with the ultimate aim being for all children to be able to swim.

Reference was made to the cost to schools of participating in swimming lessons and to the Committee’s previous request to the Director of Education and Children to fund the estimated £150k to schools of that participation (Minute 7 of its meeting held on the 28^th March refers). Whilst the Committee acknowledged the Director’s response to that request and the reasons why he was not in a position to accede thereto, it was felt that given the importance of children being able to swim the Executive Board be requested to revisit the funding of those costs.

The Committee was reminded that whilst the cost of the swimming lessons was free, the cost to the schools related to the provision of transport only.

·       The Head of Homes and Safer Communities in response to a question on WBO7 to bring empty homes back into use confirmed that whilst the Council had legal powers to direct owners to renovate those properties, which involved a lengthy legal process, its first approach was to enter into dialogue with owners to voluntarily upgrade their properties, of which there were estimated to be 2,500 within the County.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED:-