Agenda item

The Committee received an update report presented by the Executive Board Member with responsibility for Culture, Sport and Tourism (accompanied with a powerpoint presentation) on the key issues affecting the Pendine Outdoor Education Centre and suggested ways forward in delivering high quality outdoor education in Carmarthenshire.

It was noted that the current facility was ageing and its replacement required significant capital investment of circa £5m set against a challenging background of increasing competing demands on the Councils’ capital programme. As a result of those factors, consideration was being given to alternative means of provision which could, for example, include downsizing the current facility, use of alternative buildings/facilities within the county and a mobile service provision. An Outdoor Education Forum had therefore been established, including representatives from leisure, education and schools, to identify future service delivery options

The following issues were raised on the report:-

·       The Committee referred unanimously to the value of the existing facility at Pendine to the whole of the County and to the experience it provided for school children. It whole heartedly supported its continued operation and the need to identify capital, and other funding sources, to secure its provision for future generations

The Head of Leisure confirmed the future provision of the centre was challenging when set against ageing buildings, under-investment over the years and demands on the Council’s capital programme. However, he advised that revenue expenditure of £80k pa was spent on maintaining the facility together with an additional £160k pa operating subsidy. Having regard to the substantial rebuilding cost, there was a need for the authority to adopt a more flexible approach to the future of outdoor education provision while retaining some base provision at Pendine.

·       In response to a question on the importance of leisure to the health of young children, the Head of Leisure confirmed the provision of outdoor leisure facilities by the Authority such as that at Pendine were extremely beneficial to young children’s mental and physical wellbeing and the authority had spent significantly on its leisure portfolio in recent years. However, with the current situation at Pendine, and competing demands on the capital programme, consideration had to be afforded to alternative methods of service delivery which may be achievable with some form of capital investment.

·       Reference was made to impact of Covid on the centre’s operation and to the fact that at some time in the future outdoor leisure facilities, such as at the Pendine Centre, would re-open. Whilst the estimated £5m capital replacement costs were not insignificant, the view was expressed that the centre’s benefit to children was immense. A question was therefore asked on whether the centre’s running costs could be offset in part by introducing a commercial element when it was not in use by schools, for example, during school holidays, as occurred within the university sector.

The Executive Board Member accepted the comments made but emphasised that the current economic backdrop required the authority to look forward on how the service could/should be provided in the future and had established a Forum to consider that provision.

The Head of Leisure confirmed the purpose of the Forum was to evaluate the future course of outdoor education provision within the county and the debate by the Committee that day was part of the consultation process to help inform the decision making process. He referenced the impact of Covid on the private outdoor leisure provision sector, which could result in a number of facilities not re-opening, and that it was hoped the authority could continue to provide such facilities either on site at Pendine or by alternative means.

·       In response to a question on whether improvement works to the centre could be undertaken while it was currently closed, the Executive Board Member advised that unfortunately, as the Council’s capital programme was fully committed, there was no funding available at the present time.  However, having regard to the Committee’s discussion, one potential option to be considered could be a 3/5 year rolling redevelopment programme, which could be considered by the Forum.

·       The Head of Leisure in response to a question on external financing via grants etc advised that whilst there were no direct external grants available, there may be an opportunity for the authority to access alternative grant sources available to other council departments such as social services or education for example. However, any such application would need to be considered against competing demands within those services. The Committee was assured that all potential sources of external funding were explored as the opportunities arose.

·       With regard to the potential commercial use of the centre outside of school terms, the Head of Leisure confirmed there was potential in that option given Pendine’s excellent location on the coast and that could be further explored with the opening of the Pendine Attractor Project. Similarly, options existed within other areas for the provision of outdoor leisure facilities such as providing climbing towers within town centre environments. It’s for those reasons the Authority was examining the current single based unit for outdoor education provision and to be more flexible in its future provision

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be received.