Agenda item

(NOTE: Councillors K. Broom and R. Sparks having earlier declared an interest in this item re-declared that interest)

The Committee, further to its meeting held on the 16^th November 2022, considered the final Leisure, Culture and Outdoor Recreation Strategy post consultation prior to its consideration be the Cabinet.

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

·       Reference was made to the energy efficiency of the Council’s leisure centres and to whether consideration had been given to acquiring batteries to store any excess energy generated by the solar panels installed on the buildings for use within the leisure centres instead of being returned to the electricity grid network.

The Head of Leisure Services confirmed that whilst work was being undertaken to make the centres energy efficient, more was required, and discussions in that regard were undertaken with the Council’s Corporate Property Division and external agencies such as the Carbon Trust. He would however raise the issue of battery packs with Corporate Property and respond directly to the member who raised the question.

·       In response to a question on the Economic Outcomes within the report (pages 74-76) and the additional £20m investment into the service over the Strategy’s period, the Head of Leisure Services advised that this related to the level of investment the service would look to draw down to invest in the areas detailed within the report. That investment could come from a variety of sources such as the Council’s Capital Programme, Invest to Save initiatives, grants and other external funding.

·       With regard to income generation within the Leisure Division, the Head of Leisure confirmed this had now returned to pre-covid levels in most areas. However, the future remained challenging for the service in terms of increased energy costs and the cost of living adversely impacting on income levels and costs. The Division was endeavouring to increase patronage and was exploring new opportunities to increase patronage / income as they presented for example working jointly with the Health Board to encourage people to be more active.

·       Reference was made to one of the Strategy’s aims of promoting Carmarthenshire’s Cultural Activity and clarification sought on what measures the Council was taking to encourage staff to speak Welsh in the workplace.

The Head of Leisure Services confirmed the Division was working with the Council’s Policy Section together with other organisations such as the Urdd, Sports Council etc to promote and encourage the use of the Welsh Language by staff. However, more could be done and that was intertwined with staff development and a new corporate workforce strategy.

·       The Head of Leisure Services in response to a question on fishing within the County confirmed its inclusion within the Strategy with the aim of improving the level of provision within the 10year timeframe. Whilst it was hoped improved provision could be achieved within a shorter time scale, he stressed the Council was governed by Natural Resources Wales and other external agencies in that regard. However, it would be working with those bodies to increase fishing opportunities within the County at the earliest opportunity.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to recommend to Cabinet that the Leisure, Culture and Outdoor Recreation Strategy be adopted.