Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Rooms A/B - Neath Civic Centre. View directions

Items
No. Item

1.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

The following Member made a declaration of interest at the Item Pontardawe Arts Centre Business Plan Progress Report:-

 

Cllr. S. Reynolds

Re: Report of the Head of Transformation – Pontardawe Arts Centre Business Plan Progress Report as she is a Member of the Friends of Pontardawe Arts Centre.

 

 

2.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 57 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the previous meeting held on the 3 May 2019 were agreed as an accurate record.

3.

Christmas and New Year Opening Times 2019 - Libraries, Theatres, Community Centres, Margam Country Park, Leisure Centres and Swimming Polls pdf icon PDF 52 KB

Report of the Head of Transformation

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members received information in regard to the Christmas and New Year Opening Times for 2019, in relation to Libraries, Theatres, Community Centres, Margam Country Park, Leisure Centres and Swimming Pools as detailed in the circulated report.

 

Following scrutiny, the committee was supportive of the proposal being considered by Education, Skills and Culture Cabinet Board.

4.

Pontardawe Arts Centre Business Plan Progress Report pdf icon PDF 59 KB

Report of the Head of Transforamtion

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cllr.S.Reynolds declared an interest as this point in the meeting.

 

The Committee received an update on the progress made to date on the delivery of the Pontardawe Arts Centre business plan as detailed in the circulated report.

 

Members were pleased with the progress made and looked forward to receiving further updates.

 

Clarification was sought as to why some of the actions in the action plan were identified as red:

 

·        Music Events for Young People:

          These did not take place.  This was due to the lack of knowledge of the appropriate music. This would be something that was going to be explored further with the newly established Youth Forum. Currently there was a lot of activities taking place for young people in the centre for example music, art and drama groups but this was a new initiative to increase the music events targeted at young people.

 

·        On-line shopping - Sponsorship:

This was not possible due to the centre not being able to have charitable status.  Work was continuing by the Friends Group looking at other avenues for sponsorship.

 

·        Film Club Pricing:

This had been highlighted in red work was on-going but at an early stage and would be reviewed as part of the New Cinema Development.

 

·        Arts in Health:

Work was progressing but due to difficulties in getting a contact in the Swansea Bay University Health Board it had not progressed.  A Joint Working Group had been established and discussions would take place with the Health Board to get their involvement.

 

Discussion took place on the involvement of the community around the Centre.  It was explained that The Friends of Pontardawe Arts Centre had been involved in the improvement work to make the centre viable and participate in bringing Income Generation ideas forward.

 

Following scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.

New Welsh Government Free Swimming Initiative pdf icon PDF 67 KB

Report of the Head of Transformation

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members received an overview of the New Welsh Government Free Swimming Initiative as detailed in the circulated report.

 

Discussions took place on the changes to funding to the Welsh Government Free Swimming Initiative (FSI).  Also, how the changes would impact on the over sixties as the emphasis for free swimming would now be for under 16’s. 

 

Concern was expressed by members at the impact this change would have on the health and wellbeing of the over 60’s who were currently accessing free swimming to promote a healthy lifestyle.

 

Members were pleased to note that although Celtic Leisure had received a significant reduction in funding for the over 60’s to access free swimming – they were still going to provide free swimming for individuals with the greatest need.  Free swimming would continue to be offered at any public swimming session to all over 60’s living in the most deprived “Lower Super Output Areas” (LSOA) in NPTCBC.  However, concern was expressed at the proposal to only allow over 60’s free swimming in deprived areas.  Members noted that there were people who were in receipt of Pension Credit but did not live in a (LSOA) would be able to access free swimming for the over 60’s at any public swimming session.

 

There would also be specific sessions for 60+ across all pools for those who don’t meet the above criteria, or 60+ could swim at any public swimming session for a reduced fee of £2.00

 

 

Members asked for reassurance that the public information on the changes would be written clearly and in plain English.  Also, identifying that this was an all Wales initiative from the Welsh Government as a result of a review undertaken by the Sports Council for Wales. 

 

Following scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.

Quarterly Performance Management Data 2019-2020 - Quarter 1 Performance (1st April 2019- 30th June 2019) pdf icon PDF 64 KB

Report of the Head of Participation

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members received information on the Quarterly Performance Management Data 2019-2020 – Quarter 1 Performance (1st April   30th June 2019) as detailed in the circulated report.

 

Discussion took place on the performance indicator “number of visits to leisure centres per 1,000 population”. It was explained that all Councils across Wales included different criteria for visiting leisure centres.  As a result it is very difficult to accurately compare performance across Councils which has been challenged with Welsh Government.

 

Members were pleased that Celtic Leisure had been asked to include the number of visits to leisure centres, total usage and the number of children participating in swimming lessons in their quarterly performance data returns. 

 

Following scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted.

 

 

7.

Scrutiny Forward Work Programme 2017/18. pdf icon PDF 64 KB

Minutes:

It was agreed that the Arts Strategy would be replaced with the Business Plan for the Arts.