Agenda item

The City of London Corporation's DRAFT Sport and Physical Activity Strategy for 2020-25

Report of the Head of Corporate Strategy and Performance.

Minutes:

Members received a report of the Head of Corporate Strategy and Performance concerning the City of London Corporation’s Draft Sport and Physical Activity Strategy for 2020-25. The following comments were made:

 

·         The Chairman noted that the Strategy had been considerably revised since Members first saw it and was undergoing a new round of engagement with relevant Committees for feedback before it was finalised. 

 

·         The Chairman noted that the Sports Advisory Group was listed as a contributor but were not listed to receive the update Strategy again to provide input. It was agreed that the Strategy would be shared with the Sports Advisory Group and asked to provide feedback which would be fed into the HHC meeting in January 2020. 

 

·         A Member congratulated the Chairman and Deputy Chair for stopping the City machine in its tracks with its previous draft of the Strategy and pushing on important sports issues.

 

·         The Chairman queried the governance of the proposed Sport and Physical Activity Working Party, who it would report to and which budgets would be used, Members were advised that many Departments had been approached and this would be reviewed following the Fundamental Review and Governance Review.

 

·         Members agreed that clarity was needed on alignment in terms of where the Strategy would report into and how it will be funded to ensure that the responsibility of funding would not fall solely on Open Spaces. It was agreed it would be helpful for the Working Party to report to the Policy & Resources Committee.

 

·         The Deputy Chair explained that some of the work included things Open Spaces already did but was pleased to see that the Strategy acknowledged Open Spaces and the work it does. 

 

·         The Chairman stated that following a request at PRED, work was being carried out to work out the exact spend on sport and physical activity. Members were advised that information was being sought from colleagues in various Departments and information would be circulated ahead of the next PRED meeting and included in the final draft of the strategy.

 

·         Members felt that the sport engagement costings should be included, and a clear rationale provided for why the Director of Communications was not including an uplift on sport engagement. Members were advised that in terms of uplifts, the figures included within the Strategy would be static. It was suggested that a line could be added stating that consideration be given to the fact that these figures might need to increase over the course of the Strategy. 

 

·         The Chairman felt that the Director of Communications should already be planning for an uplift as the motion at Court illustrated that this was now a fully supported priority for the organisation. A Member added that this should come out of the Director’s own risk budget.

 

·         A Member recommended ensuring the Strategy was fully aligned with Sport England’s criteria for drafting strategies as this could assist with funding opportunities in the future. It was noted that a Member of HHCC offered to assist due to his expertise developing sports strategies. Officers agreed to follow up with the Member.

 

RECEIVED.

Supporting documents: