Agenda and minutes

To approve as correct the notes of the meeting held on 3 May 2017

The group approved the notes of the meeting of 3 May 2017.

The Leisure Strategy and Client Manager informed the group of the progress with The Bridge and associated projects. Members heard that:

·         Contractors were currently onsite

·         The MUGAs would be complete by the end of October 2017, one MUGA would be a slightly smaller size

·         Value engineering of the budget had maintained quality, and was still within the planned contingency

·         Notices had been served on current lessees of the leisure centre

·         The overall programme had been adjusted due to addressing the electricity substation with UK Power Networks, as explained to members at the March meeting of the group

·         The target for opening The Bridge was now September 2018

In response to Members’ questions, officers confirmed that the building cladding choice had taken full account of fire risk and that stone cladding would design-out risk.

The group heard two further updates a) that planning permission was being sought for the use, by the Horsham Dramatic Society, of the former ambulance station on Hurst Road, and b) that negotiations were underway with Countryside Properties to provide continuity for Broadbridge Heath Football Club. Members noted that the impact of building works would be felt by the Countryside development, which was the access route.

This item was combined with agenda item five.

The Cabinet Member explained that the launch of the Year of Culture 2019 would be promoted in the press during July, encouraging community partners to get involved. Applications for funding for any project with a direct association with the Year of Culture would open from September 2017. A Patron for the year had been approached, and a year of culture film and a website would be produced.

An official launch event would take place at the Capitol in September. The Cabinet Member asked that group Members be ambassadors for the year, and asked officers to consider providing members with promotional cards for distribution.

The Parks and Countryside Manager explained the strategic context for the developing Play Strategy, outlining both successes and challenges.

The successes included:

·         The generation, and contribution of 32,000 volunteer hours to the service

·         Dinosaur Island at Southwater Country Park

·         Horsham Park tennis court refurbishment, including forthcoming floodlighting

The challenges included:

·         Car parking capacity for town centre, and Southwater Country Park peak-season attractions

The opportunities included:

·         Delivery of management plan for Horsham Park

·         Redevelopment of Horsham Park skate park, using developer contributions, in the next 2 or 3 years

·         HLF funding for Warnham nature reserve

·         Landscaping Horsham Park pond in partnership with West Sussex CC and Southern Water

·         Consideration of a winter attraction in Horsham Park

·         Southwater country park café

·         Encouraging and enabling access to services for disabled visitors

·         Exploration of income generation opportunities, particularly at Southwater country park

·         Improvement of outdoor play offer, including renewal, rationalisation and decommissioning options; and  

·         Exploring Member support for resource capacity

Members agreed that it was important to recognise the contribution of volunteers, and asked that officers consider how that best should be done. A copy of the draft strategy would be circulated to Members and comments were invited to be sent to the Parks and Countryside Manager for consideration.

This item was combined with agenda item four.