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Dimensions Splashpool
Knowing of the number of
constituents who have shown their support for
Dimensions I attach below a
copy of the report I submitted to Stoke-on-Trent City Council
for presentation to the scrutiny committee Chaired by Councillor
David Conway.
I really would welcome feedback and will do
all I can to continue to make the case for an integrated sport
and recreation policy, including the Dimensions splash pool.
Dimensions Splashpool
Submission on 3rd
April 2008
From Joan
Walley MP
Summary
The decision of Stoke-on-Trent council to refer the petition
signed by over 5,500 people objecting to the closure of
Dimensions splashpool to the communities overview and scrutiny
committee chaired by Councillor Conway provides the
opportunity for the council, partners, stakeholders and
constituents to consider in detail the wider policy framework
within which Dimensions operates and reconsider the policy of
closure of the splashpool. This framework allows further
consideration of the role of Dimensions within the wider
context of Local Area Agreement targets, Government policy and
alternative funding sources.
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My
Recommendation(s)
I would support a detailed appraisal of the role of
Dimensions, including retention of the splashpool, in relation
to an overall sports and activity strategy for the city which
drives regeneration, improves health, reduces crime and helps
the achievement of LAA targets. The council must make
consideration of the wider impact the closure of Dimensions
splashpool will have upon Stoke-on-Trent
I would
support detailed discussions between the council its strategic
partners, Unison trade union and users of the pool to provide
channels of communication so we can get a support group for
the facilities at Dimensions as a whole.
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Key
Issues:
Compliance with Local Area Agreement (LAA) - the closure of
the splashpool is in direct contravention of the Local Area
Agreement targets. These targets are:
Health
HCOP 2.3 To half the year on year rise in obesity amongst
adults 16-75 years by 2010
HCOP 2.4 To reduce the number of deaths from Cardio Vascular
Disease (heart disease and stroke) in the under 75 year olds
Halt the year on year rise in obesity levels in schoolchildren
under 11
What role does Dimensions splashpool play?
“regular exercise can reduce the risk of obesity and illness
in general, as well as diseases such as coronary heart
disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.” (Chief Medical Officer,
“5 times a week” 2004)
2000 patients were referred to exercise classes in the
splashpool by their GP following illness or surgery
The splashpool is a child-centered facility which is important
in helping children remain fit and healthy
131,000 people exercised in the pool in 2006-07
Physical Activity:
HCOP 2.7.1 Double the percentage of adults (aged 16-65)
participating in at least 30 minutes moderate intensity sport
and active recreation (including recreational walking) on 3 or
more days per week, as measured by Sport England’s Survey
CYP 3.3 Increase the involvement of young people in sport,
recreation and other positive activity by 2008
What role does Dimensions splashpool play?
Dimensions is a key outlet facilitating physical exercise.
There were:
18,000 swimming lessons the pool
72499 leisure swims
1934 exercise classes in the water
The pool is used by primary schools, scouts, girl guides,
special needs schools and kindergartens to provide exercise to
children.
The PCT have a Go Five physical activity referral programme to
use physical activity as a way of improving health and this
includes referrals to Dimensions splashpool
Anti Social Behaviour:
SSC 5.1 To reduce reports of anti social behaviour by 15% by
2008
CYP 2.1 Reduce levels of anti social behaviour and crime by
20% by 2008
SSC 1.7 Reduce the number of young people re-offending by 5%
by 2008
SSC 1.7 Reduce the levels of adults re-offending
What role does Dimensions splashpool play?
Stanfields Youth Inclusion Project regularly take children to
the splashpool in their efforts to reduce anti social
behaviour. They believe the closure will adversely affect
these efforts
Research studies at a local and national level provide
evidence that sport contributes to “reducing youth crime and
anti-social behaviour” (Sport England)
It is the duty of the local authority to give “due
regard to the likely effect of the exercise of those functions
on, and the need to do all that it reasonably can to prevent,
crime and disorder in its area.” (Crime and Disorder Act 1998)
Compliance with Central Government Policy:
Game
Plan
“to increase significantly levels of sport and physical
activity, particularly among disadvantaged groups” (Cabinet
Office 02)
Children’s Plan
“A new national strategy on play will be backed by £225
million over three years, starting early in 2008. Every local
area will get extra money by 2010” (Department for Children,
Schools and Families 2008)
Children’s Plan
“Parents and young people themselves have told us that they
want more safe places for young people to go. Where they can
enjoy sports and leisure activities under supervision. There
is also evidence to show that this can have a really positive
effect on young people’s development. We’re going to make
money available to transform facilities for young people, and
we want to involve parents and young people so that their
ideas are taken on board”
DCMS
“We are committed to providing access to sport and work to
encourage the take-up of sport across communities and by
children and young people in particular”
Alternative
Facilities in Stoke-on-Trent:
It is not
right to argue that other facilities can provide the same
services following the closure of the splashpool. The
splashpool is unique in its focus upon babies and young
children. The splashpool has a specialist teaching pool which
is very shallow so ideally suited to very young children.
There are a number of lessons each designed for different age
ranges.
The
splashpool provides a very affordable outlet for families to
meet and spend time together and is much cheaper than its
commercial rivals
The only
comparable facilities are at Fenton Manor swimming pool and
this more than 4 miles away so is not as accessible to people
in the northern area. Furthermore, whilst these facilities
provide lessons to young children they do not happen nearly as
regularly as at Dimensions
Consultation
There was no public consultation on the closure of what is
essentially a public resource despite an extensive
consultation exercise about the budget strategy
Resource implications
Is it possible for council departments and LSP partners to
jointly consider what additional funding could be secured to
maintain the splashpool?
Dimensions was identified by the City Council’s Audit
Committee as the ninth most valuable asset held by
Stoke-on-Trent City Council (Report of Director of Central
Services)
The
decision should now be subject to a full financial
investigation into all savings and costs including the
financial implications associated with the decommissioning of
the splashpool
Is it
possible for SOTCC with the assistance from Sport England to
undergo a review of the
operational management and promotion of the centre pool with a
view to reduce costs/increase income by £60,000? A
combination of marketing, promotion, programming, selective
price increases, car parking fee, and assessment of rotas,
staffing levels and opening hours may yield the savings the
Council needs to balance the books for this financial year and
then review the future operation in the light of the sports
strategy
I understand
and Sport England would be happy to explore this with the
council.
Risk
Assessment
What account needs to be taken of penalties incurred if
targets are not met; if grants need to be repaid?
What consequences are there if other parts of Dimensions
become unviable?
Public
Opinion
The decision
to close Dimensions has caused widespread distress and anger
and is damaging the council’s standing. The popularity of the
pool is demonstrated both by the number of signatories on the
petition and by the sheer number of people that use the
facility
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Options for
Dimensions Splashpool:
Option
A:
Close the splashpool as per the council’s current decision. I
and many of my constituents believe this would be an
unfavourable and inequitable option for the many reasons stated
above.
Option
B:
Consider the future of the splashpool within the wider framework
of the entire Dimensions facility and of an overall sports and
activity strategy which drives regeneration, improves health,
reduces crime and helps the achievement of LAA targets. The
West Midlands Public Health Observatory identified ““that the
sport, physical activity and health agenda is being delivered in
a largely piece meal way… The effective good practice and
partnership working needs to be developed further, in order for
the regions resources to be used to best effect”. These
sentiments have been echoed by the audit commission which calls
“for more assessment of local sporting needs; more partnership
working to deliver better-planned and better value for money
services; (Public Sports and Recreation Services 2006). It
seems clear that Stoke-on-Trent has a real opportunity to heed
this advice and decide upon the future of the splashpool as part
of a wider review. I will try to lay out this context below.
Sport
England-
is currently funding a review of sports facilities in
Stoke-on-Trent entitled “City of Stoke Sport and Physical
Activity Strategy: Phase 1Report”. This strategy will lay the
foundations for sports policy in the long term and will result
in increased investment to both new and existing sporting
facilities. Before closing the splashpool the council has a
duty to consider what funding may be made available from Sport
England as a result of their strategy.
The closure of the splashpool may endanger the commercial
viability of the other facilities at Dimensions such as
football, basketball, table tennis and hockey, so reducing
sports facilities in the city further
Lessons in good practice can be derived from Leigh in Lancashire
where, in conjunction with local partners, they received £100
million to build a state of the art sports village.
Such a village could be developed in Stoke to include
Dimensions, Vale Park, Sproston Park Gymnastics club, Haywood
school sports facilities, Stoke-on-Trent FE college, Burslem
Park all linked by the constituency.
“sports villages/hubs (must) be recognized as catalysts within
the WMES for driving economic growth and regeneration” (Sport
England)
Health-
“PCT’s to provide local leadership, working closely with sport,
leisure and transport providers, and develop sustainable, cost
effective physical activity strategies in the context of local
strategic partnerships- to meet health goals.” (“At Least Five
Times a Week” Chief Medical Officer 2004)
Explore with the PCT possible funding collaborations with the
PCT. The PCT may not be able to directly fund the splashpool
but it has offered to consider what auxiliary funding could be
provided
The rebuilding of the Haywood hospital is linked to the wider
health strategy and to enhanced community health
opportunities. Dimensions splashpool is integral to the GP
referral scheme and so it makes no sense to close it
Regeneration-
“Sport and recreation has an important part to play in
regeneration” (Sport England)
A wider sports strategy would have huge benefits for the
regeneration of Stoke-on-Trent
Liaise with the LSP, the North Staffs Regeneration Company,
Burslem Regeneration Company to discuss how to maximize benefits
for the area and to utilize possible funding streams
By formulating a coherent, partnership based proposal the city
would be more able to draw upon the many streams of Government
funding
Crime and Anti Social Behaviour–
“sport provides a positive outlet for young people at risk,
leading to reduced crime and anti-social behaviour, this in turn
will reduce the costs of crime and the negative economic impact
caused by fear of crime”
The splashpool must be considered within this context. Work
with the police, the Home Office, the LSP to consider methods
and funding for maximizing the impact Dimensions can have on
reducing anti social behaviour in the wider strategy
Building Schools for the Future-
a unique opportunity to improve facilities in the northern
cluster
Maximise the joint potential of the community sports facilities
at James Brindley, Brownhills, Haywood and St Margaret Ward
schools and consider the overall strategy when allocating BSF
resource
CONCLUSION
I urge the council to again consider its options on Dimensions
splashpool. Its value is clear as is its popularity. With
proper consultation this unique public resource could be
developed into a facility which aids the council in achieving
its LAA targets and fulfilling its mission statement to “strive
for excellence”. Such measures would boost the councils
standing amongst the public and I am sure that all partners
would be delighted to be able to work constructively with the
council in making Stoke-on-Trent the city that we all want it to
be. For my part I would give my 100% support to working with
Stoke-on-Trent city council on such a strategy.
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