Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

The Chair, Councillor Brine opened the meeting with an expression of sadness at the passing of Her Majesty the Queen. The Committee joined the Chair in a minute’s silence to mourn and reflect on the life and legacy of her Majesty the Queen.

The Chair, Councillor Brine proposed that the meeting be restricted to essential items of business only as a mark of respect during the period of national mourning.

After being put to a vote, the Motion was carried.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Craig and Hall.

To receive declarations of interest.

There were none.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 23 June 2022.

To brief members of Housing Committee on the Play Area and Development Action Plans Progress.

The Physical Activity & Health Development Manager introduced the report and advised that Community Services and Licensing Committee approved the Play Area Development and Action Plan in February 2022 which began the review of the 32 Stroud District Council owned play areas. The plan outlined the stages which were required to be undertaken in order to invest £300k Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) funding. These were:

• Stage 1 – Physical Condition Survey undertaken by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).
• Stage 2 (insight) – Ethos and Leisure Net were appointed to conduct community consultation and data analysis.
• Stage 3 (identify) – A Task and Finish Group (T&F) analysed the data from both external reports and conducted site visits to identify a list of recommendations for investment, repair and repurpose.

Councillor Aldam advised Committee she had enjoyed being part of the T&F Group and that Officers had also spoken to residents in the community as part of the consultation to help deliver ambitions for play areas for all ages and abilities.

Councillor Jones enquired if the play areas would be subject to weekly or monthly maintenance and vandalism inspections. The Physical Activity & Health Development Manager advised Ubico undertook inspections in addition to the Neighbourhood Wardens. The Head of Community Services advised there was currently a back log of repairs due to Covid-19, however inspections were regularly undertaken.

Councillor Edmunds questioned what would happen with the 3 sites recommended for repurposing and what feedback was received around teenagers. The Physical Activity & Health Development Manager responded that public consultation had been undertaken and community consultation would be undertaken for the recommended repurposed areas.

Proposed by Councillor Prenter and seconded by Councillor Aldam.

On being put to the vote, the Motion was carried unanimously.

To provide a focus for priorities in the current Council Plan and Leisure & Wellbeing Strategy that impact health and wellbeing This is Plan provides more detail about priorities that have previously been agreed by Full Council.

The Community Health and Wellbeing Manager introduced the report and advised the plan had been produced to collate the Health and Wellbeing aspects contained within the Leisure and Wellbeing Strategy, Housing Strategy, Physical Activity Plan and the Council Plan into one document. She continued and provided an overview of the 5 themes listed within the plan, which were:

·         Community Resilience and Wellbeing

·         Healthy, Affordable Homes

·         Supporting Better Mental Health

·         Encouraging Physical Activity

·         Healthy Ageing

Councillor Oxley asked for clarification on the physical recommendations outlined on page 201 for the age brackets of 19-64 and over 65+ explaining the guidance was very similar. The Physical Activity & Health Development Manger advised that there would be overlaps in guidance and the over 65+ guidance also included activities to improve balance and co-ordination which the 19-64 didn’t include.

In response to a query asked by Councillor Edmunds about self-harm, the Community Health and Wellbeing Manager explained Gloucestershire County Council were undertaking work however it was not a Stroud priority currently.

Proposed by Councillor Prenter and seconded by Councillor Aldam.

On being put to the vote, the Motion was carried unanimously.

The Chair, Councillor Brine closed the meeting by informing the Committee that Mike Hammond, Head of Community Services would be leaving the organisation in October after 33 years of service. The Chair gave thanks to Mike’s dedicated years of work, including his years spent as a retained Firefighter and the support he had provided to the Committee. He wished him well in his new role at the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service.

The Chair, Councillor Brine invited previous Committee Chair and current Housing Chair, Councillor Ross to share some words, who echoed the Chair’s comments and advised Committee that Mike had always gone above and beyond in his role.