PAPER C
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING, TOURISM AND LEISURE SERVICES SELECT
COMMITTEE - 10 FEBRUARY 2005
DUAL USE AGREEMENT – MEDINA HIGH SCHOOL
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR TOURISM AND LEISURE
The Committee wishes to monitor the progress of the Wight Leisure
Project Board.
ACTION REQUIRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE
To advise the Medina Task Group on any future courses of action it may
wish to see adopted.
BACKGROUND
In the Autumn of 2004 the Select Committee agreed to establish a task
group under the “lead” of Councillor Williams in order to get an understanding
as to the current position of the dual use agreement with Medina High
School. The move to establish this task
group came out of the work of the Wight Leisure Project Board which had
indicated to the Committee that this was an area where it may need some
assistance in finding a recommendation as to the way ahead that it could make
to the Executive.
At around the same time the Governors of the school were seeking
meetings with officers of the Council in order to resolve issues surrounding
the existing agreement that were causing considerable difficulty for the
school. The Project Board were made
aware of these discussions and therefore sought a full discussion with officers
at its meeting of the 11 January 2005.
The outcome of that meeting being to ensure that a representative from
the Medina Task Group be involved in all future negotiations with the school
alongside the Portfolio Holder and officers.
A full and detailed discussion with the school’s Head and Governors
took place on 14 January 2005, at which the task group was represented by
Councillor Williams. It would be fair
to say that significant progress was made on identifying a new management
arrangement which would satisfy the needs of all partners involved with the
facilities. Officers are presently
preparing detailed proposals for the consideration of the Portfolio Holder,
Head and School Governors and representatives of the task group to consider at
their next scheduled meeting in February.
It is the intention of all parties to have at least the Heads of a new
agreement in place by Easter 2005.
RELEVANT PLANS, POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
One of the aspirations of the community strategy, under the theme of
“Improving Access to Services and Facilities” is to “encourage physically
and/or mentally stimulating activities as a route to staying healthy and a
foundation for a full and active life”.
The Council’s own key objective of improving health, housing and the
quality of life for all identifies the promotion of healthy living as being of
particular importance and refers to encouraging the uptake of physically and
mentally stimulating activities, as referred to above, as a key priority.
Services provided by the Council at the Centre can be seen to clearly
link with these strategic themes, objectives and aspirations.
A number of detailed meetings have been held with the Headteacher and
Governors of the school. Advice has
also been received from officers within the Children’s Services directorate of
the Council.
FINANCIAL, LEGAL,
CRIME AND DISORDER IMPLICATIONS
The full financial implications of any agreement made with the school
will be known once it is finalised.
Nevertheless the “negotiating” brief being adopted is to remain with the
cash limited budget set for the centre.
APPENDICES
ATTACHED
None
BACKGROUND PAPERS
USED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT
Current Medina Dual
Use Agreement
Contact Point :
John Metcalfe, ' 3825 e-mail [email protected]
COUNCILLOR JOHN FLEMING
Portfolio Holder for Tourism and Leisure