PAPER E

Committee :    EDUCATION, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND LIFELONG LEARNING SELECT COMMITTEE

Date :              MONDAY, 8 JULY 2002

Title :              SPORTS ACTION ZONE TASK GROUP

REPORT OF THE HEAD OF PAID SERVICE

SUMMARY/PURPOSE

To advise the Committee of the latest position regarding the Council’s application to become a Sports Action Zone (SAZ).

BACKGROUND

The Select Committee established a Task Group at its meeting on 10 September 2001 to assist in the preparation of a bid to Sport England for designation as a Sport Action Zone. If such a bid was successful it would enable funding to be made available for the operation of additional community sports development initiatives across the Island. There would be enhanced links with existing programmes and greater partnership working with a number of other agencies.

The bidding process is in 2 stages. Stage 1 involves a written submission to Sport England by 3 July 2002. The Council will be notified of the Panel’s decision on 24 September 2002. If successful, officers then will be required to submit a delvery plan by November 2002.

The Task Group has met on four occasions, under the chairmanship of Mr C Hancock, and there have been meetings involving representatives from a number of agencies forming a Partnership Group.

The submission has been based on information from authorities involved in the last bidding process two years ago, consultation with local organisations involved with sport on the Island and the principles contained in the Council’s policies and strategies. In brief this targets 15 priority wards identified as being within the Country’s top 20% most deprived wards. These are :- Pan, Newport Central, Osborne, Cowes Medina, St Johns 1, Ryde North East, Ryde South West, Ryde North West, Sandown 1, Sandown 2, Shanklin North, Ventnor 1, Ventnor 2 and Totland. These wards have been strategically placed into six cluster areas to help address the issues coming through local consultation, ie, accessibility to facilities, transport costs and lack of local opportunity.

The bid if successful would provide funding of over £400,000 over a five year period. This is intended to cover the appointment of a Sports Action Zone Manager, Development Workers, equipment, accommodation, marketing and evaluation. The team will work in close liaison with the local community and partners to identify, plan, co-ordinate and develop sports and physical recreation activities across the Island.

The Select Committee will be advised of the decision of Sport England.

RECOMMENDATIONS

THAT the work of the Sports Action Zone Task Group be noted.

BACKGROUND PAPERS

Sports Action Zone Task Group file

Contact Point : Paul Thistlewood ☎ 823285

                                                                                  ALAN KAYE

                                                                           Head of Paid Service