Agenda item

The Committee gave consideration to the report and appendices (at pages 46 - 55) as delivered and summarised by the Interim Health and Leisure Manager which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

The Interim Health and Leisure Manager added that the combination alone of the smaller areas of land identified would not adequately future-proof the provision of car-parking at Brocks Hill Country Park (BHCP) / Parklands Leisure Centre (PLC). Although it was acknowledged that the open space at Wigston Road, Oadby was not Members’ preferred proposal for consideration, the inclusion of this area was said to be sufficient to address any future-proofing concerns. The Interim Health and Leisure Manager further cited the promotion of increased participation in fitness and exercise activities by Borough residents under the Health and Wellbeing Board’s strategy.

The Interim Health and Leisure Manager further announced that Oadby and Wigston had secured a ‘Gold Award’ in the ‘Small City’ category in the 2016 East Midlands in Bloom (EMiB) competition.

In respect of increasing car-parking capacity, the Chair stated that the adoption of any given area(s) would require the necessary planning permission and was to be given detailed consideration at that latter stage. With reference to the land left of Washbrook Lane (area 4 of Appendix A) he advocated the use of grasscrete to maintain the visual amenity of green space leading upto BHCP and PLC.

With reference to Appendix A (at page 55), Councillor J W Boyce commended the adoption of areas 2, 3 and 5 for car parking provision. The Member shared the concern that the adoption of these areas alone would not future-proof the site. Areas 1 and 4 were noted for their respective green and spatial amenity value to the site.

Councillor D M Carter stated that a longer term strategy was required and expressed reservations in developing area 4 for the reasons aforementioned by Councillor J W Boyce. He further enquired as to why there was a substantial cost differential between the quotes received between areas 1 and 3 per car space provided.

The Interim Health and Leisure Manager advised that all quotes obtains were approximate estimates: most notably, it was said that area 1 required more extensive works to be completed due to drainage systems being in situ on the area identified.

Councillor Mrs L M Broadley stated that the inclusion of the open space at Wigston Road, in conjunction with improved vehicular sand pedestrian entrance/exit arrangements, would adequately future-proof the site.

Councillor J W Boyce warned that the open space in question may form part of Oadby’s green wedge and therefore potentially undevelopable. He requested that further advice had been sought from Planning Policy and Control as to the feasibility of developing the open space.

Councillor D M Carter enquired as to whether any alternative and sustainable travel plans for service-users to and from the site had been considered.

The Interim Health and Leisure Manager advised such plans (viz. walking, cycling, and public transport) were actively encouraged to challenge a predominate “car-culture” however presented problems to larger user-groups such as families.

Councillor Mrs L M Broadley raised a concern as to the lengthy call-handling times by the Borough’s leisure facilities contractor Sports and Leisure Management Ltd (SLM).

The Interim Health and Leisure Manager advised that SLM had increasingly limited call-handling resources to manage ever-higher call volumes as a result of increased participation. It was said that SLM continued to seek improvements to call-handling capacity and procedures by the better use of back-off personnel, allocating unanswered calls to a call-back facility and encouraging service-users to use self-service facilities (viz. online account, mobile application) to complete many enquires.

With reference to a recently well-attended event at BHCP, Councillor Miss A R Bond raised a concern as to the poor highway access arrangements on Wigston Road, Oadby (B582) impacting on local ward residents. The Member was advised to relay her concern to the Highway Authority at Leicestershire County Council.

The Interim Health and Leisure Manager reported that the event in question was an isolated incident and generated an unpredictable level of traffic to and from the site.

Councillor J W Boyce congratulated the securing of the EMiB award.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)     The progress in relation to Leisure Services be noted by Members; and

(ii)    Planning permission be sought for areas 2, 3 and 5 (as set out in Appendix A) as approved additional car-parking provision at Brocks Hill Country Park and Parklands Leisure Centre.