Councillors are invited to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, Other Registerable Interests of Non-Registerable Interests, and the nature of it, in relation to any item on the agenda.

An apology for absence was received from Cllr Doyle (with no substitution).

To confirm and sign as a correct record, the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee, held on 17 July 2024.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes from the meetings of the Committee held on 23 April 2024 and on 17 July 2024, be approved as correct record and be signed by the Chairman.

Councillors are invited to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Personal Interest, and the nature of it, in relation to any item on the agenda.

Cllr Mick Barry made a declaration for the public record in relation to item 6 of the agenda (Sport and Activity Strategy for Tendring) in respect of the swimming pool support fund grant for Brightlingsea Lido as he was a trustee of the Brightlingsea Lido. The Strategy referenced the swimming pool support fund although it didn’t not reference Brightlingsea Lido. As such he would remain in the meeting for that item (Minute 6 refers).

Subject to providing two working days’ notice, a Member of the Committee may ask the Chairman of the Committee a question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties which affect the Tendring District and which falls within the terms of reference of the Committee.

On this occasion no Councillor had submitted notice of a question.

The report provides the Committee with an update on its approved Work Programme for 2024/25 (including progress with enquiries set out in its Work Programme), feedback to the Committee on the decisions in respect of previous recommendations from the Committee in respects of enquiries undertaken and a list of forthcoming decisions for which public notice has been given.

This item was introduced by the Head of Democratic Services and Elections. This report set out the nominations to serve on the Crime and Disorder (Familial Violence/Abuse), Joint Working with Parish/Town Councils and the Youth Provision Outside of School Task and Finish Groups.

He advised the Committee that the appointment of a Chairman to one of the Task and Finish Groups needed to take place to commence that work of the group. This was also address at the meeting. He also advised that due to the successes of last year with attending site visits particularly with respect to Crime and Disorder that the Committee might want to consider this approach again.

It was RESOLVED that:

(a)  The members named below be appointed to serve on the Task and Finish Groups set out in order to undertake the enquiries identified:

-          Crime and Disorder (Familial Violence/Abuse) – Councillors Doyle (Chairman), Ferguson, Goldman, Oxley and Sudra;

-          Joint working with Parish and Town Councils – opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration – Councillors Steady (Chairman), Casey, Chapman, M Cossens and Ferguson; and

-          Youth Provision for School Age Children outside of school – opportunity for improvements to mental health and reduced anti-social behaviour – Councillors Barret (Chairman), A Cossens, Davidson, J Henderson and Oxley

(b)  That, within the Committee’s responsibilities as the Council’s designated “Crime and Disorder Committee”, efforts be made by officers to enable:

-          Attendance by the Chairman/a selection of Members at a meeting of the overall Neighbourhood Watch Group for the District.

-          A meeting be held by the Members of the Committee with local representatives of the National Farmers Union, the local farming community and the Police to look at the experience of rural crime in the District.

-          A meeting be held with representatives of the local Traffic Police leaders and with Community Speed Watch volunteers (and the Fire and Rescue Liaison officer for Speed Watch) to explore road safety issues. 

To support the Committee in scrutinising the Council’s newly adopted Sport and Activity Strategy, by providing nationally recognised data relating to activity levels in the Tendring District over the last five years.

The Chairman of the Committee welcome all the invitees to the meeting. These invitees were Cllr Mick Barry (Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Public Realm), Lee Heley (Corporate Director for Place and Economy), Kieran Charles (Sport & Leisure Operations Manager), Sylvia Gentleman (Delivery Oversight in Essex for the Active Wellbeing Society), Hayley Chapman (North Essex Relationship Manager for Active Essex), Jason Ferguson (Board Member for Sport England, Senior Leader in public health at Essex County Council and Director for Active Essex) and Sharon Alexander (Chief Executive Officer for CVS Tendring).

The Sport and Activity Strategy for Tendring that had been approved by Cabinet on 20 October 2024 was introduced to the Committee by the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Public Realm, Councillor Mick Barry. He advised the Committee that an extensive consultation had been undertaken as part of the development of the strategy and that advice, guidance and best practice identified from National Bodies had been integrated into it. The Committee were informed that the strategy was a working document that included timelines and actions. The Committee were made aware of the different elements of the strategy, such as, the consideration of a Community Sport and Activity Manager post, the funding applications for up to five Playzones to be put in the District. The intention was for the Strategy to be consistently reviewed in collaboration with other relevant bodies. He also drew attention to the Supplementary report that was circulated to the Committee Members with the views and comments from Sport England on the strategy.

The Corporate Director for Place and Economy, Lee Heley, agreed with the statements given by Cllr Barry and advised the Committee of the importance of the Strategy. He particularly referenced how the strategy sought to shift the way sport and activity was viewed by the organisation and the wider community.

The Sport and Leisure Operations Manager, Kieran Charles, was invited to give his thoughts on the Strategy. He advised that through gathering the local and national data on activity it recognised where there had been positive improvement, and that the strategy would be able to further boost these improvements through the community engagement projects in sport and activities in the district set out.

Sylvia Gentleman, from the Active Wellbeing Society, was introduced to the meeting, and she advised the Committee that the society had been working with Active Essex for a number of years working on the Sport England Local Delivery Pilot, particularly Essex Pedal Power. Sylvia presented to the Committee several PowerPoint Slides that explained their work within the District. She provided the Committee with the Active Wellbeing Society’s thoughts on the Strategy and advised that their experience of working within the District was that to get engagement from residents it was necessary to approach people in ways they could relate to and not simply provide opportunities and expect the public to be in a position to take up those opportunities. It was felt that this element of learning they experienced had been captured within  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.