BOROUGH OF POOLE

ROSSMORE COMMUNITY USE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

16TH SEPTEMBER 2009

The Meeting commenced at 4.05pm and concluded at 6.00pm.

Present:

Councillor Miss Wilson – Chairman

Councillor Wilson – Vice Chairman

User Group Representatives

Michael Gregory – Silver Swimmers

Governing Body Representative

Richard Poole – Director of Sport, Governing Body

Also in Attendance

Jan Lever - Senior Adviser Quality Assurance & Improvement, CYPSSQI

Sean Gabriel – General Manager of Rossmore Leisure Centre

Pauline Gill – Democratic Services Manager, Legal and Democratic Services

Louise Saill – Democratic Support Officer, Legal and Democratic Services

Anthony Rogers – Recreation Manager, Leisure Services

Members of public present: 0

1.APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for Absence were received from Councillors Mrs Joyce Lavender, Guy Montrose (Elected Members), Sally Apps (Headteacher, Rossmore Community College), Reverend Tim Gomm (Rossmore Community College), Debbie Priest (PE and Arts Advisor, CYPSSQI) and David Greenwood (SLM Contracts Manager).

2.MINUTES

AGREED As the Meeting was inquorate no decisions could be made and the Minutes of this Meeting would have to be ratified by the next quorate Meeting of the Community Use Management Committee.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 22nd June 2009, having been previously circulated be subject to the following amendments:

On Page 1: remove Gymnastics and Trampolining Club and insert Silver Swimmer, remove Ian and insert Tim, remove Poole and insert Apps.

The following matters arose:

Following a customer survey for the Silver Swimmers with regards to the date of the Silver Swimming Sessions, the outcome showed that the majority liked the new time. It has therefore been decided not to move the day again. Any future changes will not be carried out without prior consultation.

The Committee noted that the text of the SLA had been reviewed, amended and sent out.

It was noted that there were a few problems accommodating school swimming as the Dolphin was shut but that Rossmore were trying to accommodate the schools and clubs.

It was noted that the Committee was not quorate again at this Meeting.

Agreed that –

  • The Clerk to write to all Members advising them of future Meeting dates.
  • The Clerk to write to the Governing Body requesting nominations for the two vacancies.
  • The Director of Sport, Mr Richard Poole, arrange for the student representative position to be filled.

3.USER REPRESENTATIVE ITEMS

Michael Gregory (Silver Swimmers Representative) commented on the higher level of cleanliness and the increase in pool temperature at the Leisure Centre.

The Committee noted that the temperature of the Pool had been raised by 0.50C to accommodate the Mother and Baby sessions which used to be held at the Dolphin Swimming Pool, but had been temporarily moved due to the Dolphin closure. The Committee noted that half a degree increase in temperature could have a negative impact on swimming clubs as it could lead to potentially dangerous health issues such as dehydration. Sean Gabriel advised the Committee that no negative feedback had been received regarding the temperature increase and that it was monitored at 30 minute intervals.

4.GOVERNING BODY/HEAD TEACHER ITEMS

Richard Poole, Director of Sport, informed the Committee of an overview regarding the schools examination results. GCSE results were positive with the number of students gaining A*-C results increasing including core subjects such as English and Maths. The Committee was also informed of the 6th Form success in BTEC Sport qualifications. It was noted that these are excellent achievements for the school although nationally the results were not outstanding.

The Chair then queried how the students and teachers were feeling regarding the impending change of the School to an Academy. Richard Poole informed the Committee that there was a Transition Open Evening planned for 30th September. The open evening would showcase the current School’s achievements and outline the proposed operation of the new Academy.

Staff moral was reasonably good but there was uncertainty regarding sponsors and a lack of communication with staff about the future. Once the staffing and governance structure were made public, the staff would feel more confident about the process. Staff also felt more confident about the situation after the TUPE process had been explained.

The Committee was informed that a Rossmore Community College Transition Group had been established to assist with the transition from the Community College to the Academy. Richard Poole confirmed that he was a member of this Group and would feed back to this Committee. The Committee was informed that all the students had a letter sent home explaining the name change of the School. It was noted that the Academy would specialise in Sports and Maths.

Councillor Wilson queried whether with the name change, new signage for the School and Leisure Centre had been considered? There were concerns raised about the complex losing its identity if the name of Rossmore Community College was changed to St Adhelm’s Academy.

The Committee was informed that a Stakeholder Group had been established to consider branding, uniforms, logos. The Chair expressed concerns there would be no input in this Group from the parents and surrounding community. Councillor Wilson stated that whoever requested the change of signage to include new road signs, etc should be liable to pay for it. The Chair requested clarification on were the responsibility lay for the cost of the new uniforms, with the parents or whether there would be any financial assistance available?

The Chair then thanked the Headteacher for the updates regarding Rossmore Community College. Jan Lever stressed to the Committee the importance of name of a campus as a whole in that it should be recognised as a learning centre for the whole community.

The Committee discussed the open evening planned for 30th September and it was queried whether Councillors would be invited to attend this Event?

AGREED that –

  • The Recreation Manager, Leisure Services would discuss the cost implications of name changes for signage etc with the Head of Leisure Services and report back.
  • The issue of funding for new School uniforms be investigated by Head of Legal and Democratic Services and reported to the next meeting.

5.COUNCILLOR ITEMS

Councillor Wilson wished to query with Liz Wilkinson, the Section 151 Officer, clarity on funding for Rossmore Leisure Centre. Clarification was required on how the money was progressed – through the schools budget or education. It was confirmed that the Leisure Centre was subsidised and that it was paid through an SLA. The SLM used to be paid to the school and then a bursary was paid to the Leisure Centre. Councillor Wilson pointed out that it needed to be established how the money was progressed because he noted that, if the money was transferred to the new Academy, a private organisation, it might be hard to ensure the subsidy to the Leisure Centre. It was noted that it was important to make sure the subsidy was secure.

The running costs of the Leisure Centre were approximately £425,000. This amount fluctuated with financial markets, utility prices, etc. The Leisure Centre currently received £60k from Ashdown and £120k from Rossmore which was paid by the School through Leisure Services. It was noted that all these figures needed revisiting.

The Recreation Manager informed the Committee that the new private Sponsors of Rossmore College were aware they would need to contribute towards the running of the Leisure Centre. Cllr Wilson stated that exact figures were required before confirmation of the Contract. The Recreations Manager stated that the new Academy was unsure of its usage of the Leisure Centre and until this was known a more specific agreement on the figure could not be reached. It was noted that it was important to make sure that the LEA Foundation Schools were protected and would not be negatively impacted by this Agreement. The Recreations Manager confirmed that the Sponsors knew the current amount that the School gave to the Leisure Centre on an annual basis and that they had not tabled any concerns regarding its contributions.

Skate Park

It was confirmed to the Committee that there was already safety signage visible at the Skate Park requesting users to wear safety gear.

It was noted that Gemma Wilton of Leisure Services was trying to make contact with the College’s Art Department regarding repainting the Skate Park.

AGREED that –

The Recreation Manager seek clarification and report back on how funds are progressed through the system for the Leisure Centre.

6.ROSSMORE LEISURE CENTRE MANAGER’S REPORT

The Leisure Centre Manager gave a full Report on the Leisure Centre. The main points noted were:

  • More recreation groups had been opened.
  • A conversation had been held with the American Trampolining Team of the possibility of it using the Leisure Centre’s facilities pre the Olympics.
  • Discussed attritonics and the ability of Leisure Services to ask questions to clients through this system. The system provided data such as visits to the gym and length of workout. Leisure Services obtain statistical data from this to form a true picture of exercise patterns. It was enquired as to whether clients where aware that there use of the facilities was being monitored in this way? The Recreation Manager stated that as the information they took was purely statistical and in no way personal, he did not think this was necessary.
  • GP Referral Scheme – 1500 first appointments this year compared with 500 in the first year the Scheme was introduced. It was noted that more attention needed to be paid to how the system content and how it was managed.
  • Membership retention – The Leisure Centre Manager stated that they were trying to make the Centre more accessible and appealing to the younger clients. A campaign using emails and texts was currently in progress to try and reach this Group and make them aware of what the Leisure Centre had to offer. The Chairman stated that her daughter had joined the Centre and noted that when an adult jointed they could access all 3 Leisure Centres but when a child joined, they were only allowed to access the Centre which they had joined. The cost of the Induction Fee was also discussed as the Chairman felt £20 induction fee for a child/young adult was quite expensive.
  • The Centre Manager stated that Rossmore Academy encouraged children over 14 to reduce the cost of the Induction Fee by getting a group together to join. If a group of 5 students were inducted at the same time then the induction fee was reduced accordingly and it would only be £4 per student. It was noted that pupils eligible for ‘Access to Leisure’ receive a discount if they were card holders.
  • Sponsors – were aware that the fitness suite was quite small and did not believe that the equipment was attractive to youth usage. They are wishing to develop a junior fitness suite which could be used for the Academy’s curriculum during the day and available for public use after school and in the holidays. This proposal had its advantages and disadvantages, for example, it would mean there would be an exclusive suite for adult use only which may appeal to some. It was noted that children were moving away from the more traditional team sports usually played in schools and were opting for sole exercise instead. It was also noted that there might be some problems for scheduling with the public and school swimming timetables.
  • There is still an issue with car parking spaces. Staff from the Academy were still using the car park. It was noted that the Sponsors were planning on creating more parking spaces for the School which should hopefully assist with this position.
  • The Leisure Centre has profited from pool summer weather and the closure of the Dolphin Swimming Pool.
  • Reassessment for Quest accreditation was taking place on 2-3rd October 2009 viewing the H&S systems and computer systems that are in place.

The Committee was informed that SLM had put in an application to Leisure Services to change the name of the Leisure Centre to Rossmore Active although it had not yet been approved.

AGREED that –

the Report be noted.

7.URGENT BUSINESS

None received.

8.ANY OTHER BUSINESS

The Chairman voiced concerns about the future of the Committee in light of the establishment of an Academy. Richard Poole stated that there was a new proposal for the Governance structure of the Academy which was to be broken down into sub groups – staff, family and community.

The future of the Joint Use Committee was to be revised in the light of the establishment of an Academy. The need to involve local elected Members in an official forum to consider future governance and financial implication was noted.

AGREED that –

  • The Head of Legal and Democratic Services prepare a Report to a future Meeting of Rossmore CUMC on its future governance in light of the establishment of the Academy.

CHAIRMAN

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