Public reports pack PDF 6 MB - East Lindsey District Council

ForewordSince adopting its first Leisure Strategy in 2005 the DistrictCouncil has done a great deal to provide much neededopportunities for local people to lead more active lifestyles.Thousands of residents have benefitted from taking part incultural and leisure activities which have literally changedpeople’s lives. This has been largely achieved through oursignificant investment in facilities, events and targetedinitiatives.By December 2010 the number of adults in East Lindsey whoparticipate in sport and physical activity three times per weekor more had increased to 21.6%, whilst adult volunteeringhas increased to 6.8% putting East Lindsey at the forefront ofdriving improvement across Lincolnshire.In excess of 37,000 people now actively take part in regularsport or physical activity every year in East Lindsey and227 sports volunteers have been recruited through ourSportsforce programme. A further 400 volunteers andover 45,000 visitors experienced the SO Festival in 2010generating an additional £1.25M of visitor spend in thedistrict.East Lindsey is an ambitious Council and there is still muchscope for further improvement. This latest plan summarizesour key achievements; highlights current challenges andfuture opportunities; and sets out how we will ensurethe District Council’s new strategic objectives are met byenabling and supporting people; shaping places; and buildingprosperity, through cultural activity.Our health profile shows that East Lindsey residents canexperience a widely different quality of life depending onwhere they live. Whilst the district boasts an excellent qualityof life; superb natural environment; low levels of crime; anda relaxed pace of life, people are living longer and manypeople retire to the area settling in the Coastal communitieswhere they traditionally took their holidays. Many come fromthe East Midlands and Yorkshire where they worked in heavyindustry, arriving in relatively poor health. Similarly, youngerpeople living in the area are showing increased levels ofobesity. We will continue to work with key partner agenciessuch as Lincolnshire NHS, Lincolnshire County Council andthe Lincolnshire Sports Partnership to tackle these challengesand ensure that everyone benefits from an improved lifestyle.The aims therefore for Culture and Leisure in East Lindseythrough this plan are to:nnnGrow a strong cultural economyPromote health and wellbeingMaximise participationOur Vision for 2015Whether you are involved in amateur dramatics, are anaspiring Olympic athlete, or volunteer your time to coachothers, there is a strong sense of personal satisfaction inall leisure activity which prompts people to try new things,set new goals, meet new people and have fun. This sense ofpersonal satisfaction and achievement is easily over-lookedbut underpins both individual and social health and wellbeing.The Coalition Government’s Comprehensive Spending Reviewcreates a significant challenge to do more for much less,with around a 25% reduction in grant support to localgovernment over the next four years. East Lindsey DistrictCouncil (ELDC) will continue to work hard to ensure servicesare protected as far as possible, identifying new and dynamicways of providing culture and leisure activities. These willbe increasingly business minded and ‘bottom-line’ driven,adopting dynamic delivery models to ensure that at thesame time participation is maximised and health outcomesimproved. The government’s vision for Localism and the BigSociety already underpins much of the culture and leisurebased work undertaken in East Lindsey and will continue todo so by promoting volunteering, peer networks and moredirect local ownership and delivery.In recognising the challenges ahead and capitalising on theopportunities presented the Council will ensure that by 2015East Lindsey will:n Be a district that has become a thriving destinationfor leisure and cultural activity with an improved andvaried cultural tourism offer; a year-round calendar ofleisure and cultural activity; new cultural sector businessopportunities; inward investment; and new audiences.n Have a more active, healthier population ofresidents with 30% benefiting from regularparticipation and strong support networks;n Have a fantastic legacy of volunteering andparticipation after Games Time and the London2012 Olympics spurred on by our ongoinginvestment in culture and leisure initiatives;n Be a district with a core of high quality, regionallysignificant, well-used ‘state of the art’ sports, leisureand cultural facilities that local people are proud of;nBe a district that boasts a strong network ofcommunity involvement and local ownership; andn Be an area that is cited as an excellent model andexemplar to other public, private and voluntarysector organisations for its innovative delivery ofcultural and leisure facilities, events and activities.I invite you all to join us on this journey.Cllr Adam GristPage 54 Portfolio Holder for Culture, Leisure and the Environment