Agenda item

To enter into an agreement with Sandwell Leisure Trust and Places Leisure to offer free swimming and free swimming lessons for the financial year 2022/23.

Resolved:-

1.1         That approval is given to the Service Manager – Tourism, Culture & Leisure to enter into an agreement with Sandwell Leisure Trust and Places Leisure to offer free swimming to: -

a)           Children and young people aged 18 years and under (exclusively Sandwell residents only) during public swimming sessions, for seven days per week, throughout school holidays only;

b)           Adults aged 60 years and over (exclusively Sandwell residents only) during public swimming sessions, for seven days per week before 1pm all year round; and

c)           Allocate a proportion of free swimming funding to primary care settings to be distributed through a social prescribing pathway for adults

              for the financial year 2022/23.

1.2         That approval is given to the Service Manager – Tourism, Culture & Leisure to enter into an agreement with Sandwell Leisure Trust and Places Leisure to offer free swimming lessons to: -

(a)          Children and young people aged 16 years and under (exclusively Sandwell residents only) via a voucher scheme distributed through schools (identified as in receipt of benefits/low income and unable to afford lessons plus poor swimming ability in school swimming lessons); and

(b)          primary care settings (to be distributed through a social prescribing pathway)

              for the financial year 2022/23.

1.3         That the Director for Finance be authorised to allocate a revenue budget of £275,000 for the free swimming offer and £150,000 for the free swimming lessons offer. This would total £425,000 for the financial year 2022/23.

1.4         That any necessary exemptions be made to the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules to enable the course of action referred to in recommendation 1 (above) to proceed.

Approval was sought for the continuation and expansion of the free swimming programme in Sandwell for the financial year 2022/23.

Reason for Decision

Participating in 30 minutes of physical activity or sport per week provided residents with significant health benefits.

Both leisure providers (SLT and Places Leisure) had reported a positive correlation between increased usage of swimming facilities by young and older people at the same time, i.e. young people were often accompanied by parents, grandparents or older carers, suggesting that free swimming for young people encouraged family visits and family interaction.

The current programme allowed for children and young people, who were Sandwell residents aged 16 years and under to swim without charge during public swimming sessions, for seven days per week, throughout school holiday periods only. It was now proposed to extend the age to include free swimming for all under 18’s.

Alternative Options Considered

The free swimming programme could be discontinued. However, if the Council did not continue the programme, this would have an adverse impact on the opportunities available to Sandwell residents. It would also affect the opportunity for some of our most vulnerable residents to participate in some form of physical activity.

The resources could be invested into other sport and physical activity programmes. However, swimming had the ability to engage and provide health benefits on a wider scale than many other activities, as demonstrated during the consultation exercise. It engaged a wide range of ages and abilities and was an essential life skill.

Agreed:-

(1)     that approval be given to the Service Manager – Tourism, Culture & Leisure to enter into an agreement with Sandwell Leisure Trust and Places Leisure to offer free swimming to:

a)      Children and young people aged 18 years and under (exclusively Sandwell residents only) during public swimming sessions, for seven days per week, throughout school holidays only

b)      adults aged 60 years and over (exclusively Sandwell residents only) during public swimming sessions, for seven days per week before 1pm all year round;

c)      allocate a proportion of free swimming funding to primary care settings to be distributed through a social prescribing pathway for adults

         for the financial year 2022/23;

(2)     that approval be given to the Service Manager – Tourism, Culture & Leisure to enter into an agreement with Sandwell Leisure Trust and Places Leisure to offer free swimming lessons to:

a)      Children and young people aged 16 years and under (exclusively Sandwell residents only) via a voucher scheme distributed through schools (identified as in receipt of benefits/low income and unable to afford lessons plus poor swimming ability in school swimming lessons), and

b)      primary care settings (to be distributed through a social prescribing pathway)

         for the financial year 2022/23.

(3)     that the Director for Finance be authorised to allocate a revenue budget of £275,000 for the free swimming offer and £150,000 for the free swimming lessons offer, at a total of £425,000 for the financial year 2022/23;

(4)     that any necessary exemptions be made to the Council’s Procurement and Contract Procedure Rules to enable the course of action referred to in Resolution (1) and (2) above to proceed.