Issue - meetings

To consider a report on how the Council is approaching the ‘Swim Free’ programme in the light of the recent decision to stop external grant funding on 31 July 2010

The Sub-Committee considered a report on how the Council was approaching the ‘Swim Free’ programme in the light of the recent decision to stop external grant funding on 31^st July 2010.

The Council had taken advantage of the Government’s two year ‘Swim Free’ programme which commenced on 1^st April 2009.  However, the Department of Culture, Media & Sports had announced in June 2010 that this funding would cease from 31^st July 2010 and the Council would only receive the pro-rata funding up to this date. 

A number of options had been suggested to the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing on how to proceed from 31^st July.  These included:

(a)   Giving notice to all existing free swimming card holders that as a result of the withdrawal of funding, free swimming would end on 31^st July 2010.

(b)   Discontinue free swimming for the 60s and over on 31^st July 2010 but allow juniors 16 and under to continue free swimming for the school holidays until 31^st August 2010.

(c)   Discontinue all free swimming on 31^st July 2010 but offer to transfer all previous junior and senior free swimming cardholders to the existing Council ‘Everybody’ options care at no extra cost.

Having considered these options, the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing had asked officers to proceed with option (b) and to discontinue free swimming for those 60 and over on 31^st July but to continue free swimming for those 16 and under until 31^st August 2010.

This decision was based on the fact that there was sufficient funding available from the Government (four months to 31^st July) and £100,000 from the Council’s own revenue funding to allow the Council to remain within budget.

A detailed Communications Plan had been produced which aimed to deliver the message to the maximum number of users without incurring costs.

RESOLVED

That the information on the ‘Swim Free’ programme, including the Communications Plan and associated publicity, be noted.