Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor L Wardlaw (substituted for by Councillor S Edgar) and Councillor N Wylie (substituted for by Councillor J Saunders).

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 14 January 2021.

RESOLVED –

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 14 January 2021, be approved as correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To provide an opportunity for Members to declare the existence of a party whip in relation to any item on the Agenda

There were no declarations of a party whip.

A total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to make a statement(s) on any matter that falls within the remit of the Committee. Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes, but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned, where there are a number of speakers.

Members of the public wishing to make a statement should provide notice of this at least three working days in advance of the meeting.

There were no members of the public present who wished to speak.

To consider the standing update on the Covid-19 pandemic and the work undertaken by the council to respond to, and recover from, it.

Consideration was given to an update on the most recent data trends and local response work relating to Covid-19, as well as the position regarding care homes and the care market.

Members asked questions and put comments in relation to;

·         the recent trend in rates of non-Covid related hospitals;

·         the local track and trace programme established in Cheshire East;

·         whether any cases of Covid-19 variants had been identified in the borough;

·         the process by which local businesses and organisations could enquire about their premises/assets being utilised to support the mass vaccination programme;

·         whether there was any evidence that the mixing of types of Covid-19 vaccinations (between the initial jab and booster) had negative implications on a person, and that greater assurances needed to be given to the public to support the high levels of engagement with the mass vaccination programme; and

·         whether the pandemic had given public health teams a greater impetus to continue or rollout new campaigns to promote healthy eating and lifestyles.

RESOLVED –

That the update be received and noted.

To consider the annual performance report of Everybody Sport and Recreation for the year 2019/20.

Consideration was given to the annual performance report of Everybody Sport and Recreation (ESAR) for 2019/20, which provided details of its strategic and financial aims, as well as performance achieved in the previous municipal year.

Members asked questions and put comments in relation to;

·         the forthcoming Strategic Leisure Review and whether the data from this financial year – which would be greatly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic – would impact the outcomes of the review;

·         the indicative costs that the carbon reduction improvements had been forecasted as;

·         the impacts that the pandemic had had on the retention and wellbeing of ESAR staff; and

·         how many of ESAR’s volunteer roles had been earmarked for full-time employment positions.

The committee noted and praised the proactive effort made by ESAR to quickly establish a robust online offer of fitness classes.

RESOLVED –

1          That the report be received and noted.

2          That the specific figures related to the number of volunteer roles earmarked by ESAR for potential full-time employment positions, be circulated to the committee outside of the meeting.

To review the council’s Forward Plan of key decisions.

The committee considered the council’s Forward Plan of key decisions and, following the previous agenda item on ESAR, queried the decision that had been taken on ‘Congleton Leisure Centre Redevelopment Project’.

It was advised that this had been a decision taken by the Portfolio Holder for Communities on 22 December 2020.

RESOLVED –

That the Forward Plan be noted.

To review the current work programme.

Consideration was given to the current work programme.

RESOLVED –

That the work programme be agreed.