Agenda item

To consider a report by Councillor Bobby Feeley, Lead Member for Well-being and Independence (copy enclosed) seeking Cabinet’s support in principle for the establishment of the Sport North Wales Partnership.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       supports in principle the establishment of the Sport North Wales Partnership and delegates authority to the Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services in consultation with the Lead Member for Well-being and Independence and Section 151 Officer to approve the terms of the final Inter-Authority Agreement, and

(b)       that Denbighshire Leisure Limited be appointed to represent the Council on the Governance Board of the Sport North Wales Partnership acting as an agent of the Council.

Councillor Bobby Feeley, Lead Member for Well-being and Independence presented the report seeking Cabinet’s support in principle for the establishment of the Sport North Wales Partnership (SNW).

Some background was provided in terms of the role of Sport Wales who had historically provided funding to local authorities and other partners to undertake sporting programmes and interventions.  The report focused on the proposed establishment of a new regional SNW partnership involving other North Wales local authorities and key partners working together with a shared vision for the benefit of the region.  If approved the cumulative funding from Sport Wales (approximately £2.7m per annum) would be directed through SNW with indicative total 5 year funding from 2021/22 to 2025/26 being £13,529,494.  Councillor Feeley referred to Denbighshire Leisure Limited’s involvement in the partnership and took the opportunity to pay tribute to staff in their response to the challenges faced and their participation in other service areas in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services guided members through the legalities of the report including the principle of the SNW and terms on which it would operate, drawing particular attention to the model to be adopted with Conwy County Borough Council proposed as host authority together with the basis of the funding and governance arrangements.  It was recommended that Denbighshire Leisure Limited (DLL) represent the Council on the Governance Board given their expertise and functions carried out on the Council’s behalf.  Regular reports would be made by DLL through contract management meetings and the Strategic Governance Board.  The timescales for approval of the Inter-Authority Agreement by 22 January 2021 had resulted in a proposed amendment to the report recommendation to grant delegated authority in that regard.  A template report had been produced for authorities to seek approval of the proposal through their democratic processes and the reference to Wrexham in paragraph 4.1 had been included in error and should be disregarded.

The Leader referred to the importance of ensuring clear accountability as set out by the Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services and noted that if Denbighshire did not participate they would be unable to exert any influence but there was a risk that local priorities may be diluted as a result of a regional approach.  He stressed the importance of the Council’s representative on the Governance Board highlighting local needs and aspirations going forward.  The Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services confirmed that the activities funded through the SNW were being delivered by DLL for the Council and governance structures were in place ensuring continual dialogue between DLL and the Council in that regard.  In terms of the regional approach, North Wales was a pilot and Sport Wales intended to establish five regional partnerships across Wales.  The initial term of the agreement was five years and would automatically end after that time unless all partners agreed to extend it or if before the period of five years all partners agreed to terminate it.  In response to further questions regarding funding members were advised that Sport Wales would provide funding to the SNW to distribute across the region; the Council was not contributing to any funding costs in that regard.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       supports in principle the establishment of the Sport North Wales Partnership and delegates authority to the Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services in consultation with the Lead Member for Well-being and Independence and Section 151 Officer to approve the terms of the final Inter-Authority Agreement, and

(b)       that Denbighshire Leisure Limited be appointed to represent the Council on the Governance Board of the Sport North Wales Partnership acting as an agent of the Council.