Agenda item

Ms Stock thanked Members for inviting her to the meeting.  She gave Members a presentation outlining the background of Active East Herts (AEH) and what had been achieved since 2013 with the £5,000 a year from East Herts which had helped them attract £36,375 in direct grants from other sources.  She explained that AEH was now strategically aligned with East Herts’ priorities and that AEH was affiliated with 189 sports clubs, with access to volunteers, coaches and officials.

It was noted that AEH was delivering activities for the Sport England-funded Forever Active East Herts (FAEH) project. AEH  was keen to utilise opportunities presented through their own strategy and draw on the available investment monies available nationally (£265m) for tackling inactivity and to support Sport England’s  new volunteer strategy (£30m).

Ms Stock explained that AEH was working in partnership with East Herts to deliver key projects integral to the Council’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy.  She referred to the fact that walking and dancing were now categorised as activities within the Sport England Strategy which could now generate financial support.  Ms Stock commented that Sport England was about robust measurement of outcomes and that they were keen to work with all partners to achieve measurable goals.  She stated that plans were in place to align their Service Level Agreement and financial plan.  Ms Stock outlined some of the successes supported by AEH and how these had been achieved.

Members sought and were provided with clarification on issues such as partnership working with business and ongoing work via Street Games to reach young people to raise their ambitions.  Concerns were expressed regarding Age Concern and people living in rural isolation. 

Ms Stock noted that since Marianne McWhinnie had left the Council there had been a gap in terms of support to their work.

The Engagements and Partnerships Team Leader asked Members to consider AEH’s Action Plan and the SLA, in the context of the District’s demographics, to establish whether the approach outlined in the AEH delivery plan would engage with the inactive 50-75 target age group for Forever Active East Herts and to identify any gaps in the plan in the context of the Council’s Sport England project and its alignment of the Council’s corporate strategic plan. 

The Engagements and Partnerships Team Leader explained what work was being done to ensure the elderly were engaged and to reach those living in rural areas (e.g. working with GPs and through the Village Hall Network).

The Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing thanked Ms Stock for her enthusiasm in promoting and raising awareness and the multiplier effect this had had, in terms of accessing other partnerships and groups. 

Members received the report and applauded the recommendations now detailed for approval by the Executive.

RESOLVED – that (A) the report and presentation by Active East Herts (AEH) be applauded; and

(B)   the Action Plan and the Service Level agreement as detailed in Essential Reference Papers ‘C’  and ‘D’ of the report submitted, be supported for approval by the Executive.