At its meeting on 23 February 2023, council gave instruction that the Chief Executive should arrange for a full review of Active & Creative Communities (ACC) facilities (including Community Facilities) to be conducted - the outcome of which should be reported to the Policy & Strategy Committee in due course. This recognised the scale of challenges that lie ahead. In particular, the council noted the update provided by the Chief Officer (Finance) in respect of the Local Government Financial Settlement for 2023/24. This update identified that the council faces a budget gap of £28.254 million in 2023/24 and further gaps in 2024/25 and 2025/26 of £20.620 million and £16.300 million, respectively, a total of £65.174 million across the three-year planning period. Overall, council acknowledged that a further review of additional savings options will be required to address significant forecast budget gaps in 2024/25 and 2025/26.

If this is a budget saving, how will the saving be achieved?

The review included an overview of assets and resources and will result in the creation of a new Operating Model. If approved there will be a reduction of 39 community facilities (a full list is attached) and approximately 110FTE. Staff impacted are a mix of full-time and part-time employees in a range of duties. All savings will be implemented in line with agreed council policy and procedures.

If this policy is subject to the FSD what does it suggest about the impact or potential impact on socio-economic disadvantage?

Low Income: 

• May lead to low-paid employees being redeployed or voluntary redundancy.
• May lead to low-paid stakeholders having to utilise other facilities. Travel further at cost to access similar services.

Low Wealth:

• May lead to low-paid employees being redeployed or voluntary redundancy.
• May lead to low-paid stakeholders (users) having to utilise other facilities, potentially travel implications/costs. Further information will be gathered from community user group engagement.

Material Deprivation:

• May lead to low paid employees being redeployed or voluntary redundancy. Further information will be gathered from community user group engagement.

Area Deprivation:

• We know that closures will impact on some communities more than others. Work has been undertaken to identify other locations in the community that may be used as alternatives. Further information will be gathered from community user group engagement.

Give details of the impact it has on groups and individuals

Age:

The staff group who may be impacted within Community Facilities are concentrated in the specific age ranges of 50+. While some of the ACC staff may be younger, we would anticipate that we can accommodate all that want to continue to work within the Service. The customer base for both service areas is mixed. Users include, mother and toddler groups, older adults, children’s groups, Users incorporate a wide range of ages across the whole estate, but certain groups may contain groups of similar ages. We anticipate that some loss of service (particularly libraries) could have a disproportionate impact on older people who may struggle to travel to alternative sites. Some options to mitigate this are to have book-sharing areas set up within the nearest community facility, although centres are only opened when booked via user groups. Some pools are used by local swimming clubs with many young people participating. It may not be possible to offer the same level of access across the remaining estate.

Disabled people and people with long-term health conditions:

We are aware a proportion of users may have disabilities/long-term health conditions and we anticipate a full range of services will remain to support these users, although it may be within alternative facilities. It is likely that additional travel costs could be incurred by disabled people travelling to other sites – for example, if affected sites offer accessible changing places, work will be required to establish if such facilities are the only ones in the locality. Disabled people are more likely to live in poverty than non-disabled people, as part of the community user group engagement this information would be obtained.

Women or men, girls or boys:

Community facilities are used by men and women, boys and girls. We anticipate a full range of services will remain to support these users, although it may be within alternative facilities. Some leisure sites have recently started to offer women-only access to the health spa – this can be accessed in other centres but additional travel costs may be incurred.

Women experience poverty greater than men so extra travel may not be an option. Women use public transport more than men. As part of community user group engagement this information will be obtained.

People defined by their race, colour and nationality, ethnic or national origins:

Some centres may have ESOL classes operating from them so they will require to be made available elsewhere. Again some minority ethnic people experience poverty greater than other ethnic groups and travel costs may be unaffordable. This information will be obtained during community user group engagement.

People of different religions or beliefs or non-beliefs:

We are aware that some religious groups use our sites and are currently assessing the impact and alternative options that may be available

Employees: 

We will undertake discussions with Trade Unions and the workforce to advise of potential impact. We know that staff affected are a mix of full-time and part-time roles. In libraries – primarily Library Assistants (equivalent NLC5), in Active NL, roles will vary – Leisure Attendants (equivalent NLC3), Team Leaders (equivalent NLC5), Venue Managers (equivalent NLC10).

In Community Facilities Caretakers (NLC3) equivalent, Cleaners (NLC1) equivalent, Library Caretakers (NLC4) equivalent.

What actions/measures will be put in place or are planned to mitigate any adverse impact or promote equality?

It is intended that a full community user group engagement exercise will be undertaken by affected stakeholders to both understand the impact and consider all mitigation measures that can be put in place to minimise impact.  The EQiA is a dynamic process which will continue to be updated as this engagement process progresses.  We anticipate that an EQiA for every affected centre/facility will be produced.  In the process of this engagement, should it be determined that this programme will impact on children and young people up to the age of 18, a Children’s Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment will be completed.  Appropriate consideration of the relevant articles from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child will be made.

What is the result/recommendations of the EqIA?

Proceed on the understanding that full engagement will take place, and the EQIA process will be updated in line with the progression of the implementation plan.

List of buildings in scope