Agenda item

To receive a written report from the Executive Member for Leisure and Culture and to question the Executive Member thereon, provided any such questions are registered in accordance with the timescales and procedures set out in Standing Order 8(2)(a).

A written report was received from Councillor Orrell, the Executive Member for Leisure and Culture.  Councillor Orrell then responded to a series of questions put by Members in accordance with Standing Orders.  Prior notice had been given of four questions to the Executive Member under this item.  These were taken in the order set out on the list circulated around the Council Chamber, until the 10 minute time limit had elapsed, as follows:

(i)         From Cllr Nimmo:

“How is the Leisure and Culture portfolio contributing to the Council’s sustainability agenda?”

The Executive Member replied:

“It has been one of our aims across the Council to raise the profile of sustainability.  I don’t think there is any doubt that we have achieved that objective and awareness of sustainability is at much higher level than it was 3 years ago. 

A few examples illustrate some of the things that have happened with the Leisure & Culture portfolio.

Whilst awareness has been raised significantly much more needs to be done so a Display Poster has been put up at Edmund Wilson detailing the energy use of the building.

We have introduced on site green waste recycling at Glen Gardens and West Bank Park this year (Rowntree was in place 18 months ago). 

We have also introduced a two skip system on some of allotments sites this year (Glen, Hempland, Low Moor and Green Lane) instead of the traditional single landfill skip.  We will be expanding scheme next year to include more sites and also going over to green only skips on a few sites.

The Arts Action Team has been using recycled and reclaimed material for children's arts projects (making paper, weaving + rugs with rags, recycled tiles for mosaic)

Working on an education resource pack to be used at the ecoDepot and in all local schools to be launched Spring 2007

Commissioned a story book on environmental sustainability jointly with Early Years team to go out to all early years settings in March 2007  provisionally called "The Three Little Pigs and the Straw Stick House."

98% of artists on Artists database for schools and community use are local artists from this region.”

(ii)        From Cllr Bartlett (put by Councillor Hyman in Councillor Bartlett’s absence):

“Can the Executive Member give more details of the work with people with disabilities within the Leisure & Culture portfolio?”

The Executive Member replied:

“I appreciate that we are encouraged to be brief in our answers so what I say in this area only scratches the surface of the work that is being done with people with disabilities. I could indeed give the full 10 minutes and more to this area so the following are some examples of the work being done.

Some projects cross all areas of the portfolio & some cross a number of directorates across the council & some are the result of working with partners.

The allotment photo in my report was from Hempland Lane. The Hemplands Allotments Association was supported to create a disabled friendly plot with raised beds.

Pinetrees the replacement for Hebden Rise is proving a modern much appreciated replacement.  It is a real corporate development with parks working with adult services to provide a joint café & our arts team working with Adult services, parks and the adults who use Pinetrees to achieve the sensory garden

When I first looked at disabled facilities cat Yearsley I was surprised at how inadequate they were. I am disappointed that it has taken longer than I would have liked to improve things but the hoist and changing provision now installed is a big improvement and much appreciated by the people who use it.

We are working with Oaklands to get the gym accredited as an IFI (Inclusive Fitness Initiative) facility, which means that equipment will be suitable for disabled users and all staff will have had appropriate training.

At the RI, New Lane sports facilities disabled toilet and changing facilities to support the use of the new Tennis and netball facilities by disabled users have been provided. This project was identified as a high priority by the West Sports Zone and has proved to be highly popular with users.

The disabled access ramp to the rear of Edmund Wilson pool has been repaired which has made access easier for wheelchair users and parents with buggies.

We are supporting and encouraging community sports clubs to get accredited by their governing bodies. This process includes addressing access issues and disability training for club officials. We currently have 22 accredited clubs in the city and are working to get many more.

In relation to the Arts Action Team the activities include -

Greenworks pottery : adults with learning disability developing pottery skills and looking at the kind of art work they could produce that would have commercial resale value/ business opportunities. 

As part of Dance Week we also did work with dance and drawing with children with severe physical disabilities

There is Intensive Curriculum support in Dance, Drama and Music for teachers and carers at Applefields.

There was an Arts Education Integrated performance project with pupils at Hob Moor Children's centre presented at Theatre Royal, Arts Education

Working with Amicus Music and NCEM to develop musical instruments for children with severe disabilities

Service level agreement with Accessible Arts, which support Sound Weaver workshops and Hands and Voices choir, for adults with learning difficulties or physical disabilities, and space at the Melbourne Centre.

Melbourne Centre Redevelopment.

I’m sure members will know of other examples & also know where further improvements can be made.

So a lot is being done but we are always looking to do more.”

(iii)       From Cllr Evans (put by Cllr Horton in Cllr Evans’ absence):

“Will the Executive Member agree to take responsibility for the truthfulness and accuracy of the statements and claims he makes in his written report as well as of any answers to questions on it?"

The Executive Member replied:

“I decline to respond to the offensive implication behind this question.”

(iv)      From Cllr Kirk:

“Could the Executive Member outline how his portfolio helps disadvantaged residents?”

The Executive Member replied:

“Members will be aware that it was recently agreed that the IT project to enable internet access to our Mobile Library. This will enable those people who have been excluded from this facility to access it.

Street sport was set up to work in areas of disadvantage including a weekly session at the travellers trust. As my Report indicated it has been a very successful project.

The promotion of Quick Read books to emergent readers through the Learning Festival in York enabled our service to reach reluctant readers, particularly teenage and young men with learning needs.

We ran a pilot project last year running creative writing sessions for looked after children in partnership with the Right to Read project.

Many arts projects are with disadvantaged people:

older people with dementia, SureStart families, people in prison, people who are homeless, people in residential homes, young people who have dropped out of mainstream education, children in care, people with renal failure, cancer, mental health issues, carers.

Particular highlights are;

the film made jointly with Arts Education, All Saints school and Network Two in order to engage with a group of pupils at risk of dropping out of education,

the art project with the homeless at the Central Methodist Church in partnership with Carecent and called "the A Team",  York carers 'Written and Stitched' project and the ARClight art therapy project.

We've supported the Lesbian Arts festival, the biggest festival of its kind in Europe and one that saw the hotels in York full that weekend and

The whole of the team has worked with the Education Access team on a 'BEAT the Bullies project’ covering song writing, film making, animation for mobile phones

An interesting  has been undertaken at Askham Grange prison. Read Write York organised a creative writing project called 'Rapping and Rhythm'. The project aimed to work with prisoners and young offenders to create a piece of writing that could be recorded onto CD for a member of their family. The project enabled participants to develop their reading and writing skills and also to develop their confidence and self-esteem. An additional and integral aim of the project was to encourage greater use of the prison library.

The project was a success and further author events and workshops have taken place to maintain momentum. This project enabled the Library service to apply to the Paul Hamlyn foundation. They were successful in receiving an award of £22,500 to provide a part-time project officer to continue family reading and writing activities at HMP Askham Grange for the next 2 years.”