Agenda item

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       To seek approval to proceed with delivery of Sport NI’s new investment programme called Everybody Active 2020 (EBA).

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       Committee is asked to:

·        Authorise the Director to finalise contracts, with advice from the Town Solicitor, with Sport NI and commence delivery of the Everybody Active 2020 programme immediately, as set out below;

·        Authorise officers, in the event that efficiencies can be found during programme delivery, to use the assessment matrix as a ranked call off list to enhance delivery on a rolling basis over the next four years.

3.0       Main report

            Sport NI programme

3.1       People and Communities Committee on 9 February 2016 agreed to accept an offer of £1,568,239 for delivery of the Everybody Active 2020 (EBA) programme over four years to end in March 2020, and recommended that officers commission a blend of providers in specific sports and activities through a public process.

3.2       Sport NI’s allocation model for EBA is weighted on a range of measures including population and deprivation, with the result that Belfast City Council’s programme comprises approximately 25% of the budget and targets.

3.3       Delays in commencing EBA in Belfast may hamper achievement of EBA’s overall targets across NI, as well as reducing the impact of the programme on physical activity levels amongst the target populations locally. In order to maintain momentum, officers have been liaising with Sport NI to clarify Sport NI’s expectation of the outcomes from Belfast’s EBA plan and how these outcomes support the Belfast Agenda and the City Council’s physical activity and health priorities over the term of EBA.

3.4       Following approval of the delivery partners, officers will work with Sport NI to proceed to implementation by the end of July, whilst concurrently drafting contracts for preferred partners to expedite commencement of the EBA programme and maximise delivery in neighbourhoods. The target is to have all programmes being delivered in September.

            Indicative Budget Allocation

3.5       Re-profiling of the budget allows for start up costs aligned to all programmes commencing in September 2016.

I

3.6       Indicative Participation Targets

SeSelection of delivery partners

3.7       Following approval from Committee in February 2016 expressions of interest were sought through public notices in print media, City Council website, NI Sports Forum mailings and supported by high levels of exposure through Council social media channels. Council received 44 expressions of interest from a range of sports governing bodies, charities, community organisations and commercial providers. Assessment criteria were agreed in advance and application packs were sent to each organisation. 19 organisations returned applications seeking funding for a total of 25 programmes.

3.8       Leisure Development Unit administered the application process, including receipt and log of applications, eligibility check and preparation and supply of assessment packs for scoring against set criteria. An assessment panel comprising Leisure Development and Policy and Business Development staff met over two days to score applications and record recommendations for Committee’s consideration.

            Key Issues

3.9       A total of 25 applications were received from 19 organisations to deliver programmes. Eligibility requirements were that applicants provide a copy of their sports development plan and that the funding requested was within the funding limits in year one and year two. 7 of the applications were non compliant with one or both of these criteria. The assessment panel deemed it appropriate to score these applications as an aid to learning. The 25 applications received were valued at £465,233 in year one and £701,781 in year two.

3.10     The Assessment Panel recommends commencing delivery of the programme with the top 12 applicants from the ranked list and that partnership frameworks are established promptly to ensure Council and all partners collaborate for city wide delivery of EBA. Additional budget committed by the top 12 applicants comes to a total of £45,650 in year one and £57,400 in year two, demonstrating significant commitment to partnership delivery.

3.11     In the event that efficiencies can be found during programme delivery, the assessment panel further recommends that the assessment matrix is used as a ranked call off list to enhance delivery on a rolling basis over the next four years.  This will also help identify where there are implementation gaps and seek to rectify those.  Regular performance reports will be brought to Committee and seek approval where necessary.

3.12     This blend of providers will ensure Sport NI KPIs are achieved i.e. in terms of overall participants, women and girls, disability, social need and sustained participants. It will also ensure neighbourhood delivery across the city in sports and activities which will appeal to under-represented groups.

3.13     A fixed-term post of Programme Co-ordinator (funded by Sports NI), reporting to a Sports Development Officer, will be required to ensure effective integration of all organisations. This role will maximise the partnership impact as well as facilitating local reference groups to develop more cohesive work programmes and sustainable activities over the four years.

            Conclusion

3.14     Officers are confident that the recommended mix of delivery partners offers a spread of sporting activities, delivered across the city, meets both Sport NI and Council anticipated outcomes and is good value for money.

3.15     There is a very tight timescale for delivering the EBA programme.  Officers are aware of Committee’s expectation to ensure that there is a smooth and expeditious implementation of the EBA programme.  Sport NI are still determining elements of the implementation phase and Council officers are working closely to develop systems and procedures for implementation.

            Financial & Resource Implications

3.16     All finance implications are detailed within the report.

            Equality or Good Relations Implications

3.17     The programme is an opportunity for the Council to deliver against its equality and good relations objectives.  These will be integrated into the performance frameworks for providers and continually reviewed.”

            The Committee adopted the recommendations, as set out within the report and agreed that an update on the Everybody Active 2020 Programme would be brought to the People and Communities Committee on a quarterly basis.