No disclosures were received.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 28 October 2025 (to follow).

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 October 2025 as circulated, were approved and signed as a correct record.

Considered – Report of the Corporate Services Group Manager.

Members will receive a presentation from Officers and given an overview of the service provided by the Health and Leisure Service Team.

Considered – Presentation from the Health, Leisure and Tourism Service.

The Chairman, Cllr. Nick Brown welcomed Cllr. Nick Chapman - Health, Community and Economic Development Portfolio Holder, Executive Director – Place, Assets and Major Projects Group Manager, Health, Leisure and Tourism Manager and the Physical Activity and Health Team Leader to the meeting.

Officers covered the following key points from their presentation:

·         Strategic themes:

Keeping you safe and healthy: Community Health and Wellbeing Plan 2023-2026, Playing Pitch Strategy, Built Facilities Strategy, delivery of Leisure centre contract, Active Travel Strategy, Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan and raising awareness of mental health services.

Growing and supporting our economy: delivery of actions in Tourism Growth Plan 2025-2030.

Enabling our communities and supporting our vulnerable residents: increasing the number of people accessing A Place to Grow.

·         Active Blaby – has seen a growth in the number of attendees, number of programmes delivered and an increase the number of referrals. £137,903 of external funding secured. 1,173 referrals received – the highest in the County. Access to classes for the over 65’s has seen a reduction in the number of hospital admissions due to falls and has seen a wider increase in social care savings.

·         Health and Wellbeing – obesity project supporting residents to make healthy lifestyle choices has received 40 referrals in the first 2 weeks. Monthly fibroscans have been held at the council offices since May, seeing 61 patients and 32 staff.

·         A Place to Grow – has seen 961 attendances with 86 volunteers from April-October 2025. Income has been generated from January 2025 from hiring of plots and private hire. It also supports the Armed Forces and veterans who use the site frequently.  

·         Leisure Contract and wider offer – current leisure centre contract ends 2029. Enderby Gym is being expanded from October to December reopening to the public on 5 January.

·         Tourism – visitor numbers have increased from 2.70m (2023) to 2.77m (2024). Employment figures from 2,058 (2023) to 2,071 (2024). Over the summer the Victory show attracted over 18,000 visitors. The Ice House held 7 tours including sold out dates. The Visit Blaby website has seen a 50% increase from June to August with over 2000 views of the event section.

·         Active Travel – 3 new walking and cycling routes. The active travel survey received 186 responses and the active travel working group has been established with staff from 5 different departments.

·         Challenges:

o   Local Government funding for Health, Leisure and Tourism is challenging.

o   At times it’s necessary to seek funding from multiple sources, leading to complexity.

o   Exploring options for ongoing resource requirements.

o   Challenges remain with getting the public active and maintaining healthy lifestyles.

o   BDC leisure assets across the district are aging and will require upgrades.

o   Community facilities have not received sufficient funding either

·         Opportunities:

o   Lubbesthorpe leisure offer to be developed.

o   Opportunities to maximise commercial revenue (O&W contract) and access alternative funding routes for investment (s106) are demonstrating a sustainable delivery model.

o  ...  view the full minutes text for item 125.

To consider the report of the Senior Democratic Services and Scrutiny Officer (enclosed). 

Considered – report of the Senior Democratic Services & Scrutiny Officer, presented by Cllr. Neil Wright – Vice-Chairman of Scrutiny Commission and Chairman of the Scrutiny Review into Recruitment and Retention of Staff.

Cllr. Neil Wright expressed his disappointment at the response provided by Cabinet Executive.  Although many of the recommendations had been accepted, Cllr Wright expected that many of the recommendations should have an update on delivery against the actions.

It was noted that there had been no movement in securing a date for Phase 2 of the HR work.

It was agreed that a senior officer would respond to the response at the next Scrutiny Commissioners meeting.

Members accepted the 25/26 Scrutiny Work Programme.

The Senior Democratic Services & Scrutiny Officer provided the following update:

·         Lightbulb – change of meeting date from 26 November to 24 November.

·         Capital Programme meeting on 2 December.

·         Local Police meeting on 9 December.

No items were raised for further information or examination.

There were no further actions arising from the meeting.