Introduction
Definition
A strategy is a plan that integrates the major goals, policies and actions of an organisation or partnership of organisations into a cohesive whole. Like all strategies, a Leisure and Cultural Strategy should be viewed not as a firmly fixed plan, but as a continuing process, informing other strategies and, in turn, being informed by them.
Guidance
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has suggested that
the principles summarised below should underpin local Leisure and
Cultural Strategies.
They should:-
- promote the cultural well-being of the area;
- be based on community needs, aspirations and demands;
- be guided by a vision for the leisure and cultural needs of the area;
- ensure fair access for all;
- seek to address the broad range of leisure and cultural needs of an area;
- be for the area served by the local authority;
- be developed through a partnership approach;
- take a holistic rather than a service view;
- make clear links with other local strategies and plans;
- incorporate meaningful consultation with organisations and individuals;
- take account of the wider central and regional context;
- consider how they can contribute to central government's key objectives;
- be viewed as high level documents;
- be focused on strategic choices, priorities, outcomes, forward planning, implementation mechanisms and monitoring and review methods;
- contain an action plan.
Vision
A local Leisure and Cultural Strategy needs a vision statement. This needs to be articulated, shared and developed. A suggested vision statement for Fareham is as follows:
"As a resident of, or visitor to the Borough, you should expect…
To have access to a range of good quality recreational opportunities, allowing you and your family to enjoy the local environment, pursue your leisure interests, keep healthy and participate in community events.
You should have the opportunity to participate in sport, take an interest in the arts; visit the theatre or cinema; enjoy visiting the parks, open spaces, beach and woodland sites; have access to the rivers and the sea; meet with others in local community halls; be able to use a variety of library services; grow your own produce on an allotment site; explore the local history of your area; get involved in life long learning activities; and watch your children develop their skills and confidence through a variety of play opportunities for all ages.
Facilities should be affordable and within easy reach by public transport. You should expect easy access to accurate and up to date information on the range of events and activities available to you."
Aims
The aims of Fareham's Leisure and Cultural Strategy are as follows:-
- To promote opportunities for the recreational and cultural well being of the area.
- To explain why the local authority funds, manages, leads, supports, encourages or regulates leisure and cultural services and activities.
- To provide the basis upon which the authority and its partners can best determine their contribution to the leisure and cultural development of the borough over the next five years.
- To be a working document that will integrate, implement and monitor the major leisure and cultural goals, policies and actions of the Borough Council and its partners for the period 2003-08.
- To capture the needs and aspirations of local residents as a basis for determining future priorities.
Scope
Leisure and culture are seen as all of the activities, events and opportunities that allow residents and visitors to "enjoy life in Fareham." The strategy is based on the following core elements:
- Parks and open spaces
- Sport and recreation
- Culture and heritage
- Tourism
- Libraries
- Community development
- Children's play
However it is acknowledged that informal leisure activities also greatly enhance the quality of life e.g. walking, cycling, "eating out", shopping etc.
Therefore cutting across all these areas are the following themes:-
Best value, social inclusion, community consultation, e-delivery, the local economy, health improvement, community safety, sustainability, lifelong learning, the needs of young people and partnerships.
Leisure and cultural services have a significant potential for "joined up working". For example, arts, sport and children's play can relate to health promotion; libraries, museums, sport and arts can contribute to lifelong learning; parks, sports, arts and tourism can play a part in aspects of urban regeneration.
Strategic Principles
Although this document will include action plans, its primary function is as a strategy. Key strategic principles, which relate to every element of the strategy, are therefore set out at the very start of this document. They are as follows:-
- To continue to ensure that all leisure and cultural provision in the borough is of a high standard.
- To attract and work in partnership with voluntary, statutory and commercial agencies.
- To focus new resources on improvements/gaps in provision, particularly those identified in consultation with local residents.
- To seek to reduce barriers to participation e.g. access, transportation, price etc.
- To improve the flow of information to the local community and visitors about the range of facilities and opportunities available locally.
- To empower local community and voluntary groups and clubs to meet their own identified needs.
|.
|.
