Successes

• Halls working group presented draft action plan to address health & safety, commercial activity, programming, tariff and communication issues (July 04).  These are to be actioned by Assistant Director, Culture & Community Services.

• Playing pitch working group presented strategic planning recommendations and priorities for investment for implementing the Playing Pitch Strategy (July 04).  These were endorsed to be referred by Assistant Director, Culture & Community Services to the Lead Member for action.

• Scrutinising the decision to relocate the Archive & Local History Service lead to the Lead Member for Education & Lifelong Learning being urged to reconsider his decision (August 04)

• A draft policy, application process and form for statues, monuments and memorials was developed following a public enquiry at an area committee (Nov 04)  This was recommended to all area committees for consultation before being recommended to the Executive as a new policy – Dudley’s Blue Plaque Scheme.  The Executive agreed to implement the Policy.

• Effective public engagement in the committee when considering possible re-provision of Leisure and Swimming facilities in Brierley Hill (Oct 04 – Feb 05)

• Following concerns over an event in 2004 in Grange Park, the committee scrutinised the booking process for events in borough parks (Jan 05).  Members felt the process was adequate but enforcement was lacking and recognised resources were not available for this.

• Scrutinised progress with implementing the Options Plus scheme in June 2004 following which additional eligibility criteria and concessions were proposed by the Select Committee.  These were agreed by the Lead Member for Leisure.  Members were disappointed with progress and suggested further actions to increase take up and requested a further report after those areas had been considered implemented by the Lead Member for Leisure Services (Jan 05)

• Asked for further work to be done with the Council Insurers regarding insurance managements for community groups using Council owned facilities (Sep 05)

• Scrutinised progress with implementing Option Plus Scheme including further criteria for eligibility.  Take up of the Scheme had increased by 87% and further suggestions to improve publicity were considered (Sept 05)

• Further consultation with the Councils Insurers may have found an alternative to current insurance arrangements for Community Groups using Council owned facilities.  Further detailed work now needs to be completed (Jan 06)