Decision details

Cooperative Executive will be asked to:

1.      Endorse the Council’s new Sport and Leisure Strategy which will evidence key themes and ambitions developed following significant research and consultation, including an extensive programme of public consultation

2.      Approve work on the development of a 5 year implementation plan with partners for the Sport and Leisure Strategy based on the key themes

That the Leader:-

(a)  notes the feedback from the Sport and Leisure Strategy consultation;

(b)  agrees the proposed Sheffield Sport and Leisure Strategy themes, which have been developed following significant research and an extensive programme of public consultation; and

(c)  delegates authority to the Director of Culture, Parks and Leisure, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Executive Member for Sustainable Neighbourhoods, Wellbeing, Parks and Leisure, to develop a public facing Sheffield Sport and Leisure Strategy and a 5 year implementation plan based on these themes.

The Council recognises that sport, leisure and physical activity provision is important post COVID-19, with many people requiring rehabilitation after suffering long-COVID, or diminished mental health caused by lockdown. The health and wellbeing of residents is a priority, and it is clear the sport, leisure and physical activity facilities and services are vital to this recovery. It is therefore critical that a new Sport and Leisure Strategy is put in place to guide the future of sport, leisure and physical activity across the city, to contribute to early intervention – prevention and to ensure that we reduce the inequalities in physical activity and health outcomes exacerbated by Covid-19.

The new Sport and Leisure Strategy enables us to align our facilities and services to both the vision and outcomes of the Move More Plan and to a significant number of Sheffield’s strategic priorities that sport and physical activity can contribute to, including Health & Wellbeing, Transport, Green and Open Spaces, Outdoor City, Youth Services and the 10-point Climate Plan.

The Strategy will also ensure work within Sheffield contributes to the vision of Sport England’s Uniting the Movement Strategy to transform lives and communities through sport and physical activity, tackle deep rooted inequalities and unlock the advantages of sport and physical activity for everyone.

Approving the themes outlined in this strategy and the development of a public facing sport and leisure strategy and 5-year implementation plan will ensure we maximise the cross cutting impact of the work in this sector.

Do nothing option - Continue without a Sport and Leisure Strategy

Given the large-scale investment approved in sport and leisure facilities across the city, the need to tackle inequalities in health and physical activity levels across the City, particularly following the impact Covid-19 which has widened these inequalities.  It is crucial that the Council has a clear understanding of the needs of communities across Sheffield and that this understanding shapes our ambitions.  It is also essential to have an implementation plan to deliver and re-shape our services and facilities to tackle these issues. In order to ensure that the Council guides investment wisely, a new Sport and Leisure Strategy is needed; doing nothing is not an option.