The London Borough of Lambeth has a strong and developing approach to cross-sector planning. It is working in partnership to address a history of underinvestment in leisure. The Council has developed a joint management board for the development of leisure services for the Borough. This board includes project managers and key players from both Leisure and Children and Young People's Services.
This strategic partnership brings together the skills and knowledge to ensure that the development of leisure facilities will meet identified community and curriculum needs.
Assessing the skill mix
The options appraisal and project development work was undertaken using a mix of internal staff and consultants. It was recognised at the outset that a number of critical skills were needed for the development of leisure projects are:
Research
In relation to people's propensity to participate in sport and physical activity. PMP were commissioned to carry out an initial desk top demand and supply analysis of leisure and physical activity in Lambeth. The basis of this study was the Sport & England Facilities Planning Model, which indicated gaps in provision of leisure facilities in Lambeth. This desk top study was cross reference with user and non user surveys undertaken by Mori. This confirmed the gaps in provision in leisure facilities in Lambeth and peoples expressed desire for the gaps to be addressed.
Strategic Planning
Leisure consultants Strategic Leisure were commissioned to produce a Leisure Delivery Plan (LDP), which is the road map of how leisure and physical activity will be provided in Lambeth in the next 10 years. The LDP clearly sets out how the gaps in provision within the borough will be addressed by a mixture of new facilities, access to sport facilities on BSF sites (including the extended schools programme) and partnership working with the private and voluntary sector.
Financial Modelling
PWC, working in partnership with the Council and Strategic Leisure carried out financial modelling of the LDP by assessing the affordability and feasibility of different options of leisure development.
Project Management
Underpinning all of this work is a project team with good project and programme management skills.
Producing a clear development framework
Lambeth have developed a decision making process that will help in the planning of leisure services and the appraisal of options in-line with council and local priorities and local needs.