The first stage of planning and procurement of sports and recreation services is strategic planning. Use this checklist to help scope improvement at an early stage and clarify the key issues for improvement to happen within your organisation.
Self assessment checklist
- Undertake a needs assessment. For example:
- stock take current provision (public, private, voluntary)
- project demand
- user and potential user priorities
- Establish a clear vision and prioritise for leisure in partnership with stakeholders
- Ensure fit between service provision and corporate priorities and clarify council's and other stakeholder roles in providing services
- Incorporate cross boundaries planning of relevant services
- Test affordability
Key success factors
- Good quality external information using demographic profiling/planning models/supply and demand analysis.
- Accurate service performance information:
- financial (income and expenditure/asset management)
- non-financial (participation breakdown/satisfaction/Quest)
- Strong partnership working from an early planning stage strengthening ownership of vision
- Strong leadership, clarity of vision and partnership working
- Ability to prioritise and take strategic decisions
Needs assessment
Sport and recreation can contribute to many local and central government priorities. Councils need to have a clear understanding of the current and future needs of their communities and be innovative in how they are to be addressed. A detailed analysis of community needs, assessing population changes, current and future participation patterns and public and partners' aspirations should be used to inform the future range, location and management of sports and recreation facilities and services.
Sport England have produced a collection of planning information and tools (external link) which may be helpful when assessing needs.
Vision and priorities
The need to develop a clear vision of the council's role in delivering sport, reviewing the local and regional context, and developing a prioritised strategy is critical to driving service improvement. The role of partners in the process is also important.
Involve stakeholders
Involving local and regional partners and relevant departmental stakeholders is important in the strategic planning of sports and recreation services and facilities. Consideration must be given to stakeholders' involvement in the development and management of sports and recreation facilities in order to provide customer- focused services that reflect the needs of existing and potential user groups and local residents.
Plan cross boundaries
Strategic planning across departments and sectors should create opportunities for rationalisation of existing public sector stock. This could include the co-location of services and complementary provision of sports and recreation facilities within an area.
Assess affordability
The pattern of major external funding for sport and recreation in the public sector is changing and this provides a significant challenge for the long-term planning of public sports and recreation facilities. When reviewing the options for service delivery councils' need to be clear as to their long term financial commitment and be realistic what can be afforded within council and, where relevant, their partners resources.