The Inspiring Active Places strategy

21.03.23

14 Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat of the Minister for Economic Development, Tourism,

Sport and Culture regarding the Inspiring Active Places strategy (OQ.80/2021):

What consideration, if any, has been given to the inclusion of all sporting groups, including private clubs and associations, in the development of the Inspiring Active Places Strategy?

Senator L.J. Farnham (The Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture):

Once again, I am able to delegate this to Deputy Raymond.

The Deputy of Trinity (Assistant Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport

and Culture - rapporteur):

Thank you for the question, Deputy . The Inspiring Active Places strategy is first and foremost to replace and improve our publicly-owned sports and leisure facilities. All sporting groups, private clubs and associations that currently use government facilities are included in discussions about the proposals and the designs. The overall aim is to improve opportunities for everyone to be active and to ensure the current stock of government-run centres provide sporting facilities that all Islanders can have access to and that are modern and will inspire them to play sport and lead active lives. Some sporting groups and private clubs are self-contained and have their own facilities. While they are not included in the strategy, broader discussions are always ongoing and it is envisaged that public and private provisions will continue to complement each other and evolve. Going forward, we will work towards the shared goal of making Jersey one of the most active and healthy populations in the world and for people to visit. The strategy also recognises we need to review other existing public sports facilities, including our extensive outdoor facilities. I.A.P. (Inspiring Active Places) represents the start of a journey to manage the Government's sporting assets effectively and will ensure a plan is in place to maintain the public sporting realm.

1. Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat :

It is interesting that the Assistant Minister has said those that currently have facilities owned by the government, however some sports have had to find facilities outside of the government because they did not have or lost facilities, which were owned by the government. Therefore, someone like Netball, for example, lost the facility that they had at Les Quennevais and had to move into the private sector. Therefore, what conversation has happened with Netball and are they going to be provided the facility that is attuned with the facilities that they have at present, as this is probably the most used sport in relation to the female population. Even if it is not, one would hope that we are looking at all sports and not just those that are currently on our own government facilities.

The Deputy of Trinity :

I can answer that very succinctly. The leader of Netball has been in constant conversation with me. We are on the same wavelength. We are about to, subject to the money that is already in the Government Plan, put applications in with regard to providing a permanent home for netball, which will be in the east of the Island or towards the east of the Island. Everything is on-song to meet her requirements. If you speak to her, Deputy , you will see that she is very keen to follow the route that we are going and very much appreciates the work that we have been doing.

2. Senator S.W. Pallett:

Would the Assistant Minister not agree that the current Inspiring Active Places strategy that has just been released built on a previous report carried out by the same consultant in 2018? Within that report in 2018, they did in fact consult with a wide range of groups, including key government officers? But also, importantly, a consultation with key stakeholders, many, many sports associations and clubs. So would he not agree there has been a great deal of consultation all the way through this process? Inasmuch as it may not be specifically mentioned in the current strategy, there is a great deal of consultation that was carried on in the lead-up to producing this strategy?

The Deputy of Trinity :

I totally agree. As you know, you were very much part of the Fit for Future strategy, which started in January 2016. You were the existing Minister for Sports and I very much hope that I am carrying on very much what you have tried to do. Unfortunately, due to COVID and a few other problems, it has slowed down. But this is an opportunity now, which you were very keen to support and very keen to proceed with, that we are carrying on with. I cannot thank you enough, bearing in mind that it has taken so long to be able to do. But we do have money in the Government Plan and we do have facilities that we can move forward now, now that this report has been given. We very much look hopefully, with your support in this, as well moving forward.

The Bailiff :

Deputy , I will have to ask you, I have been extremely lenient, but none of that answer was through the Chair rather than the first sentence. It was all directed personally at the questioner. Standing Orders require that the answers are given and all speeches indeed are made through the Chair. So instead of "you" it would have been "the Senator".

The Deputy of Trinity : Apologies.

The Bailiff :

It becomes important particularly when matters become perhaps somewhat charged with emotion, it is very important that people maintain that Standing Order and address the Chair.

3. Senator S.W. Pallett:

It is not so much a supplementary, it is going back to the original question. Really, I just want the Assistant Minister to agree that, because he has not as yet, there has been an awful lot of consultation with private sports clubs and associations all the way through the process of producing this strategy. As much as there may not have been in the production of the final document, the document itself is based on a great deal of consultation that has carried on over a great deal of time.

The Deputy of Trinity :

That I would agree with. I cannot argue with that. That comes back down to the work that was done by the previous people in charge of this particular aspect of where we were going with the Inspiring Active Places.

4. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet :

It is great to hear that the Minister is consulting with all these different groups. I wanted to ask the Assistant Minister if a gender-sensitive approach is being taken to this strategy. I wonder if he might get some data from the survey once it has closed to ensure that what we are putting in place is equal for men and women, boys and girls, for the different types of sports that different genders like to access.

[12:00]

Indeed, looking at different ages to make sure that there is plenty for children in there as well. The Deputy of Trinity :

I very much support everything you have just said. It is interesting that with the people that we are talking with ...

The Bailiff :

"Everything that the Deputy has just said." Not: "Everything that you have just said." "Everything the Deputy has just said."

The Deputy of Trinity :

The Deputy has just said. It is a learning curve, sorry. Yes, we have been speaking to some 44 individual sports and associations and we have involved the feminine side to it all because what we want to do is to provide every aspect of sport to everybody, male, female, old and age alike.

5. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet :

Would the Assistant Minister agree to look at the work of Sport England or Sport U.K. and they have identified specific barriers for women and girls entering sport? Could he take that on board to make sure that, if there are any barriers in Jersey, those are removed to encourage full participation in sport and exercise?

The Deputy of Trinity :

I will certainly take that on board and, in my earlier days back in the U.K., I very much dealt with U.K. Sport and fully appreciate the work that they are doing and will take on board everything that the Deputy has just said.

6. Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat :

Following on from Deputy Doublet , I would like to ask the Assistant Minister what data has Jersey Sport in relation to how the population is divided in relation to various sporting activities? So that we ensure that, across all sports, all are catered for. Because it is concerning that the headlines normally are a new stadium for football and rugby. Let us please consider all other sports.

The Deputy of Trinity :

Yes, I would just make an aside comment there in the fact that rugby and football is played by the feminine side and is very much part of any of the discussions we have. I will take on board exactly what the Deputy has just said and we make sure that the feminine side is very much looked after. Especially if you look at the sports that we are involved with, there is a huge involvement with regards to the best way of moving forward so that everybody in the Island can benefit from the work that we are doing.