15/03/07 - Cllr Tomlinson, Sports Council Update

Swindon Council, 50 Promises - Promise 21:We will introduce a Sports Council in 2006 that works with local, regional and national sports organisations to establish Swindon as a centre of sports excellence.

Swindon Borough Council is committed to establishing the town as a centre for sporting excellence and it has already achieved Promise 21 by setting up a Sports Council in March 2006.

The most recent meeting Forum took place in January saw in excess of 50 representatives from local sports clubs and associations. There was an opportunity for club members to talk to Cllr Justin Tomlinson (Lead Member for Leisure and Culture) and senior officers responsible for Leisure.

Since the Forum, we have set up a Steering Group to help drive the ideas and suggestions coming out of the Forum forward. The Steering Group is made up of 6 volunteers from the local communities who have a desire to support the development of sport in their town. The Steering Group will be the voice of the local sporting community and will help to drive forward the delivery of the recently adopted Swindon Leisure Strategy.

Cllr Justin Tomlinson said Setting up the Sports Council was an important step in developing our ambitious Leisure Strategy in order to really establish Swindon as a centre of sports excellence. I have been so impressed by the passion of the local sports representatives and am confident that with their support and commitment we can now go on to deliver the objectives of strategy.

The Leisure Strategy will help to increase participation in sport, active recreation and physical activity in Swindon as well as ensure that Swindon and its population gain the optimum benefit and legacy from the 2012 Olympics. It also aims to ensure that those who live and work in Swindon have access to high quality facilities.

We will be hosting the next Forum on Tuesday 27th March and once again it is open to anyone who has an involvement or interest in sport. The event will run between 6.15 and 8.30pm and places should be booked through Helena Robinson, the Leisure Development Manager on 01793 466210/07919 111 511 or HERobinson@swindon.gov.uk