Agenda item

The Deputy Leader of the Council presented the report that provided an update on the progress of the strategy.

To underpin one of its Corporate priorities, the Council was delivering on the sport and physical activity and the action plan which was adopted in 2021.

The Leisure team was responsible for targeting key areas and working with partners to provide opportunities for residents and visitors to live healthily and have active lifestyles.

The information within the report detailed the activities that had taken place since April 2025, including physical activity initiatives for Council employees.

The current strategy was dated 2021-26 and was therefore due to be reviewed.

The report detailed the steps being taken to refresh the strategy. Additionally, planning, preparations and promotion was well underway for Health and Wellness Day being held on Saturday 1 November 2025 at Grantham Meres leisure centre.

The event would give residents the opportunity to discover local organisations that support health, movement and wellbeing.

The events poster would be circulated to all Members.

Clarification was sought around the graph within the report showing that residents were active for 150 minutes a week, however, this had reduced by 5%. There had been a 5% increase in people that were inactive less than 30 minutes a week.

The Physical Activity and Wellbeing Lead clarified the 5% decrease in the active levels (150 minutes a week), but an increase in ‘fairly active’ (hitting 30-49 minutes a week). There was no suggested evidence to support the graph, however, this would be monitored in liaison with Active Lincolnshire.

A query was raised on whether the data included further context, such as disabled residents, rural communities and older demographic.

In 2024, the format of the survey was refreshed to incorporate disabled adults for reporting. Going forward, information on disabled adults could be pulled together from Active Lincolnshire and be included within the graph, alongside information on age friendly communities.

At present, Active Lincolnshire had a universal place offer through Sport England. £500,000 worth of funding would be shared between 4 districts and further information was being sought.

ACTION: For the Physical Activity and Wellbeing Lead to provide the Committee with information on disabled adults within the strategy.

One Member suggested whether the Council could encourage more volunteers for clubs by incorporating the need for volunteers. The importance of having volunteers was discussed.

Clarification was sought around the definition of activity and how it was measured, alongside how the activity of children and young people was measured.

A query was raised how the Council could engage and interact with the least active groups.

Activity levels were classed as ‘vigorous exercise’. 75 minutes of vigorous activity equated to 150 minutes of moderate activity.  Moderate meant when heart rate was slightly increased and elevated.

Information provided by Active Lives on children and young people was commissioned from Sport England and was informative and accurate.

It was confirmed that the ‘least active’ would be targeted through the universal place offer from Active Lincolnshire and Sport England when the funding became available.

The Council also work with Lincolnshire County Council who undertake work around targeting deprived areas through Positive Futures.

It was hoped an event being held on 1 November 2025 would encourage sporting groups and stakeholders to become involved.

The Deputy Leader of the Council commended all the hard work and commitment received from volunteers across the District, who do not get paid for their work.

Members requested letters be sent to all volunteers in order to recognise and thank them for their work.

The Culture and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

1. Noted the progress and delivery of the Sport and Physical Activity Strategy for South Kesteven.

2. Considered the results of the latest Active Lives data available for South Kesteven.

3. Noted the progress and steps to refresh the Sport and Physical Activity Strategy.

4. Suggested enhancements to the extent and clarity of the information produced for the next six-monthly report.