Sport England

The Nation's Biggest Supporter

Sport is a priority for LAs

01 July 2008:

Sport England today welcomed the news that promoting participation in sport is one of the top 20 priorities for local authorities in England.

The results of a comprehensive shake-up of council targets demonstrates that more than half the new Local Area Agreements (LAAs) now include adult participation in sport as a key priority.

These new LAAs have been negotiated to reflect the issues that really matter to local people.

Sport England is confident that, by prioritising sport, local authorities will make a significant contribution to our new strategic goals of ensuring that a growing number of people play sport and that everyone who takes part has a quality experience.

Jennie Price, Chief Executive of Sport England, said:

“Working with local authorities to invest in sport is an important element of our new strategy, so I am delighted that so many councils are prioritising sport.

“We are committed to working in partnership with local authorities, supporting their work around sport and sharing our expertise to ensure that local government’s considerable investment in sport delivers the maximum possible value.”

The partnership between Sport England and local authorities has the strong backing of the Local Government Association.

Councillor Chris White, the LGA spokesperson on sport, said:

“Overall councils spend £1.2bn a year on providing opportunities for people to play sport and get involved in physical activity and invest £450m annually in improving sports facilities.

“Councils, which are the biggest investor in sport, will continue to work very closely with a refocused Sport England in improving sporting activities for local people, in particular through County Sports Partnerships. Many councils have already struck deals with Sport England with new Local Area Agreements and we are confident of the renewed commitment to make a success of improving sporting participation in this way."

Will Tuckley, the Chief Executive of the London Borough of Bexley, said:

“The London Borough of Bexley recognises the key role that sport can play in people’s lives. Sports participation creates so many opportunities; not only providing obvious health benefits, but also less tangible benefits associated with community cohesion and personal achievement, through, for example, helping to develop community networks, providing positive activities for young people and creating competitive opportunities.

“Above all, it is also an enjoyable pastime! For these reasons, Bexley has included the sports target within the borough’s Local Area Agreement, in recognition of Bexley’s commitment to increasing sporting opportunities for our residents.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Sport England is a non-departmental public body and National Lottery distributor. We are committed to creating a world-leading community sports development system and increasing participation in sport. Sport England’s annual budget (lottery and exchequer) is c£250m.

Sport England’s new strategy was launched on June 10th and commits Sport England to deliver on a series of demanding targets by 2012/13:

•one million people doing more sport

•a 25% reduction in the number of 16-year-olds who drop out of five key sports

•improved talent development systems in at least 25 sports

•a measurable increase in people’s satisfaction with their experience of sport – the first time the organisation has set such a qualitative measure

•a major contribution to the delivery of the five hour sports offer for children and young people.

The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 provides a statutory duty for the local authority to prepare an LAA, and a duty on partners named in the LAA to cooperate in the setting of targets. It also provides for these partners to have a duty to have regard to targets in the LAA. The LAA is submitted to, and targets formally designated by, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

This is the first year of the new local government performance framework for local authorities and local authority partnerships. Central government has reduced the number of indicators which councils in England report on from 1200 to 198. This enables councils and partners to tackle local issues whilst simplifying reporting procedures. Of the 198 targets, the LAA is made up of up to 35 improvement targets. National Indicator 8 is Adult Participation in Sport and Active Recreation.

For more information please contact the communications team: Peter Dickinson on 020 7273 1800, Alex Russell on 0207 275 1866 or Andrew St Ledger on 020 7273 1593.

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