The Leader, or their nominee, to answer any questions raised by members of the public in accordance with Standing Order 14.
We have received the following two questions from Mr. Andrew McLuskey:
“Given Spelthorne’s proximity to London, and bearing in mind the recent report to the effect that the capital’s air pollution disproportionately affects schools with a significant number of pupils from deprived backgrounds, can the Leader indicate how far that situation is replicated here?”
“On the basis of what criteria does Spelthorne Council apportion leisure and community centres to the different parts of the Borough?”
Minutes:
The Mayor reported that, under Standing Order 14, one question had been received from a member of the public.
Question from Mr A. McLuskey:
“Given Spelthorne’s proximity to London, and bearing in mind the recent report to the effect that the capital’s air pollution disproportionately affects schools with a significant number of pupils from deprived backgrounds, can the Leader indicate how far that situation is replicated here?”
Response from Councillor A.J. Mitchell, portfolio holder for Environment and Compliance
Thank you for your question, Mr McLuskey.
A research report was prepared on this topic by independent consultants, Aether, on behalf of the Greater London Authority in 2013. The report was not published but concluded that, in Greater London, 24% of primary schools had average concentrations above the National Air Quality Objective (NAQO) value for annual mean nitrogen dioxide. Of the 433 primary schools in locations where average concentrations exceed the nitrogen dioxide NAQO value, 82% were deprived schools. The definition of a deprived school used in the report was one with more than 40% of pupils eligible for free school meals.
There are 29 infant, junior and primary schools in Spelthorne. However, none of these schools meets the definition of a deprived school, as used in the Aether 2013 study, and therefore the situation described in your question does not apply here in Spelthorne.
Question from Mr A. McLuskey:
“On the basis of what criteria does Spelthorne Council apportion leisure and community centres to the different parts of the Borough?”
Response from Councillor M.M. Attewell, portfolio holder for Community and Wellbeing
Thank you for your question Mr McLuskey.
I shall deal with your question in two parts, firstly with the major Leisure Centres in Staines upon Thames (Spelthorne Leisure Centre) and Sunbury on Thames (Sunbury Leisure Centre) and thereafter with the Community Centres in Staines upon Thames (Staines Community Centre), Ashford (Fordbridge) and Shepperton (Greeno).
The Spelthorne Leisure Centre was opened in 1967, initially as a swimming pool, with the sports hall being completed in the late 1980s. The decision as to the choice of site will have been taken based on available Council land and proximity to the largest centre of population in the Borough.
The Sunbury Leisure Centre was opened in 1963 as a partnership by Surrey County Council and Spelthorne Borough Council as a dual use site on the campus of the Sunbury Manor School. Again, the availability of municipally owned land and partnership funding enabled this facility to be made available close to a significantly populated area.
The Community Centres were opened in Ashford and Shepperton (Fordbridge and Greeno) in 1989 and Staines upon Thames in 2002 and were again the result of availability of land and the Council deciding to invest in these hugely important contributions to community wellbeing.
In addition to the above, day centres were closed in 2006 in Sunbury (Benwell) and Stanwell, as a result of dwindling usage. Both sites have subsequently been re developed in partnership with Surrey County Council and the private sector. The Benwell site now accommodates extra care flats, plus a small community centre (The Benwell Centre) The Stanwell site now accommodates a thriving Drs Surgery, Library and Chemist.
Finally, as you will well know due to the contribution you personally made in its formative stages, there is also the Stanwell Rose Hall which is a small hall built as part of the Chestnut Court extra care housing development. This was the result of municipal land availability and partnership working between Spelthorne, A2D and Surrey County Council. This hall is used by A2D, Spelthorne Borough Council and various community groups.
We thank you for your continued initiative to pursue improved sports and community facilities for Stanwell and Stanwell Moor residents. We will continue to explore opportunities should funding and land materialise. Prior to the development of further sports facilities in Spelthorne, we will use Sport England facilities planning models and guidance to ensure that the correct facilities are installed in the correct places and to take into account the population and anticipated future demand.