Do councils give sport a high enough priority?
- Published: 28 August 2008 08:01
- Last Updated: 27 August 2008 12:12
LGC's viewpoints panel respond to the question of the week.
"Councils have a duty to provide high-quality sport facilities and programmes for all age groups and a specific duty to potential Olympic athletes whose hard work, time and talent should be matched by their communities' facilities, funding and encouragement."
Sharon Taylor (Lab)
Leader, Stevenage BC
"The 2012 Olympics will provide the best focus we will have in a generation to end our policy ambivalence. All the research shows that achievement in sport has a positive impact both individually and collectively. Local government must play its part to secure future successes."
Will Godfrey
Chief executive, East Hampshire DC
"Yes they do in schools, clubs and leisure centres. The fantastic achievements in Beijing by team Great Britain so far provides a further opportunity to up our game and inspire our future elite athletes for 2012."
Gifty Edila
Director of law and administration, Kensington & Chelsea RBC
"Some might say sport ought to have a higher priority, but if this meant the need to reduce spend elsewhere, say on safeguarding children, they might think again. The simple answer is if government wants us to spend more money on sport, then give us the money."
Richard Crouch
Head of human resources and organisational development, Somerset CC
"As a holder of Commonwealth and world championship bronze medals for England for netball, and having been involved in the provision of sport for 21 years, the answer is no. Not enough recognition is placed on the benefits of sport as a prevention of issues like anti-social behaviour."
Lyn Carpenter
Director of environment and regeneration, Merton LBC
"Sport has huge cross-cutting potential for big quality-of-life issues facing communities, but investment is complex. I think councils are working hard to facilitate a collective effort. It is classic partnership territory."
Keith Shephard
Head of strategic partnerships unit, Hertfordshire CC
Have your say. Click here to join the LGC viewpoints panel.
