sporting - Leisure Opportunities

Public sector news
Sports, heritage and gaming industry
stakeholders are to have the opportunity
to “name and shame” regulations that they
believe are holding back growth in a new
government consultation.
A website has been established to allow
stakeholders to comment on regulations,
such as rules governing gambling premises,
and whether they are an example of
excessive red tape. Regulations identified as
“unnecessary” by respondents will then have
to be justified by the ministers responsible.
If no justification is made, the rules will be
scrapped. Details: http://lei.sra=0L1F6
A total of £62m will be invested in three years
Arts Council England (ACE) has
announced details of the final awards to
its Renaissance major partner museums,
which will see more than £62m invested
over the coming three years.
Earlier this year, the organisation
named the 16 successful applicants that
are to receive support between 2012-13 and
2014-15 under the new-look Renaissance
programme. ACE admitted the amount to
be invested was slightly higher than an initial
budget of around £60m but said it would
finance the “ambition and range of work” in
the bids. Details: http://lei.sra=J8I5j
Derby City Council (DCC) has approved
planning permission for the development
of a new multi-million pound
sports and entertainment arena near the
city’s Pride Park Stadium. The 14,500sq m
(156,077sq ft) venue has been designed by
FaulknerBrowns Architects and will incorporate
a 250m cycling track and a 1.5km
(0.9-mile) outdoor closed cycle trail.
The arena forms the first phase of the
council’s leisure strategy that is planned to
provide significant new facilities to the city.
Details: http://www.derby.gov.uk/
The Museums Association
(MA) has announced the
launch of its second survey to
examine the impact of government
and local authority
cuts on museum services
across the UK.
According to the organisation,
the latest study will
allow for year-on-year comparisons
to be made with
last year’s findings, and will
provide an insight into the
impact of budget cuts.
In 2011, more than half of
the museums that participated
in the research (53 per cent) saw a reduction
in funding, with 20 per cent reporting a cut
of at least 25 per cent.
The research also showed “considerable
uncertainty” over the future of the UK sector
and 66 per cent expected a decline in the
quality of service they offered as a result. MA
said this year’s survey will also ask museums
Swindon Borough Council and
Moirai Capital Investments
have moved forward with
plans for the development of
the Wiltshire town’s new £65m
regional leisure hub.
Leases have now been
agreed for the project, which
will see Oasis Leisure Centre
transferred to a private
operator on 1 June before
it undergoes an extensive
refurbishment.
An indoor ski slope, an
indoor arena and a waterpark
will also form part of
the planned new hub, with
leisure specialists S&P Architects working
on the design of the scheme. A collaborative
agreement between SBC and Moirai Capital
Investments includes long-term leases to four
sites, which include Oasis Leisure Centre and
The DCMS is to search for a new Arts Council
England (ACE) chair, following a decision not
to reappoint incumbent Dame Liz Forgan.
Dame Liz became the first woman to chair
the organisation after taking up the position
on 1 February 2009 for a four-year term, which
The study looks to assess the impact of the government’s funding cuts
to look forward over the coming year to see
how the industry is changing and what plans
are being made to account for the cuts.
“The more museums complete the survey,
the stronger the case the MA will be able
to make,” said MA head of policy Maurice
Davies. The deadline for responses is 30 April.
Details: http://lei.sra=Q3p5p
Facilities at the centre will include an indoor ski slope and water park
the former Clares site. The agreement requires
a planning masterplan for the former Clares
site to be lodged within two years. Detailed
proposals will then be submitted for each individual
stage. Details: http://lei.sra=Q2w3l
is scheduled to end on 31 January 2013. The
DCMS said culture secretary Jeremy Hunt
decided not to reappoint Dame Liz, but has
praised the contribution made to the UK arts
and culture industry during her tenure. Details:
http://lei.sra=n3I4b
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