Improving sports facilities across the town and increasing the number of school pupils taking part in physical activities are cornerstones of two new Southend Council strategies.

Cabinet members will hear today the intended future of sport in the borough, incorporating all aspects of Southend's leisure facilities, foreshore, parks and open spaces and how this can be implemented in schools.

The aims are set out in the sport and leisure development strategy and the physical education and school sport strategy.

They are to:

Promote effective partnership working with the council, primary care trust and regional agencies.

Support the development of local sports clubs and enable them to offer improved opportunities for local people to participate in sporting activities.

Work towards improving facilities in the future, via consultation with the local community.

Increase the number of school pupils taking part in physical activities and school sport, particularly extra curricular activities.

Direct liaison with schools, sports clubs, departments within the council and users of leisure centres was undertaken as part of the consultation process to enable the sports and leisure development strategy to be produced.

Tony North, cabinet member in charge of sport, said: "The strategy will enable successful planning and partnership working to maximise sport in the borough."

Published Tuesday, June 24, 2003

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