Rutland County Council is to consider whether to commence a project to look at the future recreation, leisure and wellbeing needs of the county.

At its next meeting on Tuesday January 12, the Council's Cabinet will review proposals for a project which aims to assess the needs of Rutland residents, as well as examining how local leisure facilities may need to adapt to the current Covid-19 situation and, eventually, a post-Covid-19 environment.

Cabinet will also decide whether to extend the current Catmose Sports management contract and financial support for up to one further year, to ensure consistency of service for residents and enable any future procurement to take place based on the findings of the assessment.

Catmose Sports Centre was commissioned by the Council in 2010 and the current management contract with Stevenage Leisure Ltd is nearing its end. The last assessment of the county's wider sport and recreation facilities was undertaken in 2015.

Counr Lucy Stephenson, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, said: "Rutland has a really active population. We're blessed with a wonderful natural environment where cycling, running, competitive sports and outdoor activities all thrive.

"As an authority, Rutland County Council has a duty to work to improve the health of our local residents and promote individual wellbeing. To do this, we need to make sure our investment in sports and leisure delivers the best possible value for money.

"The global pandemic has meant many people are now working from home and exercise habits have changed. All of this needs to be taken into consideration as we near the end of our existing leisure contract and look at what will best meet the needs of local residents in future."

If approved by Rutland County Council Cabinet on Tuesday, a full leisure and wellbeing needs assessment would follow.

The results of the assessment would be reviewed by the Council's Scrutiny Committee in March 2021, before being presented to Cabinet.

The findings would then be used to decide the future direction of leisure and wellbeing provision in the County.

Coun Stephenson added: "Together with Sport England, Rutland County Council has invested a significant amount in existing facilities at Catmose Sports, and the Active Rutland Hub at Oakham Enterprise Park. We want to understand what our residents need to help keep them active, healthy and well in the next 10 to 20 years. This will help to guide decisions on future investment, contracts, and priorities for intervention programmes."

The agenda and reports for Rutland County Council's virtual Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 12 January have been published and can be viewed online at: www.rutland.gov.uk/meetings.