RESPONSE TO LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES DELIVERY PLANS

RESPONSE TO LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES DELIVERY PLANS This note sets out the response of South London Partnership to the draft Delivery Plans issued for consultation by the London Coordinating Working Group for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The comments are based on: • Ongoing consultation about the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in South London over the past two years. • Comments from partners who sit on the Go South Go Task Force • A specially convened consultation meeting on 27 September 2006 which looked at the draft Action Plans in some detail General comments In south London we have been actively supporting the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games since the bid time. A Task Force has been established sub regionally and includes representation from each of the local authorities, LSC, ConneXions, South London Learning Partnership, South London Business, South London Arts Partnership, South London Sport and Physical Activity Partnership, HE and FE, Business Link for London, health, the voluntary sector, cultural groups, individual businesses, Federation of Small Business and other key local partners. An action plan to secure the benefits from the London Games in South London has been adopted by the Task Force. The action plan has been branded Go South Go and resources have been secured from each of the Local Authorities, ConneXions, LSC and St Mary’s College in support of this work. We therefore feel that we, in common with the other sub regional partnerships, are well placed to deliver the objectives set out in the London delivery plans. We think the power of the sub regional partnerships to deliver legacy benefits on your behalf has been under recognised – we could be a very effective delivery channel – it is clear that the regional bodies on their own could not deliver the ambitious proposals set out in these plans. We in South London can see how we could use the Olympics to deliver many of our shared longer term goals and we would also very much welcome any future funding provided by the LDA for sub regions to be targeted at the sub regional delivery of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games delivery plans. Detailed comments Our feedback against each delivery plan is detailed below. Delivery Plan 3.2.1 - Employment and Skills Overall, we thought the plan was very thorough in relation to lower level skills, but feel that the greater legacy for London will be in creating a more highly skilled and qualified workforce. A greater emphasis is required on the role of higher and further education in all the sectors in order to secure a legacy of London’s skill base being uplifted. Other more detailed comments are: • The focus of this delivery plan is mainly on the five host boroughs and we would like it to be broadened out to the whole of London. • While market forces dictate that skilled labour will be pulled from across Europe to work on the construction and in delivering the Games, we should not take this as an excuse to not train Londoners. • Smaller businesses have much to offer, and we think their role is under-played. Although they do not have the resources of larger firms, they are more flexible and can respond rapidly. For example, if there is serious intent to engage employers using the Olympics to train more people, smaller businesses can more quickly make decisions to get involved. We would like to suggest an “Olympic Training Pledge” for employers – businesses would commit to training all their employees a minimum amount during the year. This would not be a regulated approach like IIP, but much looser, and easy to engage with. Employers could say “We’ve taken the Pledge”. • We are concerned that the plan makes reference to the Pre Volunteer Program only being piloted in the host boroughs. We had believed that another London pilot would be held outside of the east London boroughs. • People will need information readily available to be able to see what jobs might be available and what skills they would need in order to be involved in delivery of the Games. South London Partnership and its partners can provide effective mechanisms for cascade of jobs, skills and training opportunities. • We believe the Sub-regional partnerships have a key role to play in the community engagement strategy outside of the host boroughs and would like to see this reflected in the plans. • We welcome and support from the London leisure academy at Crystal Palace and would like the opportunity for the sub regional sports partnership to be more closely involved. We would also like to see the link to volunteering established in relation to this. • We would like to see links within the plan to Centres of Vocational Excellence, for example the CoVE for Coaching, Leisure and Fitness at Richmond upon Thames College and Kingston College. • The overarching sense with this delivery plan is that most of the work is already underway. We would like to see more of a stretch in the impact of the Games on this work stream and using the opportunity to do something really exciting. Delivery Plan 3.2.2 - Business Promotion and Tourism We have been involved with the LDA in developing ideas for business and tourism. We are already supporting business organisations in South London to cascade information to their members and clients. We are able to offer a ready made mechanism for engaging small businesses. Detailed comments as follows: Business • • • • • • • We welcome the creation of the Olympic Business Club at both a national and regional level. We would like the opportunity to emulate this at a local level and have agreed with our business partners that we could run a sub regional version, and reach SMEs in a way that the pan London bodies could not. We have developed a mechanism through the Go South Go website (www.gosouthgo.co.uk) to cascade information to businesses and would seek to continue to link through to the regional information from this site. We understand that the ability of the Olympic bodies to require a degree of local purchasing is constrained by EU procurement rules. However, if the presumption could be that local purchasing is the starting point, and that moves from that position are from necessity rather than inclination, we believe that this will help create more opportunities for SMEs. This could particularly apply in situations where the LDA or GLA themselves are making purchasing decisions. This would also fit in with the One Planet sustainability principles which include a commitment to local purchasing. We welcome the plan to use Supply London as the basis for preparing SMEs for bidding for contracts. A number of positive comments have been received from businesses who have already used their services, and we hope the opportunity will be taken to boost their capacity. South London Partnership has already run some supply chain workshops in conjunction with Supply London and we would be happy to do more. How the procurement opportunities are parcelled will make a great difference to SMEs ability to win business. While the large construction contracts cannot be broken up into smaller chunks, there is no reason why some of the other service and supply contracts should not be put out to tender in smaller batches. For example, the production of merchandise need not be done in a single large contract. Different categories of merchandise could be tendered out separately, increasing the chance for SMEs to get a chance to supply. Further, if merchandising is to be contracted out on the basis of the supplier paying a fee to use the official emblems, then it would be helpful if the fee were on a “as you go” basis rather than a lump sum up front payment. Good practice from the East London line and City Corporation needs to be incorporated and we need to encourage all public sector organisations to use www.supply2.gov.uk Tourism We support the emphasis in the plans on continuing to improve the quality of the visitor experience, and see this as the single most important thing that we should do as a region. We would be happy to use our network of business and tourism organisations to develop services and information in this area. Detailed comments are: • Within the overall London offer, we believe it will be important to show what the different parts of London have to offer. We need to make sure we make use of everything that London has to offer. We have developed a unique position for South London, and would be keen to work with the LDA and Visit London to make sure South London gets a good profile. • • • • • • Within in the Tourism work plan we would like to see a link established between packages and ticketing. It is essential that when the ticketing policy is developed by LOCOG that consideration is given to making sure smaller tourism businesses have access so that they can put together packages. Greater emphasis needs to be given to the importance of itineraries and the need to support SMEs in developing these, we feel that the sub regions would be best placed to help them do that. We think London needs to boost its Business Tourism offer in support of the International Convention Centre and we in the sub region will take this forward by developing a high quality offer. The Sydney and Athens experience shows that this is a real opportunity for London. We think an Olympic Oyster card would be a good idea – not just for visitors in 2012 to help them move around easily, but also for Londoners in the years leading up to the Games to help develop the sense of us all living in an Olympic city and to help demonstrate to them just how easy it is to get around the capital on public transport. Finally, we are sure there are contingency plans in place for considering how a major disaster or occurrence of any kind would impact on the tourism industry, and we would be happy to collaborate in any contingency planning. We believe that it is vital to link the objectives related to tourism and international inward investment with the transport plan, and in particular ensure that London’s international transport links are developed to accommodate the various niche markets and provide a legacy for the future of London as a world city. South London has airport and rail facilities and connections that can play a vital role. Delivery Plan 3.2.3 - Culture We will deliver a south London cultural Olympiad over the four years from 2008 to Games time. We feel that this is the opportunity for every Londoner to be part of the Games. We will link local events to the national programme. We will use existing groups and will particularly work with schools to inspire young people. Detailed comments on the plans include: • We feel that this delivery plan should include reference to local delivery agencies such as the sub-regional arts partnerships, sub regional partnerships and boroughs. Currently this plan gives the impression of a top down structure being created. This would not enable the engagement of communities on the ground to participate in and contribute to the cultural Olympiad. • We in the sub region think it is a fantastic opportunity to build inclusive societies, build social capital, develop volunteering links to SMEs and develop sustainable communities. We would like to be involved in the development of the plans so that we can ensure locally our plans emulate those regionally, so that we can input our ideas and because we have a structure in place that can deliver. • This delivery plan needs also to reflect the cross cutting themes of volunteering and skills development and recognise the contribution of culture to education. • We should make maximum use of the Thames, and we would be very happy to develop ideas for how we can include the river in the cultural Olympiad. • We must ensure that existing funding for Arts is not diverted into Olympics or sport related activity. Delivery Plan 3.2.4 - Health, Education and Volunteering Health Here is a chance for a massive change to the approach to cycling in the capital. A new cycling strategy for London should be put at the heart of London’s preparations for the Olympics which would include: Financial investment Safe cycling tracks throughout the capital Changes in traffic management to emphasise the safety of cyclists Secure cycle storage at all public transport stops and every public facility like sports and leisure centres • We feel the role of borough-level bodies and especially local authorities, is understated. The implication appears to be that the London-wide and national bodies will set out the plans. There needs to be a much more bottom-up approach, with local authorities and PCTs using the health gain opportunities offered by the Olympics and the London-wide bodies providing the resources that will support this. • There needs to be a much clearer focus on what value will be added by the Olympics • One area which could be developed further is the National Sport and Exercise Medicine Centre. This centre of excellence could be used to promote professional expertise in the treatment of sports injuries and to stimulate improved services across the NHS. • We would like to see the delivery plan reflect that the health agenda cannot just be delivered by the Health Authorities. Greater links need to be established between physical activity and health. • We also feel that the Observatory has to be London / Nation wide resource and this should be reflected in the plans. This should also be networked into the existing national excellence centres Education Greater emphasis in this work plan needs to be placed on HE and FE and the key role they have to play in skills, healthy lifestyles, new technologies, sports and fitness, cultural contribution and also the potential provider of additional accommodation with their student accommodation. • We in the sub region would like to see the cross reference into volunteering highlighted within this delivery plan. • Links need to be developed into the cross cutting themes of Sports and Physical activities and the Cultural Olympiad. • The newly established Children Trusts and their particular objectives need to be engaged into the programme. • Boroughs are already working with schools on Olympic initiatives and should be retained within the loop. Local Authorities should be included as lead organisations throughout. • Promotion of London Youth Games and "Sport for all" events. Many Local Authorities have in excess of 300 participants in the Youth Games which demands a • • huge effort and cost. This should be reflected in the wording and consideration given to funding. Consultation including Local Authorities about what actually takes place and how far some boroughs have already progressed with their Olympic plans is key to minimise conflicts or misunderstandings. Volunteering We would like to take this opportunity to highlight our particular enthusiasm and support for the pre volunteering programme. In south London we host a number of high profile events that are served by local volunteers these include, Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships, Biggin Hill Air Show, Hampton Court Flower Show, London Corporate Games, Chase London Challenge, University and other Thames boast races and The London Youth Games. We would therefore welcome the opportunity to take part in the pre volunteering programme pilot and would like to propose South London as the London pilot outside of Host boroughs. We would like this opportunity particularly to develop volunteer opportunities for people with disabilities and hard to reach groups. Other detailed comments: • Some of the Olympic volunteering opportunities might be used as a reward for people who demonstrate that they have participated in volunteering in the past – this could be a way to use the incentive of the Olympics to draw more people into the volunteering more generally. Certainly there is a feeling that people who have never shown any interest in helping in their community should not get to take up Olympic opportunities in advance of those who have. • It is essential that the plan reflects the need to cut government bureaucracy in relation to volunteering, particularly in targeting worklessness. • Health and Safety issues also need to be addressed by the plan particularly in relation to volunteering opportunities for young people. • There is a critical shortage of sports coaches, especially young coaches. Volunteering is a way of engaging young people in coaching. • Local Authorities support many voluntary organisations and volunteer organisations and some have programmes to increase sport coaches and volunteers generally. Local Authorities must be involved to ensure existing groups will get involved. Delivery Plan 3.2.6 - Sustainable Development and Sustainable Procurement Sustainable development We feel this is an opportunity in London to become world leaders in green technologies. We should take this opportunity to look at our higher education and research base and see how we might make London the Green Technology world leader by 2012. As an example, we have a fledgling higher education and enterprise project, West Focus based at Kingston University which is already making some progress in the this field. We would be very happy to take a lead in convening some development work in this area. • Greater emphasis need to be placed on the practicalities of the delivery plan and how we can ensure that it doesn’t just stay as words on a page. • We would like to see the One Planet principals as used in the bid reflected in the delivery plan. Sustainable procurement • We welcome the work of this delivery plan and feel it can really support the efforts of the LDA and Sub Regional Partnerships in getting SMEs into the Games Supply Chain. • Within south London we are already working with Supply London to develop a programme for SMEs to tender for Olympic and Paralympic opportunities – a good example of how the sub regional can be an effective delivery mechanism for you. Delivery Plan 3.2.7 - International Promotion Detailed comments are: • South London has a number internationally recognised iconic London attractions and would welcome the opportunity to contribute to this work stream. We are working closely with the LDA Tourism team and Visit London to develop business tourism offer in south London in support of this work. • We believe the image of London that is portrayed to the business community overseas should be much broader than just London as an international finance centre. We should also emphasise the excellence of the workforce, design and creativity. • We would like to work with those who are promoting London to develop opportunities for increased international trade, building on the new links that will be forged as a result of the Olympics. • The legacy of London as a place to do business and as a tourism venue will be heavily influenced by the ability of international visitors to get here. South London can play its part with its airport and rail services. Delivery Plan 3.2.8 - Engaging London’s Diverse Communities We feel that it is important that diversity is integrated into all the plans, the focus must be on ensuring the Games builds cohesion rather than separate actions. Delivery Plan 4.5 - Sport Participation In general these are well thought through plans, and fit well with the objectives of the South London Sport and Physical Activity Partnership. Detailed comments are: • We felt that although disability provision for disabled people was mentioned throughout this delivery plan, it was not strong enough. We have the opportunity with the Paralympic Games to completely rethink the way we approach disabled people, sport and physical activity – and make a big difference to the quality of life of disabled people. For example, greater emphasis needed to be made under Skills 2012 where the target of 50 people to be trained in disability awareness is nowhere near enough. Targets in the hundreds should be identified for the number of coaches gaining the coaching accreditation for work with disabled people. This is a • • • • • • • • • single module, and could easily be added to the programme for the many thousands of people each year who undertake formal coaching accreditation. We feel that in south London we are well placed with a number of natural resources that can be utilised for sports and physical activity and would welcome the opportunity to develop a link to resources for inner London. However, we are also concerned that indoor facilities are lacking in South London – including Olympic standard swimming pools, but also, for example, space for successful elite standard gymnastics clubs. Those that we have need to be brought up to standard in many cases. Of course, this argument will surely be made by many parts of London, but the point is that we should take this opportunity to strategically plan where we need to invest urgently in new facilities. We should fight to keep the de-mountable facilities in London after the Olympics. We are concerned the that sub regional Sports Partnerships in London are under resourced in comparison to their County counterparts and would welcome this being addressed within this delivery plan. We feel that the sub regions would be best placed to deliver an active work place programme and the summer of sport programme and this should be identified within the plan. Greater emphasis should be placed on strengthening the public private and voluntary sector working together, influencing big clubs like LTA to get involved at a local level. Fit for 2012 - 5 physical activity coordinators in London were supported by a health match funding which has been lost. We think this would be a real benefit for our area and we are looking for ways we can find the match. Engaging young people is a goal we all share, and we suggest there should be more emphasis on engaging young people in the plans. It is difficult to engage young people, but we see a parallel with the successful campaign on school dinners by Jamie Oliver – a high profile no-nonsense campaign led by a straight talking media friendly person might really engage people (parents in particular). At South London level we are considering establishing high profile Olympic Champions for each borough. Coaches are essential but it is not clear how these will dovetail into existing provision, how they will access facilities and who will direct and control them? It is important that the coaches are across a wide spectrum of sport and not merely football. They could then join sports coaches who work in school clusters and club clusters to deliver a wide variety of sport which is currently lacking. Recognition of the Local Authorities importance in delivering sport and physical exercise. Delivery Plan 4.7 - Sports Legacy of Venues in London We feel that this delivery plan lacks an emphasis on market making in order to utilise the facilities that will be available. A programme of recruiting new members, training coaches, development of complimentary facilities and a media plan for the promotion for each sporting discipline is needed to ensure we will have a market for these facilities after 2012. Detailed comments are: • • • • • We feel that the above points regarding investment in elite facilities of sub-regional and regional importance should also be recognised within this plan. Greater emphasis should be placed on investing in young people to become the user market of tomorrow for these venues. We would like to have a strong commitment from the Mayor, as part of the Legacy delivery plan, to develop a new National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace. Local Authorities should be permanently represented on the Olympic Park Legacy Group by the ALG rather than the ALG merely being consulted. Currently all London and some other local authorities contribute an annual levy to support the LVRP. Londoners contribute through taxation to the Olympics, through the Londoners levy to the Olympics and through the LVRP to the Olympics. One legacy for London will be the LVRP business centre employing 11,000 people and some 50,000 homes and further employment outside the Olympic Village area. This massive regeneration programme will be sufficient to sustain the LVRP into the future. The levies paid by boroughs to the LVRP - especially those not adjacent to the Park, should be ended in 2013 when the area becomes self sustainable.