EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE - 25 JUNE 2012
LEISURE AND COMMUNITY SAFETY POLICY AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
30 MAY 2012
PART I - DELEGATED
5c.
2012/14 PLAY AREA CAPITAL PROGRAMME AND S106 UPDATE
(DCES)
1.
Summary
1.1
The purpose of this report is to update members on the 2011/12, 2012/13 and
2013/14 play area capital programme including S106 funded schemes.
2.
Details
2011/12 Capital Programme
2.1
Carpenders Park Skate Park was completed in February 2012 and has been
used by local young people extensively since the opening.
2.2
Reports from the local police officers have indicated that the young people are
looking after the park, taking brooms to site to keep it clean and supporting less
experienced skaters.
2.3
The outdoor gym at Southway has now been installed and includes a fitness
bike, hand bike, seated rower, leg press, ski machine and chest press.
2.4
The play area installations at Southway, Scotsbridge and Langleybury are
progressing and officers will be able to provide a further update at committee.
Contractors have approached the project differently than in recent years and
have completed the landscaping first. This allows time for the turf to take to the
new mounds and for the planting to become established before officially
opening the new play area to the public.
2012/13 and 2013/14 Capital Programme
King George V Play Area, Mill End and Baldwins Lane Play Area, Croxley
Green
2.5
Consultation has commenced for King George V play area, Mill End and
Baldwins Lane play area, Croxley Green. Officers have visited local schools,
children’s centres, community groups, youth groups and held public drop-in
sessions.
2.6
The consultation process provides the local community with the opportunity to
identify the types of equipment they would like to see in the refurbished play
areas and also to suggest any new ideas or raise any concerns.
2.7
It is proposed that these projects will be procured in a two-phased approach,
with the play area in Mill End to be refurbished in 2012/13 and Baldwins Lane to
be refurbished in 2013/14 (subject to confirmation of funding).
2.8
Croxley Green Parish Council has indicated that they would be providing
additional funding for the play area at Baldwins Lane – subject to final
confirmation from the Parish Council.
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Ashridge Play Area
2.9
Officers have visited two proposed locations for a play space within the
Ashridge Ward of South Oxhey. These include the Wenta site, opposite
Prestwick Road Meadow and an area of land at Furze Close (see Appendix 1
for a location map).
2.10
The Wenta site would require extensive work and a play space would not be
completed within the 2012/13 financial year. The land at Furze Close is within
close proximity of housing and the land is not as big as the Wenta site, however
a small unit could be positioned there. Consultation would need to be carried
out with local residents to establish whether or not this would be feasible. If
residents prefer the Wenta site then it is recommended that the Ashridge
project is moved into 2013/14 and the Baldwins Lane scheme brought forward
into 2012/13.
Chorleywood Play Space
2.11
Chorleywood Parish Council established a task and finish group to look at
potential locations for a new play space in the Chorleywood area. The Advisory
Committee assessed all areas, owned by both Three Rivers District Council and
Chorleywood Parish Council. This includes The Swillet play area, Chorleywood
House Estate and Chorleywood Common.
2.12
The Advisory Committee assessed the pros and cons of all of the sites (please
see Appendix 2 for the report summary). This included input from local
community safety officers, members of the committee themselves and existing
consultation with the local community.
2.13
Based on the report and the PPG17 Strategic gap analysis (Chorleywood East),
officers are currently pursuing the Common as a location for the play space and
will be liaising with the Parish Council and other key partners as part of the
process. Formal consultation will also be carried out with the local community in
terms of proposals and locations, including officer presence at the Chorleywood
Village Day in July.
2.14
As part of the consultation process, Timberplay will be producing design
concepts based on the budget – officers hope to be able to provide copies of
these at committee. These will be primarily based on wooden climbing
structures, with bark safety surfacing and no fencing.
2.15
The common is subject to strict planning regulations and as such will need to
have permission from the Planning Inspectorate as well as the Council, with
approximate timescales of 6 – 8 months to process the application. It is
therefore envisaged that this project will not be completed within the 12 month
period, usually allotted to a play space project.
Next Stages
2.16
Officers are also proposing that a repeat procurement process from the
2009/10, 2010/11 and 2011/12 be used for the 2012/13 capital programme as
detailed in the 2 March 2010 and 7 June 2011 Leisure and Community Safety
Policy and Scrutiny Committee Report. This will still mean appointing the
contractor who offers best value for money.
2.17
Members and partners will be kept up-to-date on the consultation and
procurement process and invited to see initial designs. In order to speed up the
consultation process, the second phase of consultation will be removed. This
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means that only the final design will be displayed within the local community,
rather than the community selecting their favourite design from 3 options.
Residents will also have the opportunity to feedback any final comments.
S106 Update
2.18
Officers are currently involved in a number of S106 funded play area
developments across the district. This includes the completion of Gade View
Gardens, in Abbots Langley and ongoing liaison over the proposed new
housing development and play space provision at the back of Queens Drive.
2.19
Possible options for the Franklins S106 funding, to be located at Longcroft play
area, have been identified and consultation will be carried out with young people
to identify their preferred option/s. Officers have also been liaising with Thrive
Homes with regards to relocating Otley Way play area in South Oxhey to
another open space off Moortown Road.
3.
Options/Reasons for Recommendation
3.1
To update Members on the 2011/12, 2012/13 and 2013/14 play area capital
programme including S106 funded schemes.
4.
Policy/Budget Reference and Implications
4.1
The recommendations in this report are within the Council’s agreed policy. The
relevant policies are entitled:
Community Strategy 2006-2012:
Priority 1: Reducing anti-social behaviour, crime and fear of crime
Priority 2: Reducing inequalities (including health, poverty, access to services
and employment)
Priority 3: Improving the environment
Priority 4: Improving children’s and young people’s access to education, skills
and training
TRDC Strategic Plan 2012 – 2015
1.1.1 Reduce anti-social behaviour and crime
1.3 We will reduce health inequalities, promote healthy lifestyles, support
learning and community organisations
2.1.1 Maintain the number of accredited open spaces, parks and woodland
areas:
- Satisfaction with quality/provision of parks and open spaces
4.1.2 We will strive to improve and monitor customer satisfaction
4.1.3 We will inform and update customers about the Council’s work and
services.
Leisure and Community Services Service Plan 2012 – 2015
Community Leisure Programmes: Section 106 arrangements and play area
development and implementation
Three Rivers District Play Strategy
3.2 Fixed play areas development – implement the third phase of upgrading and
refurbishing the Council owned play areas
4.2
At the end of 2012/13 and 2013/14 it is anticipated that two new play areas and
two refurbished play areas will have been provided for the local communities of
Mill End, Croxley Green, South Oxhey and Chorleywood.
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4.3
The recommendations in this report are within the Council’s agreed budgets.
5.
Financial Implications
5.1
The financial breakdown details the agreed capital and revenue budgets for
2012/13 and the proposed capital and revenue budgets for subsequent years
until 2014/15. The bids for capital budgets for these schemes are included in
the Leisure Services Plan 2012/15 and subsequent 2013/16 plan, which will be
presented to members as part of the budget setting process.
Capital
2012/13
£
2013/14
£
2014/15
£
Future Years
£
Expenditure
95,000
95,000
Mill End play area
Ashridge new play
area
Chorleywood new
play area
95,000
Baldwins Lane play
area
95,000
General Improving
Future Schemes
Net Commitment
5.2
285,000
100,000
200,000
200,000
195,000
200,000
200,000
The following table shows the agreed revenue budget provision that currently
exists against each Play Area in the medium term financial plan.
Revenue
2012/13
£
2013/14
£
2014/15
£
Expenditure
Mill End play area
Ashridge new play area
Chorleywood new play area
0
0
0
1,500
1,500
1,500
1,500
1,500
1,500
Baldwins Lane play area
0
0
1,500
General Improving Future
Schemes
0
0
1,500
Net Commitment
0
4,500
7,500
6.
Legal Implications
6.1
All proposed works will be tendered within the Council’s constitution and
procurement procedures.
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7.
Equalities Implications
7.1
Relevance Test
Has a relevance test been completed for Equality Impact?
Yes
(see Appendix 3)
Did the relevance test conclude a full impact assessment
was required?
No
8.
Staffing Implications
8.1
The play area capital programme will require the time of the Active
Communities Officer, Leisure Development Manager and a Building Surveyor to
oversee project management, consultation and installation of the new facilities.
9.
Environmental Implications
9.1
The installation of all new play areas in Mill End, Croxley Green, Chorleywood
and South Oxhey will increase the quality of provision of community facilities in
the public open spaces.
9.2
The new play space will aim to make use of natural materials as well as
recycled materials. The designs will be sustainable and will include sustainable
features where possible.
10.
Community Safety Implications
10.1
The local Police Community Safety Officers, Crime Prevention Liaison Officer
and the Grounds Maintenance team will be consulted on the final design
options.
11.
Customer Services Centre Implications, Communications and Website
Implications
11.1
None specific.
13.
Risk Management and Health & Safety Implications
13.1
The Council has agreed its risk management strategy which can be found on
the website at http://www.threerivers.gov.uk. In addition, the risks of the
proposals in the report have also been assessed against the Council’s duties
under Health and Safety legislation relating to employees, visitors and persons
affected by our operations. The risk management implications of this report are
detailed below.
13.2
The subject of this report is covered by the Leisure and Community Service
Plan and Environmental Protection Service Plan. Any risks resulting from this
report will be included in the risk register and, if necessary, managed within
these plans.
13.3
The following table gives the risks if the recommendation(s) are agreed,
together with a scored assessment of their impact and likelihood:
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Description of Risk
Accidents and injuries to children and young people
and adults
Incidents of vandalism
Incidents of graffiti
Planning Inspectorate reject planning application for
the play space at Chorleywood Common
Partners are not in agreement with play provision on
Chorleywood Common
1
2
3
4
5
13.4
7
8
9
10
C
D
C
III
C
Impact
III
Likelihood
C
III
E
III
III
C
C
III
C
Of the risks above the following are already included in service plans:
No
1, 4, 5
No
2, 3
Service Plan
Leisure and Community
Services
Environmental Protection
The above risks are plotted on the matrix below depending on the scored
assessments of impact and likelihood, detailed definitions of which are included
in the risk management strategy. The Council has determined its aversion to
risk and is prepared to tolerate risks where the combination of impact and
likelihood are plotted in the shaded area of the matrix. The remaining risks
require a treatment plan.
Likelihood
A
B
C
2
D
E
F
4, 5,
6, 8,
9, 10
3
1, 7
I
13.7
II
II
III
Description of Risk
Poor customer satisfaction with the quality of a number
of the district owned and managed children’s play
areas
Loss of S106 funding as a number of the agreements
are time limited. In general these range from between
5 – 10 years. The Council is legally bound to return
the monies to developers if scheme are not completed
by the agreed dates.
May not receive value for money for the end product
Planning Inspectorate reject planning application for
the play space at Chorleywood Common
Partners are not in agreement with play provision on
Chorleywood Common
Description of Risk
13.6
Likelihood
E
The following table gives the risks that would exist if the recommendation is
rejected, together with a scored assessment of their impact and likelihood:
6
13.5
Impact
III
II
III
Impact
IV
V
Impact
Likelihood
V = Catastrophic
A = >98%
IV = Critical
B = 75% - 97%
III = Significant
C = 50% - 74%
II = Marginal
D = 25% - 49%
I = Negligible
E = 3% - 24%
F = <2%
In the officers’ opinion none of the new risks above, were they to come about,
would seriously prejudice the achievement of the Strategic Plan and are
therefore operational risks. The effectiveness of treatment plans are reviewed
by the Audit Committee annually.
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14.
Recommendation
The Leisure and Community Safety Policy and Scrutiny Committee recommend
to the Executive Committee:
14.1
That the Committee notes the report.
14.2
That Officers seek planning permission for the new play areas at the
appropriate time.
14.3
That Delegated Authority is given to the Director of Community and
Environmental Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and
Community, to award the contract to the contractor that offers best value for
money, as outlined in point 2.16 of the report.
14.4
That consultation is carried out with local residents in South Oxhey in relation to
the Wenta site and the site at Furze Close.
.
14.5
If residents prefer the Wenta site then the Ashridge project is moved into
2013/14 and the Baldwins Lane scheme brought forward into 2012/13.
Report prepared by: Charlotte Gomes, Active Communities Officer
Data Quality
Data sources:
PPG17 Strategic Gap Analysis
Chorleywood Parish Council Advisory Committee Report
Data checked by:
Renato Messere, Head of Development Plans
Chris Hope, Head of Leisure Services
Data rating:
1
Poor
2
Sufficient
3
High

Background Papers
Chorleywood Parish Council Play Space Advisory Committee - report
APPENDICES
Appendix 1 - Furze Avenue play area location map
Appendix 2 – Play area sites in Chorleywood – report summary
Appendix 3 - Relevance test.
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