AGENDA ITEM NO. 10
1.
REPORT TO:
Executive Board
REPORT NO:
CEnO/23/09
DATE:
13 October 2009
LEAD MEMBER:
Councillor David A Bithell
(Environment and Transport)
LEAD OFFICER:
Chief Environment Officer
CONTACT OFFICER:
Martin Howorth (Tel: 729630)
SUBJECT:
Wrexham Outdoor Fixed Play
Equipment Strategy
WARD:
All
PURPOSE OF THE REPORT
To update Members on the action taken on the Wrexham Outdoor
Fixed Play Equipment Strategy.
2.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2.1
A programme of capital improvements to Wrexham County Borough
Council play areas was agreed by the Executive Board starting in
2009/10. A sum of £50,000, per year will be available for 3 years. This
would rise to £139,000 in 2012/13. The current annual revenue budget
for play area equipment is £35,000 per year.
2.2
A programme of improvements to replace specific equipment in play
areas in Minera, Holt, Pentre Maelor, Rhosddu, Coedpoeth and
Wrexham Town Centre has begun. The work has been identified
through a combination of an external annual risk assessment process
and play area condition information.
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RECOMMENDATIONS
3.1
That Members endorse the actions taken on implementing the
Wrexham Outdoor Fixed Play Equipment Strategy.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
To enable the strategic development and improvement of the outdoor fixed
play equipment areas in Wrexham County Borough.
John Bradbury
Chief Environment Officer
4.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
4.1
The proposed Wrexham Outdoor Fixed Play Equipment Strategy 2009,
(Report CEnO/15/09), was approved by the Executive Board on
Tuesday 2 June 2009. A request at this meeting was made, that a
report be submitted for consideration by the Board at its meeting on 13
October 2009 to update Members on the capital funding made
available for this purpose and the actions taken to deliver the Strategy.
4.2
A sum of £50,000 was allocated from the 2009/10 Wrexham County
Borough Council capital programme, to spend on delivering the
Wrexham Outdoor Fixed Play Equipment Strategy. The money has
been allocated to help in delivering the Action Point 12.3 - continue to
target poor quality play areas and upgrade to average condition.
4.3
A programme of improvements to replace specific equipment in play
areas in Minera, Holt, Pentre Maelor, Rhosddu, Coedpoeth and
Wrexham Town Centre has begun. The work has been identified
through a combination of an external annual risk assessment process
and play area condition information.
4.4
With the resources available, a targeted approach has had to be
adopted for improvement work, with the poorest quality play areas
receiving priority (please see Appendix 1 for details of 2009/10 capital
expenditure). The Wrexham Outdoor Fixed Play Equipment Strategy
2009, indicated to bring the play area network up to the six acre
standard would cost at least one and a half million pounds (the six acre
standard provides recommendations on the distribution of equipped
play areas and suggests no child should be further than 400m walk
from a local area for play and 1,000m walk (15 minutes) from a
neighbourhood equipped area of play).
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5.
CONSULTATION
5.1
Extensive consultation was undertaken during the development of the
Wrexham Outdoor Fixed Play Equipment Strategy.
6.
SCRUTINY COMMITTEE COMMENTS
6.1
The Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee agreed, the
Executive Board be recommended to approve the Wrexham Outdoor
Fixed Play Equipment Strategy, at its meeting on 1 April 2009.
7.0
IMPLICATIONS
7.1
Policy Framework - The need for Wrexham to develop its own play
strategy is identified in “Shared Planning for Better Outcomes” the
Welsh Assembly Governments planning guidance and regulations for
Local Authorities and their partners on Children and Young People’s
Plans, under Section 26 of the Children Act 2004. More specifically
within Wrexham’s Children and Young People’s Plan (2008-2011), the
key task “complete and support the implementation of our new Play
Strategy, to increase the range, quality and inclusivity of play
opportunities which all children, young people and their families have
access to within their own communities”.
7.2
Budget - £50,000 has been allocated from the 2009/10 WCBC Capital
Programme to spend on the delivery of the Wrexham Outdoor Fixed
Play Equipment Strategy.
7.3
Legal – The capital programme will help to minimise the public liability
of play areas, through providing new play equipment.
7.4
Staffing -There are no staffing implications in the delivery of this
strategy.
7.5
Equalities/Diversity - A joint Equality Impact Assessment has been
carried out on the Play Strategy and the Wrexham Outdoor Fixed Play
Equipment Strategy in conjunction with the Play Development
Team from the Children and Young People’s Section.
BACKGROUND PAPERS
None
LOCATION
WEBSITE INFO.
Appendix 1
Wrexham Outdoor Fixed Equipment Play Area Strategy
Capital Spend 2009/10
Play Area
Link to
Outdoor
Fixed Play
Strategy
Yes. Action
Point 12.3.1
and high
risk
assessment
rating.
Item of equipment
Reason for
improvement
Cost
Estimate
1. Maesgwyn
Play Area, Offa
One climbing unit, 1
steel swing - one
basket, spinning
dish, 1 springy, plus
natural boulder.
Play area will
no longer be
usable, due to
number of
items removed
for safety
reasons,
unless urgent
work
undertaken.
This will start
process.
2. Minera
Recreation
Ground
Dish rotator to
replace old
equipment.
Improve quality
of play area on
Owen Glyndwr
dedicated site.
Yes. Action
Point 12.3.2
£3,100
3. Rhosymedre
Play Area
Swings from former
play area (junior)
site, now
decommissioned to
be re-utilised in
existing play area
close to site. Cost
to move equipment
and create new
safety surface.
Improve quality
of existing play
area through
re-utilising
existing
equipment
from adjacent
site.
Yes. Action
Point 12.3.5
£2,900
4. Church Green,
Holt
Spinning dish and
Challenge Climber
multi unit installed
into grass matt.
High risk in
safety
inspection.
Yes. Action
Point 12.3.1
£10,737
5. Court Road,
Offa
Remove 2 Climbing
frames and replace
with one new multi
unit. New swing
frame.
High risk in
safety
inspection.
Yes. Action
Point 12.3.1
Cost total £20,000, to
be met by
Offa CC.
Our
contribution
£1,900.
Final
Costing
£21,879
Offa CC
contribution
£11,000,
WCBC
contribution
£11,000
Still under
discussion
with Offa, as
part of
bigger
scheme.
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6. The Oval
Maes Brenin
Replace swings
Medium risk
Yes. Action
Point 12.3.1
£1,690
7. Garden Road,
Rhosddu
New swings into
grass matt.
High risk in
safety
inspection.
Yes. Action
Point 12.3.1
£3,990
8. Pen-y-gelli
Octagonal climber
and spring rider into
grass matt surface.
High risk in
safety
inspection.
Yes. Action
Point 12.3.1
£7,945
9. Bwlchgwyn
Play Area
Third party
contribution
Community led
initiative in
partnership
with
Community
Council for St
George's play
area,
Bwlchgwyn.
Yes. Action
Point 12.3.1
Third party
contribution
of £2,700
levers in up
to £25,000
WREN
grant and
£5,000
Community
Council
contribution.
10. Solvay
Banks
Third party
contribution
Project in
partnership
with
Community
Council to
create new
play area on
better site.
Existing play
area in poor
condition.
Yes. Action
Point 12.3.1
11. Bala Road
Third party
contribution
Project in
partnership
with
Community
Council to
create new
play area on
better site.
Existing play
area in poor
condition.
Yes. Action
Point 12.3.1
WREN landfill
Bids 2009
Waiting on
WREN
decision.
Likely bid
spring 2010.
No
contribution
this year.
Third party
contribution
of £2,700
levers in up
to £25,000
WREN
grant and
£5,000
Community
Council
contribution.
In progress.
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12. General
removal of old
play equipment
/reseeding and
reinstatement
costs, as part of
refurbishment
works.
Total estimate of spend on Capital Play Area Budget - £49,601
£1,000