4.1
Details of the specific facility proposals by site are provided in Appendix 4D and illustrated on the plans provided at Appendices 4E and 4F. They have been developed from a detailed analysis in which the following factors have been taken into consideration:
- Policy Statement L
- Demographics
- Major roads and railway lines which act as boundaries to residential areas
- Proximity of urban countryside/beach which provide opportunities for informal and adventure play.
- The Community Plan, Cultural Strategy and Best Value Service Review.
- The financial resources available.
4.2 Overall Provision
|
Existing provision:
|
73 play areas |
|
Proposed provision: |
79 play areas plus 6 dedicated 9+ zones |
|
PLAY STRATEGY PROPOSALS |
|
|
Retained Existing Sites |
New Sites |
Total |
|
NEAP |
23 |
0 |
23 |
|
LEAP |
30 |
11 |
41 |
|
LAP |
12 |
3 |
15 |
|
9+ Zones |
1 |
5 |
6 |
|
TOTALS |
66 |
19 |
85 |
|
NOTE: |
|
|
|
- These figures include the 4 Housing-controlled sites and 1 registered charity site.
- Refurbishment of existing sites will be necessary to achieve the NPFA play provision recommendations.
4.3 Additional Play Opportunities
The expansion of opportunities in supervised play outside the school holiday period will be examined. Consultation will also be undertaken with schools to encourage use of green spaces local to schools as an educational resource and to explore the potential to make the outdoor facilities of schools available for wider community use.
5. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE STRATEGY
5.1 Capital Costs for Proposals
The capital costs per site in supporting LAPs, LEAPs and NEAPs, is considerably less than the current Category 1, 2 & 3 provision and therefore enables a larger number of play areas to be sustained for the future .
|
CAPITAL COSTS |
|
Existing Category |
Proposed Category |
|
|
£ |
|
£ |
|
1. |
Average cost |
120,000 |
NEAP |
Average cost |
75,000 |
|
2. |
Average cost |
80,000 |
LEAP |
Average cost |
30,000 |
|
3. |
Average cost |
40,000 |
LAP |
Average cost |
3,000 |
|
|
|
|
Proposed youth shelter |
Average cost |
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
Skate Zone - 14 x 6 m |
Average cost |
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
Ball court -purpose built |
Average cost |
40,000 |
|
ESTIMATED COSTS OF PLAY REFURBISHMENT BY TYPE |
|
|
|
£ |
|
11 no. |
LEAPs |
c. 30,000 |
330,000 |
|
3 no. |
LAPs |
c. 3,000 |
9,000 |
|
7 no. |
Youth Shelters |
c. 5,000 |
35,000 |
|
7 no. |
Skate Zones |
c. 5,000 |
35,000 |
|
7 no. |
Purpose-built Ball Courts |
c. 40,000 |
280,000 |
|
8 no. |
Play Areas to have equipment removed |
|
7,000 |
|
8 no. |
Upgrade existing facility to provide NEAP |
|
300,000 |
|
21 no. |
Upgrade existing facility to provide LEAP |
|
372,000 |
|
9 no. |
Redesign existing facility to provide LAP |
|
27,000 |
|
TOTAL |
|
|
£1,395,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.2 Sources of Funding for Programme
5.2.1 Sources :
|
Playground Improvements Fund |
£85,000 per annum x 7 years
(current funding) |
£595,000 |
|
Section 106 Monies for Children’s Play Provision |
Accumulated balance
January 2000 to September 2002 |
£390,000 |
|
|
Future Contributions (see para. 5.2.3)
2003/04; 2004/05 c. £100,000/year
2005/06 onwards |
£200,000
£? |
|
TOTAL |
Minimum |
£1,395,000 |
NB: This item excludes those playgrounds listed for external funding which can only be undertaken when funding has been received.
5.2.2
The refurbishment of the play areas to be sourced by improvement funds is potentially achievable over a 8-year period, assuming funding is retained at current levels. This equates to an average of 8 sites per year. 15 of the most recently refurbished sites should not require additional funding during this period other than for minor items such as signage.
5.2.3
Future funding for play areas sourced from Section 106 monies is very difficult to predict because of numerous external factors including:
- Changing levels of house building
- Government legislation may alter
- Availability of infill sites will diminish
- A recession
Consequently it is only feasible to look 2 years ahead and approximate the funding based on current levels. Future contributions of £100,000 per year are anticipated for 2003/4 and 2004/5, which will increase the total Section 106 funding source for children’s playgrounds from the current figure of £390,000 to £590,000. The playgrounds identified in the strategy proposals are fully fundable from this source.
5.3 Maintenance
The repair and maintenance budget for the 68 play areas within the control of the Leisure & Tourism Directorate currently runs at £59,000 per annum. Additionally there is a budget for playground inspections of £46,000, which allows for a visual inspection of each site 3 times per week, the completion of a written report and minor repairs. As play areas are re-designated as LAPs they can be omitted from the play area inspections if there is no traditional play equipment present.
At present the 68 sites are being inspected 3 times a week. Within this Strategy this could reduce to 63 sites once a week (European Guideline recommendations) with cost savings in the region of £30,000, which will be reinvested in the maintenance of the newly dedicated sites
