Agenda Item No: 8 Report To: Cabinet Date of Meeting: 11 May 2017
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Agenda Item No: 8 Report To: Cabinet Date of Meeting: 11th May 2017 Report Title: Playing Pitch and Sports Facilities Strategies (2017 – 2030) Report Author & Len Mayatt. Cultural Projects Manager Job Title: Portfolio Holder Cllr. Mike Bennett Portfolio Holder for: Culture, Leisure, Environment and Heritage Summary: Both of these strategies have been produced by Max Associates, to assess current and future demand for indoor and outdoor sports facilities. They both support the emerging Local Plan and will address the Boroughs qualitative and quantative needs. This report seeks endorsement of the draft strategies and authority to adopt them following public consultation. Key Decision: NO Significantly Borough wide Affected Wards: Recommendations: The Cabinet is recommended to:- I. Approve the current draft Playing Pitch and Indoor Built Sports Facilities Strategies and authorise their consultation via the Council’s consultation portal. II. Delegate authority to the Head of Culture in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Culture, Leisure, Environment & Heritage to incorporate any changes and complete the final versions of both strategies. III. Receive the final versions at its meeting in September for adoption. Policy Overview: Both documents fulfil requirements of Sport England and the emerging Local Plan 2030. Financial A range of partners will contribute to the delivery of both Implications: strategies. It is proposed the Council will work with partners to secure external funding for key projects throughout the life of the strategies and may bid for funding for individual projects at the appropriate time. Legal Implications None identified at this time. Equalities Impact The Equality Impact Assessment is attached. Assessment Other Material Implications: Exempt from NO Publication: Background Papers: Contact: [email protected] - Tel: (01233) 330490 [email protected] – Tel: (01233) 330475 Agenda Item No. 8 Report Title: Playing Pitch and Indoor Built Sports Facilities Strategies. Introduction and Background 1. Both of the draft strategies under consideration follow the guidance produced by Sport England and are supported by National Governing Bodies for Sport. Their support and involvement ensures the documents are robust and follow approved guidelines to ensure accuracy and consistency. They have both been produced by Max Associates, external consultants. 2. The two strategies attached at Appendix I and Appendix II analyse the facilities under consideration in terms of quantity, quality and accessibility. They review facilities provided by the Council and other providers where there is current or potential community use. 3. The strategies identify an approach to be taken by the Council and its partners to ensure there are agreed priorities to meet current and projected demand. They both focus on the provision of sporting infrastructure, not the day to day programming or delivery of events. However, they will reflect on any relevant opportunities to maximise usage within facilities where appropriate. 4. The documents recognise the balance needed between setting priorities for action and the pressure on budgets in the public sector. It therefore identifies the need for a partnership approach with Sport England, National Governing Bodies of Sport, schools, local clubs, and private facility operators; to enable delivery of the action plans which accompany each strategy, as resources allow. 5. The findings are based on individual technical, qualitative and quantitative assessments which were used to summarise the baseline data. This included site visits, consultation with site owners, users and key stakeholders. 6. Both strategies will be used to inform relevant sections of the emerging Local Plan to ensure future demand for indoor and outdoor sports facilities is planned and addressed. Sport England is a statutory consultee on planning applications and requires local authorities to have up-to-date assessments and strategies with a recommendation that the evidence base is reviewed every three years. Proposal/Current Position 7. The Borough of Ashford is experiencing a significant period of growth, with substantial new residential development proposed during the life of these strategies and emerging Local Plan. Therefore, it is important the Council works with its partners to ensure there is a range of quality sporting facilities available for the Boroughs’ residents to enjoy and benefit from. 8. This importance is reflected in the Borough Council’s Corporate Priority 3, Active & Creative Ashford: Healthy choices through physical, cultural and leisure engagement. 9. The overall proposals focus on ensuring that any current or projected shortfalls in facility provision are addressed during the life of both strategies which align with the emerging local plan i.e. until 2030. 10. Both draft strategy documents contain Action Plans which identify key partners for delivery. The Playing Pitch Action Plan contains a range of measures for a Playing Pitch Steering Group to deliver. The Group will consist of key stakeholders and the Council that will work with the identified individual sites to ensure the quantity, quality and accessibility of outdoor facilities is met. 11. Both documents propose the development of a “hub approach” for the Borough. This will enable the Council and its partners to maximise any capital or revenue funding that becomes available; as well as ensuring residents have access to suitable facilities within an acceptable travel time (currently twenty minutes drive time for indoor built sports facilities). Further work is required to masterplan these hubs and ensure that any identified shortfall is best located here. Implications and Risk Assessment 12. The implications for the Council generally fall into two main areas, which are; financial and operational. This will mean that wherever possible the Council will seek to continue to support and improve on the provision of such facilities. Partners will need to work together to secure funding for new and existing projects from the most appropriate source and in line with the priorities identified in the Action Plans. 13. Operationally, the Council is a key partner, with a central role to play in facilitating elements of the work identified in the Action Plans. This will include supporting the Steering Group and acting as a central point of contact within the Borough on sports and leisure facility issues. This will require support from officers across a range of disciplines but mainly from the Culture and Planning teams. 14. Without each of these documents the Borough Council is at risk of challenge from Sport England (and others) on planning applications relating to indoor and outdoor sports facilities. Also, without these key strategic documents the Borough as a whole is at risk of missing opportunities for funding, development and not supporting the Council’s aims of encouraging sport and leisure. Equalities Impact Assessment 15. Members are referred to the attached Assessment. The key issues arising are that the strategies under consideration will not have a negative impact on people with protected characteristics. 16. Provision will need to be made to continue providing facilities for people with different abilities and characteristics. Consultation Planned or Undertaken 17. To date consultation on the development of both strategies has included Sport England, National Governing Bodies of Sport, Sports Clubs, Facility Providers, Users and Town & Parish Councils. 18. If the current draft strategies are approved by Cabinet, the next step will be to place them both on the consultation portal for the general public to comment upon. Options and Reason for Recommendation 19. As identified above under Risks, it is important the Council produces these documents in consultation with key stakeholders. In doing so, they need to follow the prescribed Sport England guidance and criteria. 20. The work by Max Associates has followed the Sport England guidance and has been approved by each of the appropriate National Governing Bodies as statutory consultees as part of their development. 21. Therefore, it is recommended both draft strategies are accepted and made available for general public consultation. Next Steps in Process 22. The Council’s consultation portal will be used to undertake public consultation. 23. Members are asked to delegate authority to the Head of Culture in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Culture, Leisure, Environment & Heritage to incorporate appropriate changes and complete the final versions of both strategies. 24. It is hoped that the final strategies can then be considered by the Cabinet at its September meeting for adoption. Conclusion 25. Both of these strategies form an integral part of the Council’s commitment to supporting sport and leisure opportunities for the Borough. They provide substantive evidence for the development of associated policies in the emerging Local Plan and provide a clear way forward to ensure the quantity and quality of provision meets current and future demand. approval Portfolio Holder’s Views 26. Cllr Bennetts comments as follows: "This evidence based audit of both council and private sports facilities in the borough is a keynote document in planning for the needs of our expansion in the emerging Local Plan". Contact and Email Len Mayatt. Cultural Projects Manager. [email protected] Ben Moyle Facility Development Manager. [email protected] DRAFT ASHFORD BOROUGH PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY