ITEM NO.
REPORT OF THE STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND PLANNING
TO THE LEAD MEMBER FOR PLANNING ON 27 NOVEMBER 2006
AND FOR INFORMATION
TO THE LEAD MEMBERS FOR CULTURE & SPORT AND ENVIRONMENT
ON 13th November 2006
TITLE:
SALFORD PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT 2007
RECOMMENDATIONS:
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That the Lead Members for Planning, Culture & Sport and Environment support the
Project Brief for an updated playing pitch assessment and strategy.
That the Lead Member for Planning agrees to invite external tenders for this work
and to release appropriate funding from the Local Development Framework (LDF)
Budget.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This report seeks approval for the tendering of a new Playing Pitch Assessment and
Strategy for Salford. The proposed Project Brief is attached.
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
(Available for public inspection)
 Playing Pitch Assessment 2001
 City wide National Playing Fields Association Assessment 2001
 Sports Pitch Site Audit 2005
 Sports Pitch Team Audit 2006
 Definitive list of sites for inclusion
 List of current users and bookings for the current season
 List of relevant Salford City Council contacts
 Schedule of current developments and proposals
ASSESSMENT OF RISK: Low.
SOURCE OF FUNDING: The cost of undertaking the project is being met through the Housing
and Planning Directorate’s LDF budget.
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COMMENTS OF THE STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER AND SUPPORT SERVICES
(or his representative):
1. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
No significant legal implications
Provided by: Richard Lester
2. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Provision has been made within the LDF budget to
accommodate the costs of undertaking the project and will be monitored within the overall
budgetary control reports.
Provided by: Nigel Dickens
PROPERTY (if applicable):
Potential implications of better land management
HUMAN RESOURCES (if applicable):
No implications
CONTACT OFFICER:
Steve Davey 0161 793 3762
Nick Lowther 0161 793 3798
WARD(S) TO WHICH REPORT RELATE(S):
Citywide
KEY COUNCIL POLICIES:
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Pledge 1: Improving health in Salford
Pledge 3: Encouraging learning, leisure and creativity in Salford
Pledge 4: Investing in young people in Salford
Pledge 7: Enhancing life in Salford
Unitary Development Plan Recreation Policies (R1 Protection of Recreation Land and
Facilities; R2 Provision of Recreation Land and Facilities; and H8 Open Space
Provision Associated with New Housing Development)
Greenspace Strategy Supplementary Planning Document (supplements recreation
policies in the UDP)
DETAILS
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Background
A Playing Pitch Assessment for the city was last produced in 2000/01. This
established the local playing pitch standard (0.73ha / 1000 population), which has
been adopted in the UDP and Salford Greenspace Strategy SPD. Sport England
recommends a review of Playing Pitch Assessments (PPA) every 2 years and
reiterated this in representations made during the public consultation on the
Greenspace Strategy SPD. The city council acknowledged that the PPA was out of
date and that a review would be commissioned as soon as practicable. The costs
associated with the project will be covered by the Spatial Planning LDF budget,
which has already made provision for the work.
A new PPA is required to determine the demand for sports pitches, sports pitch
quality and capacity. The playing pitch assessment will review existing local sports
pitch standards and make amendments where necessary, which is especially
important given that the population of Salford is predicted to stabilise and begin to
increase over the next 5 to 10 years, which could increase demand on sports pitch
provision.
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Purpose of the Playing Pitch Assessment
The playing pitch assessment will play an important role, which will help to promote
the enjoyment of sport for a wide range of Salford residents. In particular it will: 1)
identify deficiencies in the amount and quality of pitches, 2) increase the availability
and use of pitches in particular areas and 3) identify mechanisms for delivering
improvements. More specifically the playing pitch assessment is an important tool:
3.
- To provide better information to residents and other users
- To satisfy requirements of PPG17: Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation
- To satisfy Sport England as a statutory consultee
- To support recreation policies in the adopted UDP and the Greenspace Strategy
SPD by providing evidence to protect pitches from development or loss
- To understand the demands from teams for outdoor playing pitches and identify
areas where community use of school pitches is most needed
- To assess the quality of existing sports pitches
- To review and establish new local standards
- To establish a long-term investment strategy and implement a programme of
improvement
- To provide justification for the need for developer contributions from new housing
- To guide sports pitch provision and improvements through Regeneration
- To provide evidence of need for capital grants for sports pitch improvement e.g. the
Football Foundation, Heritage Lottery Fund, Sport England Lottery Fund and the New
Opportunities Fund
Key Stages to be Undertaken
The keys stages of the project are:
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Review and update of sports pitch audits
Review of sports team audits
Consultation with:
- Clubs
- Leagues
- County/regional governing bodies
- LA officers (planning, environment and community leisure)
- Salford Sports Council
- Adjoining local authorities (to explore cross-boundary issues)
- Sport England regional office
- Other providers of sports pitches
Site visits with quality assessments on all sites
Application of the Sport England playing pitch methodology (assessment of demand)
Development of policy options
Clear recommendations for playing pitch provision, protection and enhancement.
Development of local standards for sports pitches, tennis courts and bowling greens.
Recommend a prioritised programme of action for the next five years that is realistic,
cost effective and achievable.
Tender Process
As the estimated value does not exceed £30,000, the council’s contractual standing
orders require invitation for a written quotation from a minimum of 3 persons / firms
that are suitably qualified. Spatial Planning, with the assistance of Sport England,
have identified four consultant firms that it is recommended should be invited to
submit a quotation. These are:
5.
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Knight, Kavanagh & Page, Bury
PMP, Northwich, Cheshire
Strategic Leisure, Carrington, Manchester
Urban Vision, Salford
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Undertaking the PPA
The PPA will require management and input from several directorates:
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The outline timetable for the Playing Pitch Assessment and Strategy (PPAS) is:
Lead Member Approval to Tender
November 2006
Invitations to Tender
November 2006
Lead Member Approval to Select Tender
January 2007
Appoint Consultant
January 2007
Regular Progress Meetings
Draft PPAS Deadline
June 2007
Final PPAS Deadline
July 2007
Consultant Presentations to Directors Team and Lead Members August 2007
Lead Member
August 2007
Cabinet Briefing
September 2007
Council for Adoption
October 2007
Housing & Planning (Spatial Planning) – overall management of the commission,
supported by a cross directorate internal working group
Culture & Leisure - Client role in relation to city council interests in Strategic Sport
Pitch Improvement and will take the lead in implementing the playing pitch strategy
Environment – Pitch Quality and Bookings. Implementation of new and improved
facilities and management of the majority of recreation sites including playing pitches,
bowling greens and tennis courts identified in the ‘Parks for People Strategy’
Salford Community Leisure Limited – Sports Team Audit and PPA experience
Education - Dual Use of Education playing pitches including Building Schools for the
Future sites
Funding sources are available to assist in the implementation of the strategy
including the grants referred to above and financial contributions secured from new
residential developments.
Conclusions
The PPA is considered an important document that will identify the playing pitch
resource required to meet the needs of the city in the future. It will have important
implications for the future planning / regeneration of the city, encouragement of
sporting endeavour and the creation of a range of activities for people of all ages.
Sports pitches are part of the underpinning of a sustainable community. The PPA will
provide robust evidence on which to develop future plans and strategies, and base
investment decisions. Tenders will be reported back in January 2007 with a
recommendation.
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