23 January 2015
Subject:
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Report Ref:
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Key Decision:
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SUMMARY
Golf Driving Range Fencing Replacement
Routine matter for decision
All
Yes
884/PF
Head of Resources
Simon Buckingham, Asset Manager – Operational Portfolio, Tel:
01256 845368, email: simon.buckingham@basingstoke.gov.uk
Appendix 1 – Site Plan
1 This Report
1.1 The purpose of this report is to seek approval for the release funding from the operational asset maintenance reserve to fund the cost of new protective fencing and replacement flood lighting for the driving range at the Golf Centre at Basingstoke Leisure Park.
2 Recommendation
2.1 It is recommended that £100,000 is released from the operational asset maintenance reserve in 2015/16 to fund the cost of new protective fencing and replacement flood lighting for the driving range at the Golf Centre at
Basingstoke Leisure Park.
PRIORITIES, IMPACTS AND RISKS
Contribution to Council Priorities
The Council Plan includes a priority to improve sporting opportunities by delivering plans for sport and recreation including support for local grass roots organisations.
The Golf Centre is an important facility which supports this priority.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Term Definition
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MAIN CONSIDERATIONS
3 The Proposal
3.1 The Golf Centre at Basingstoke Leisure Park provides a par 3, 9 hole pitch and putt course and driving range with ancillary putting and mini golf facilities. The driving range has 22 floodlit under-cover driving range bays. The plan at
Appendix 1 shows the driving range edged black.
3.2 The Golf Centre was built in the 1970s and is regarded as a good quality open access golf course for adults and children to be introduced to the game on an informal recreational basis. The Centre is held on a lease by the Basingstoke and Deane Community Leisure Trust and managed on the Trust’s behalf by
Serco Leisure, in conjunction with the Aquadrome and Tadley Swimming Pool.
The lease is due to expire in 2018.
3.3 The repairing obligations under the lease are shared between the Trust and the council. The council is responsible for the maintenance of the external areas
(which includes the external floodlighting) and the maintenance of the grounds.
The Trust is responsible for all internal maintenance.
3.4 The driving range was designed in the 1970’s and with the location of the existing bays giving an overall length of approximately 200m to the boundary fence. The northern boundary of the range adjoins the main railway line. The boundary of the range was originally protected by an approximately 4m high fence and a screen of mature Cyprus trees, which were approximately 12-15m in height. The trees provided the principle protection to prevent golf balls being driven over the boundary onto the railway line.
3.5 As a result of the storms and flooding in 2014, some of the trees were damaged and fell across the boundary fence. These were removed in consultation with
Network Rail. Following further surveys by the council’s tree officers and discussion with Network Rail it was agreed that the remaining trees should be removed and they were unstable and likely to fall.
3.6 The range has remained open but with restrictions in place to ensure that golf balls remain within the boundaries of the site.
4. Fencing and Lighting
4.1 Investigations have been completed into the options available to provide protection for the boundaries of the site that would enable full use of the range going forward and ensure that both the railway line and the houses to the north of the line are protected.
4.2 The length of the current range is limited compared to more modern sites and with developments in ball and club technology, golfers are able to hit balls much longer distances than envisaged when the range was first laid out.
Officers visited a number of other ranges and consulted with specialist golf fencing suppliers. Based on these discussions and in consultation with the
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operator it was agreed that a new 20 m high fencing/netting system should be installed. This would resolve the current issues and future proof the range.
4.3 Network Rail has been consulted on the proposals and in principle are in agreement with the plans. As the fencing will be a permanent structure and may during construction and following completion have an impact on the safety of Networks Rail
’s infrastructure there is a requirement to enter into an agreement which will place an obligation on the council to agree the final design with Network Rail and undertake the works so as not to affect the safety of the infrastructure. The council is required to meet Network Rail's costs, which have been provisionally agreed.
4.4 The final design will be formally agreed with Network Rail before any works are carried out.
4.5 As a result of the fencing works the existing floodlighting requires upgrading and replacement. The existing range floodlighting which is fixed to the roof of the range building illuminates the driving range. The lighting system is original and as old as the range itself. With the loss of the tree screen the glare from the lighting is causing concerns for the residents to the north of the railway line.
Due to the age and design of the existing lighting it is not capable of being adjusted.
4.6 A new lighting design has been developed which replaces the existing lights with a combination of ground mounted lighting and replacement lighting to the range building.
5. Corporate Implications
5.1 Financial Implications
5.1.1 The total cost of the required work, which will be treated as revenue expenditure, is £130,000.
5.1.2 It is estimated that work totalling £30,000 will be completed in 2014/15. This will be funded from savings in existing budgets.
The remaining work (£100,000) can be funded from the council’s operational asset maintenance reserve, which currently has a balance of £303,000. This would leave a balance of £203,000 in the reserve.
5.1.3 The on-going maintenance costs associated with the new fencing and lighting will be met from existing budgets.
5.2
Risk Issues
5.2.1 The fencing will require planning permission and an application has been prepared and is ready to be submitted. The works will require the closure of the range for a short period of time and this will need to be agreed with the
Trust and Serco.
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.
5.2.2 The work has been tendered at a fixed price and as such no additional works are anticipated.
5.3 HR Issues
5.3.1 There are no HR issues.
5.4 Equalities
5.4.1 None.
5.5 Legal Implications
5.5.1 The council is required to maintain the external areas of the Centre and the grounds under the terms of the current Lease with the Basingstoke and Deane
Community Leisure Trust as outlined in paragraph 3.3.
5.6 Any Other Implications
5.6.1 None
5.7 Communication and Consultation
5.7.1 All ward members will be consulted through the decision making process.
6. Conclusion
6.1.1 The council has an obligation under the lease to maintain the Centre. The current limitations are being managed by the Trust and Serco, but there has been an impact on the income and use of the range. By undertaking these works the future of the range will be secured.
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