Decision details
Approval to invest in replacing end of life play equipment at Royal Victoria Park and Alexandra Park, Bath and to decommission end of life play equipment at Burchill Close Clutton.
Decision Maker: Director Environment
Decision status: Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Purpose:
The adopted 2015 Green Spaces Strategy informs
the Parks’ service’s approach to the provision of
formal play areas in parks and green spaces across the district
– identifying deficits and surpluses in provision.
The Current Council administration included a manifesto commitment
to provide for the replacement of play equipment across the
Council’s play areas as equipment reaches its end of life,
and the Parks’ service maintains a comprehensive asset
register for its play equipment with projected life expectancies
for all of its play assets. The condition of all play equipment
assets are assessed through weekly inspections and this information
informs the rolling programme of replacements as equipment reaches
its end of life. This approach has informed a rolling programme of
capital replacements over recent years - for which there is
currently provisional approval up to 2022.
The review also seeks to identify priority areas for ongoing
investment and provision (such as Royal Victoria Park) where there
is a very strong public demand, high levels of use and a good
business case for continuing to provide formal play provision (for
instance the play area in Victoria Park supports a vibrant
café and ice cream concession which helps the Parks Service
to meet its income targets). The Service is also increasingly being
asked to provide accessible play equipment which meets the needs of
young people with mobility and sensory impairments. We have
identified Alexandra Park as the site where, with a modest
investment, the Council could provide a fully accessible play area
for young people with disabilities- helping to meet the Council's
responsibilities under the Equality Act.
So, in 2018/19, the Parks service wishes to deliver a capital
programme which includes:
• Replacing end of life play equipment in Royal Victoria Park
play area.
• The provision of accessible play equipment and associated
landscaping work at Alexandra Park
for the reasons outlined above.
• The removal of end of life equipment at Burchill Close,
Clutton. The equipment needs to removed for safety reasons.The
Council needs to take action to make the site safe- which requires
the removal of the play equipment as soon as possible.
See council approved budget 2018/19 . (Council report Feb
2018).
Decision:
To fully approve capital amounting to
£115,000 for the replacement of end of life equipment at play
areas in Alexandra Park and Royal Victoria Park Bath and the
removal of end of life equipment at Burchill Close,
Clutton.
Alternative options considered:
Option 1 - To remove end of life play
equipment and not replace it at Alexandra Park and Royal Victoria
Park. As described above, a comprehensive review of the Parks'
Service's play area estate has identified those existing play areas
where on-going investment is justified in terms of tackling
deprivation; meeting the Council's access standards and/or
responding to high levels of use - and both sites fit these
criteria. There is no alternative to removing the play equipment at
Burchill Close, as it has reached the end of its life and the Parks
Play Review has identified a limited need to continue to provide
formal play provision at this site.
Option 2 -
Option 3 -
Publication date: 21/03/2019
Date of decision: 21/03/2019