Agenda item

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1        The purpose of this report is to update Members on the successful 2016/17 Playground Improvement Programme and outline plans for playground refurbishments in 2017/18.  Members are asked to note that the refurbishments are funded under the Capital Programme and that an allocation of £580,000 has been agreed to for this work, in this financial year.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       Recommend to Committee the refurbishment of playground sites below under the Playground Improvement Programme which has an allocated budget of £580,000 under the Capital Programme for financial year 2017/18.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Playground Refurbishment Programme

            Since its inception in 2012, the Playground Refurbishment Programme has made a significant impact on overall quality and play value to the city’s playgrounds; this has greatly improved accessibility and play value, providing new inclusive playground equipment, safety surfacing, boundary fencing, site furniture and landscaping works.  In 2012 the Independent Playground Inspector classified 25% of our playground facilities as being ‘poor’ (quality score of 3.0 or less). However with continued investment over the last 5 years the Council has achieved the desired improvement in overall safety, quality and play value at each of the sites refurbished under the programme. The playgrounds improved under previous programmes are now more inviting, inclusive and exciting places for children and parents to visit. The 2016/17 Improvement Programme which consisted of four major refurbishments and five minor/partial refurbishments has now been completed, moving their scores to the desired higher standard. 

3.2       Members should note that this year’s cycle of independent inspections has been undertaken again by Play Services Ireland Ltd. The ‘quality’ score allocated for each playground is based on compliance with European safety standards BS EN 1176 & 1177.  The inspection reports also continue to identify and prioritise repairs to existing equipment and these repairs are undertaken by either Facilities Management or our own Playground Inspectors.

            (Appendix 2 is available on modern.gov – sample copy of the Independent Playground Inspection report 2017) which categorises playgrounds, giving each one a ‘quality score’:

            Score 9 – 10   Excellent

            Score 8 – 9     Very Good

            Score 7 – 8     Good

            Score 6 – 7     Fairly Good

            Score 5 – 6     Sufficient

            Score 4 – 5     Fair

            Score 3 – 4     Insufficient

            Score 2 – 3     Poor

            Score 1 – 2     Very Poor

            Score 0 – 1     Extremely Poor

3.3       Following the independent inspection assessments of all 97 playgrounds across the city, it is proposed that the sites listed in Table 1 above are refurbished under this year’s Playground Improvement Programme which has an allocated budget of £580,000 under the Capital Programme.

3.4       The playgrounds recommended for refurbishment are the ones with the lowest overall quality scores (Appendix 3 is available on modern.gov – 2017 Mean Quality Score ratings).  As a result of the proposed refurbishment works, these playgrounds will move from ‘Fair’ to the higher classifications of ‘Very Good - Excellent’ (quality score 9.0 – 10.0) when reinspected.

3.5       Members are asked to note that Twinbrook/Brook Activity playground will be rebuilt and moved to a new location close to the existing site as part of the Leisure Transformation programme.

3.6       Ardoyne community centre playground whilst list as 6.3 was refurbished after the 2017 Independent inspection visit therefore will score 9/10 in the next inspection report.

            Avoniel playground will be closed as a new playground has been constructed in Flora Street Walk way, as part of the Connswater Community Greenway project.

3.7       Members are also asked to note that a new playground has recently been constructed at Blacks Road.

            Work on a new facility at Poleglass is due to commence in August 2017, which was originally scheduled under the 2016/17 Improvement Programme however works had been delayed until the satisfactory resolution of land transfer.

3.8       Key Issues

3.9       Financial & Resource Implications

            Refurbishment work at existing Belfast City Council sites will be funded through the Capital Programme and a budget of £580,000 has been allocated to this.

            Staff from the Landscape, Planning and Development unit will continue to deliver and project manage the Playground Improvement Programme.  As in previous years, Community Park Managers and Outreach officers will continue to assist with the distribution of information relating to playground improvements to members of the local communities.

3.10     Equality or Good Relations Implications

            The process proposed in this report will be subject to the Council’s existing equality screening process.”

            A Member raised a query in respect of the play equipment at Willowbank Park and the Assistant Director explained the scoring process and undertook to forward the inspection report for this park directly to the Member.

            After discussion, the Committee adopted the recommendations as set out under section 2.1.