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 2022-2023 Playground Improvement Programme (PIP) and outline plans for new playground refurbishments under the 2023-2024 programme.

            Members are asked to note that refurbishments are to be funded under the Capital Programme and that an allocation of £580,000 has been agreed for this work in this financial year.

            Members should also note that under last year’s PIP (2022-23);

·        Refurbishment of Westlands playground (Waterworks Park) was completed

·        Refurbishment of Sally Gardens playground was completed

·        Refurbishment works at Areema playground are nearing completion

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·        Agree refurbishment works at the sites below as part of the Playground Improvement Programme (PIP) 2023-2024. This year’s programme has been allocated a budget of £580,000 under the Capital Programme for financial year 2023-2024.

·        Loughside Park playground

·        New Lodge playground

·        North Link Playground

3.0       Main report

            Playground Improvement Programme

3.1       Since its inception in 2012, the Playground Refurbishment Programme continues to make a positive impact to the overall quality and play value of the city’s playgrounds, improving accessibility, providing more inclusive equipment, new safety surfacing, boundary fencing, site furniture and landscaping works. Physical improvements have made the facilities more inviting, inclusive, and fun places for children and parents to visit.

3.2       With continued investment over the last eleven years, Council is achieving the desired improvements at playgrounds selected under the programme. On independent re-inspection, quality scores for the newly refurbished sites below have moved to the higher standard of good – excellent (see Appendix 1 – Refurbished playground images).

·        Westlands playground

·        Sally Gardens playground

3.3       Members should note that Play Services Ireland (PSI) Ltd undertook annual inspections at all 105 council-maintained playgrounds earlier this year (see Appendix 2 – Typical inspection report 2023: Loughside playground). The ‘mean quality score’ they allocated for each site relates to the condition of existing play equipment and compliance with European safety standards BS EN 1176 & 1177: 2020. All playgrounds were then ranked in order of their mean quality score, helping to identify facilities in most need of improvement this year (see Appendix 3 – Mean Quality Scores Report).

3.4       In reference to the Mean Quality Scores Report, Members should note that the lowest scoring playground (Sally Gardens: ranked 105th) was inspected by PSI Ltd. before the facility was refurbished in April 2023 under PIP 2023-23.

3.5       As a result of refurbishment works, selected playgrounds listed under Item 2.1 are expected to move from the quality classification of ‘fair - fairly good’ to ‘excellent’ when re-inspected.

            Financial and Resource Implications

3.6       All proposed playground refurbishment works will be funded through the Capital Programme within an allocated budget of £580,000. CNS Landscape Planning & Development Officers will continue to re-design play facilities and project manage all works associated with the delivery of PIP 2023-24.

3.7       As with previous years, C&NS OSS Managers will continue to assist with the distribution of information relating to playground improvements to elected members, local communities, and user groups.

            Equality or Good Relations Implications/

            Rural Needs Assessment

3.8       None.”

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.