PF4A
Legislation Committee No 1
Response to the consultation on the Proposed laying Fields (Community Involvement in Disposal Decisions) (Wales) Measure
Welsh Local Government Association – Supplementary Evidence
Letter from Director of Lifelong Learning, leisure and Information to the Committee Chair (dated 18 February 2009)
Supplementary Evidence on Proposed Playing Fields (Community Consultation on Disposal Decisions) Measure
The WLGA provided evidence to the Proposed Playing Fields Measure Legislative Committee on Thursday, 12th February. During our evidence session we agreed to provide:
Further information on the number of local authorities who have carried out open space assessments or a similar exercise to date as part of their LDP
Details of our cost estimates relating to consulting communities on impact statements as provided in Section (1c) of the proposed Measure
The WLGA sent out a request for information Open Space Assessment last Friday and 18 local authorities have responded, 13 of which have undertaken open space assessments. A further 2 local authorities responded to say that they are currently in the process of conducting their OSAs. The other 3 respondents have not undertaken OSAs to date but are currently updating their Local Development Plans and are looking at the recently published TAN 16 for guidance.
We stated at our evidence session that we estimated the cost of preparing for the consultation process outlined in this Measure as £16,000 per playing field. This is based on the estimate number of households in Wales/number of wards in Wales x postal costs per mailout. In addition, 250 hours of officer time has been estimated to prepare all the processes outlined in the proposed consultation exercise. This is based on estimates received from local authorities on officer time spent preparing for school closure consultations which is the closest comparison available.
However, it must be pointed out that the cost of consultation would be significantly more for some authorities, particularly city authorities where a playing field is of wider use or where there are a much greater number of households per ward. Based on the Sports Council of Wales’ evidence to committee, the postal costs alone could be four times higher in some instances.
During our evidence, our Leisure Adviser mentioned existing arrangements in England which was of interest to the committee. Following our evidence session, the committee clerk has requested additional information on this process.
According to Sport England’s Planning Policy Statement – A Sporting Future for the playing fields of England:
“By virtue of a statutory instrument made in 1996, Sport England is a statutory consultee on proposals for development which affect playing fields, land used for playing fields at any time in the last five years which remains undeveloped, or land which is identified for use as a playing field in a development plan. This means that we must be notified by the local planning authority when a relevant planning application is received, and any objections we raise must be considered. Although we expect that local planning authorities will attach great importance to the views we express, we do not have the power to prevent development. We will advise the relevant Government regional office of applications which we consider of such concern that the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions should consider calling them in for determination.”
Attached to this letter is a copy of a press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in March 2008 which provides additional information and data on the situation regarding playing fields in England. (This is also available online at: http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/media_releases/2142.aspx
Further information on Planning Policy Guidance 17: Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation can be found on the Department for Communities and Local Government website at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/ppg17.pdf
If you require any further information from the Welsh Local Government Association, please do not hesitate to contact us.
