Appendix E1
South Hams District Council
Business Case Outline
The Business Case is used to obtain management commitment and approval for investment in business change including projects and programmes, through rationale for the investment.
The Business Case provides a framework for planning and management of the business change. The ongoing viability of a project or programme will be monitored against the Business Case.
|
[Insert Project/Programme title here] |
|
||
|
Senior Responsible Officer: |
Rob Sekula |
Project Sponsor ELT Member: |
Chris Brook |
|
Date Updated: |
09/12/2022 |
2.0 |
|
|
Programme/Project Description: |
Kingsbridge skatepark replacement |
||
|
Reviewers: |
|
||
|
Author(s): |
Rob Sekula, Principal Natural Resources and Greenspaces Officer |
||
Guidance
An outline business case is a document setting out the initial justification for investment of resources (people, time and money) into a project or change being considered. This outline business case is to be completed at the initial idea stage of any project.
Once approval has been given to the outline case, solution design work will begin and the project will undertake a more detailed Business case setting out full implementation and business running costs, the benefits of implementation and an assessment of how implementation would be managed and the associated change risks and issues.
Capital projects will be scored on the following criteria:
• Health and Safety compliance
• Essential to keep operational assets open
• Fit with the Council’s Delivery Plans for ‘Better Lives for All
• To rationalise service delivery or service improvement
• To generate income, capital value or to reduce revenue costs
It is important that future bids for capital are aligned with the review of the thematic delivery plans and aims within ‘Better Lives for All’.
1. Project Summary – Project objectives and what it aims to achieve.
Replacement of the Kingsbridge skatepark within the Quay carpark.
2. Why we need the Project – Background and problem/opportunity to be addressed.
The existing skatepark is no longer fit for purpose. The
ramps and surfacing are of limited interested and quality. The site
does not support meaningful wheeled sports development in
Kingsbridge. A modern facility is required to meet the needs of the
community.
3. Project Scope – State what’s IN and OUT of Scope.
The project encompasses removal of the existing skatepark ramps, and replacement with a sprayed concrete facility. The project will include some works to the adjacent trees and bank, to enhance the sense of place and maximise the usability of the site.
Based on previous carparking surveys showing unused capacity, 9 spaces are proposed for removal to accommodate a more appropriate footprint for the skatepark facility.
4. Benefits – Brief indication of any potential financial and non-financial.
A sprayed concrete facility is relatively maintenance free. It is not considered that the facility would be any more/less expensive to run than the existing skatepark (albeit the existing skatepark is currently closed for the winter months due to tree debris, an issue we would seek to address through the project – see section 6).
The non-financial benefits are significant to Kingsbridge. A successful skatepark will be utilised by a range of wheeled sports of varied ages, both genders, socio-economic background, and of all abilities. Users vary from highly competitive to ‘alternative’ and everything in between. Commonly users are those that do not favour more organised or team types of sport.
Skateparks are free to use, and offer an accessible, affordable and town centre facility to users.
Outcomes relate to more regular participation in sport and physical activity, including improved health and wellbeing, with plenty of social interaction. In particular the nature of a good skatepark is that it fosters community cohesion, particularly across the age groups – an experienced young skater will be just as happy to teach an older beginner as vice versa.
One of the key barriers to participation is appropriate facility provision. A well designed skatepark will be welcoming, appeal to many, and will accordingly be well used with self-policing reducing potential for Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB tending to be from non-skaters and associated with a disused and neglected facility).
A well designed skatepark can regenerate an area, acting as a draw to locals and visitors and creating an inclusive public space within the urban environment. (Conversely, a fenced, aged or poorly designed and disused skatepark does the opposite).
5. Links and Dependencies – To other projects currently live.
Working with SHDC officers, the ‘Kingsbridge Skatepark Community’ group are leading the project locally, having undertaken consultation and recently started fundraising. They have fostered relationships with the Town Council (including securing a £50,000 contribution from the Town Council towards this project) and have been discussing aspirations with local businesses, Fusion, the police, SHDC Members. The group have set up a Crowdfunder page to raise funds towards the project (https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/kingsbridgeskatepark ).
SHDC has tendered a Kingsbridge Skatepark replacement project, and appointed a preferred contractor. The contractor is now working with Kingsbridge Skatepark Community on building up a strong evidence base as will be required to support a subsequent bid to the Lottery. They have hosted lessons at the Kingsbridge college and attended lunchtime skate sessions, consulting and collecting ideas from young people, not just about design, but trying to understand what young people think are the barriers to them using facilities like this, and how a space can be made to appeal to them.
SHDC officers will continue to work with the contractor and the Kingsbridge Skatepark Community to build up the evidence of need, design consultation, before applying for planning permission and applying for match funding from the Lottery.
6. Risks – Note of any significant potential risks.
The project will require some tree works to make the site appropriate, due to significant leaf and seed fall at present on the skatepark. Preliminary conversations with the Tree Officer have indicated an appropriate scope of work, noting that some trees are inappropriate in their current location (e.g. large Black poplar) and that there is scope for appropriate tree management which would lessen the impact of trees on the skatepark footprint.
Design options are also being investigated to seek to catch leaf/seed fall from trees which must remain. It is important that a design solution is found to reduce likelihood of debris on the skatepark.
The project will ultimately require both planning permission, and a substantial amount of match funding before it can be delivered.
7. Project Resources – What people will the project need?
SHDC officer time is already being spent on developing and delivering this project. The SHDC officer is being greatly assisted by local effort from the Kingsbridge Skatepark Community and the contractor who are drawing upon their local contacts to work the project up from the community. The Kingsbridge Skatepark Community have also commenced local fundraising including via Crowdfunder and will take the leading role in driving the project forward alongside the contractor.
8. Explain how the project meets the five criteria listed below.
|
Health and Safety compliance
|
The new skatepark will be designed taking account of appropriate guidance and British Standards. Any such facility is subject to a Post Installation Inspection Report, and ongoing routine and annual safety inspections.
The police have and will be consulted throughout the design process with a view to making a facility that is welcoming (trees being part of this discussion). |
|
Essential to keep operational assets open |
The existing skatepark is currently closed for safety purposes over the winter months. It is subject to considerable debris from the trees above, namely leaves, acorns, twigs. It is proposed to review the trees at the site, and preliminary advice has been obtained from the Tree Officer, and discussed with the Town Council and local representatives. The new facility would be available for use year-round.
The existing skatepark has a deteriorating tarmac surface, and the features at the park are limited in offering. It neither delivers for wheeled sports enthusiast nor does it have the appeal to bring new participants into the sport. |
|
Fit with the Council’s Delivery Plans for ‘Better Lives for All’ |
The project delivers against ‘Strengthening community wellbeing’ by investing and creating a community space, providing a free to access facility which supports active lifestyle choices, while fostering community cohesion across the age groups. |
|
To rationalise service delivery or service improvement |
The successful delivery of this project would mark a significant service improvement in terms of the wheeled sports offering to Kingsbridge and surrounds delivering on the benefits referenced in section 4 above. |
|
To generate income, capital value or to reduce revenue costs |
Sprayed concrete facilities are often touted as ‘maintenance free’ with no fixings such as railings or ramp plates.
Ongoing costs would relate to inspection, removal of litter, sweeping (which would predominantly be undertaken locally/by users) |
Capital costs and revenue implications
In the table below, please detail the capital budget requirement over the next three financial years as well as any revenue implications (maintenance, repairs, etc…)
|
Financial year |
Capital cost |
Revenue implications |
|
2023/24 |
£30,000 |
Officer time, ongoing inspection and maintenance |
|
2024/25 |
|
|
|
2025/26 |
|
|
|
Total cost |
£30,000 |
|
Please detail in the box below how this project will be financed:
|
Financial Year |
Capital grants/ contributions |
S106 |
Reserves |
Capital receipts |
No funding source identified |
|
2023/24 |
£150,000 – application to be submitted after the planning process to Lottery Reaching Communities/ Sport England (with other various small funding applications)
£3,000 local fundraising, and currently £21,000 pledged towards a £30,000 target on the Crowdfunder platform towards the project.
£50,000 secured from Kingsbridge Town Council |
£25,437 |
£30,000 New Homes Bonus funding |
|
|
|
2024/25 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2025/26 |
|
|
|
|
|