75 Playing Pitch Strategy (00-19-29) PDF 496 KB
To reconsider a report of the Forward Planning Team Leader (deferred from the previous meeting) requesting Cabinet to consider the strategy for further public consultation.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Cabinet had before it a *report of the Forward Planning Team Leader (deferred from the previous meeting) requesting Cabinet to consider the strategy for further public consultation.
The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration outlined the contents of the report stating that a new Playing Pitch Strategy was needed for Mid Devon to meet the national planning policy framework requirement, where relevant planning policies should be based on robust and up to date assessments of the need for sport and recreation facilities.
This included quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses, and opportunities for new provision. Information gained from the assessments should be used to determine what sport and recreational provision was needed, which plans should then seek to accommodate.
The Playing Pitch Strategy would also need to be consistent with Sport England’s guidance (2013) for preparing playing pitch strategies. This guidance included 5 key stages for the preparation of a Playing Pitch Strategy and indicated that the work be taken forward by a project Steering Group. A project Steering Group had been set up to oversee the production of the Mid Devon Playing Pitch Strategy and for approval at the key stages. This had included an elected Member and relevant officers from the Council, Devon County Council, representatives in the South West from national-governing bodies for the main pitch sports, and Sport England. The Council had used an external consultant, Bennett Leisure and Planning to undertake the technical assessment.
The Mid Devon Playing Pitch Strategy had now been completed. Its findings had been informed through engagement with pitch sports clubs, sports National-Governing Bodies and providers of playing pitch facilities in Mid Devon. This had included contacting town and parish councils and had involved meetings with the main schools and community colleges at Tiverton, Cullompton and Crediton.
The Playing Pitch Strategy included a vision, 6 key objectives and a section for each main pitch sport. Its findings for the district were also split into sub-areas for Tiverton, Cullompton and Crediton, which included actions plans with options and recommendations.
The Playing Pitch Strategy included two appendices which set out recommendations for actions in relation to the masterplanning of strategic planned development at East Cullompton / Culm Garden Village, and at the Tiverton Eastern Urban Extension.
The Planning Policy Advisory Group had met on the 4th August 2021. The group noted the contents of the Playing Pitch Strategy and had expressed a wish that it be subject to public consultation before it was finalised and that this forms part of the recommendation to Cabinet. The Forward Planning Team Leader had subsequently received clarification from Sport England that a wider community consultation was needed on the Playing Pitch Strategy.
It was therefore recommended that in light of Sport England’s clarification the Playing Pitch Strategy be published on the Council’s website and a minimum 6 week period provided in which public comments could be made on its content. The Playing Pitch Strategy would be amended where necessary before a sign-off was sought ... view the full minutes text for item 75