Capital Investment in Ballycastle Leisure Provision Rural Needs Assessment

Review of Community Development Strategy 2023-26 Rural Needs Assessment

 

SECTION 1 -
Defining the activity subject to Section 1(1) of the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016

 

1A. Name of Public Authority.

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council

 

1B. Please provide a short title which describes the activity being undertaken by the Public Authority that is subject to Section 1(1) of the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016.

Capital Investment in Ballycastle Leisure Provision.

 

1C. Please indicate which category the activity specified in Section 1B above relates to.

Developing a strategy and designing a public service.

 

1D. Please provide the official title (if any) of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service document or initiative relating to the category indicated in Section 1C above.

Development of a new Ballycastle Leisure Centre and outdoor leisure facilities.

 

 

1E. Please provide details of the aims and/or objectives of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service.

In June 2022, Council approved the Stage 1: Outline Business Case for Ballycastle Leisure Centre (BLC): “Preferred Option 4+: reduced scale leisure centre (1,650m2 ) at a cost of £14.9m on the Quay Road site with 25m pool (4 lane), gym, large studio, changing, reception/office, wet play features and spa, café, changing places facility, bouldering wall and outdoor pump track, off-road running/walking trail and accessible play park.
In March 2023, having been successful with a LUF funding application, “Council reconfirmed Stage 1 approval for Ballycastle Leisure Centre and an indicative commitment of £6.8m; and accepted the LUF funding to allow progression to Stage 2 - detailed design, planning and procurement at an estimated cost of £600k”.

In April 2023, the SRO established a governance framework, appointed the ICT via Council’s Professional Services Frameworks (Hall Black Douglas Architects as NEC Project Manager) and agreed a Project Delivery Plan. The ICT reviewed the concept designs, undertook extensive stakeholder consultation (internally and externally) and carried out further design work required to Stage 1 design over the period April to June.

The Pre-Application Notice was submitted to Planning in June 2023 and the project team has been engaged in outline design discussions and Pre-Application Community Consultation over the period July to September with the Planning Application submitted in early October.

The key aims are as follows; 

• Provide fit for purpose indoor leisure facilities to replace those at the repurposed school building, Sheskburn House.
• Accommodate the needs of local young people to learn to swim.
• To support healthy lifestyles with the provision of free to use outdoor facilities.
• Improved health and wellbeing of local population, through increased involvement in physical activity, sport and community engagement.
• Increased participation in physical activity by individuals from currently underrepresented groups.
• Increased participation in health improvement programmes.

The following objectives have been agreed for investment in BLC:

• To complete the BLC by 2026.
• By 2030 to increase user satisfaction by 20% on baseline.
• By 2030 to increase number of children on learn to swim classes annually across all Council pools by 10% on baseline.
• To have 8,000 users of the outdoor walking/running track and BMX/Pump track per annum.
• To have 33,000 users of the accessible play park per annum.
• To have a 30% increase in annual leisure class participations in Ballycastle.
• Increased participation in physical activity by 30% by individuals from currently underrepresented groups:
  • Users with a disability: (from 906 to 1,178).
  • Women and girls: (from 2,981 to 3,875).
  • Users from areas of high social need: (from 927 to 1,205).
• Number of participations by users on programmes specifically targeting health improvements. Increased by 30% from 277 to 360.

The aims and objectives will be applied across the borough, which includes individuals who live in both rural and urban areas. 

 

1F. What definition of ‘rural’ is the Public Authority using in respect of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service?

 

Population Settlements of less than 5,000 (Default definition).
 

Details of alternative definition of ‘rural’ used.   N/A

 

Rationale for using alternative definition of ‘rural’.   N/A

 

Reasons why a definition of ‘rural’ is not applicable.   N/A

 

 

SECTION 2 -
Understanding the impact of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service

 

2A. Is the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service likely to impact on people in rural areas?

Yes                  If the response is NO GO TO Section 2E.

 

2B. Please explain how the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is likely to impact on people in rural areas.

Whilst the Ballycastle town itself is classified as an Urban town, it is surrounded by rural villages, hamlets and settlements. The 2011 census shows a residential population in Ballycastle town of 5,237, however this does not account for a large volume of seasonal visitors and day visitors from many rural areas. 

The DfC Strategy for Sport from 2009 to 2019 states that we should, "ensure that 90% of the population have quality accredited, multi-sports facilities, that have the capacity to meet demand, within 20 minutes travel time". If we take into account his 20 minute rule, there are 31,518 residents in that area (Census 2011). This has the potential to positively affect 26,281 rural residents, through their access to the health and wellbeing facilities. 

This will be the only leisure facility in the Ballycastle area. It will have the only pool within 20 minutes of the town, as recommended by DfC, and will replace the current gym located at Sheskburn house, which is no longer fit for purpose, and does not incentivize rural dwellers to travel to Ballycastle to use it. The project will also introduce new facilities that are not in Ballycastle, hence displacement is not an issue. 

The Council commissioned a study from 4global on latent demand for health and fitness at each of the Council leisure sites in April 2019, which highlights the potential with this project.

 

2C. If the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is likely to impact on people in rural areas differently from people in urban areas, please explain how it is likely to impact on people in rural areas differently.

The Development of BLC will make it easier for those living in the surrounding rural areas to access swimming pool facilities, as it will greatly reduce journey times to the current closest pool in Ballymoney for residents living rural areas to the east and west of the town. We believe that by creating these facilities we are providing people from the surrounding rural areas potential access to these facilities within a 20minute drive of their homes, which they otherwise would not have. 

The BLC will provide a positive effect on people of all ages and abilities in the surrounding rural areas, as it will provide facilities which currently are not available and therefore open up opportunities to health and well being services, such as swimming, which previously did not exist. Only 8% of the membership to the current Sheskburn House Facility are aged <15 years or >65 years. 

As this will be a publicly funded and administered leisure facility, social benefit and social returns will be considered in the pricing strategy. Ballycastle is a Tourist hotspot, especially during the caravan season, and the BLC will only help to increase the appeal of the area and therefore support the economic regeneration of a rural area. 

The area suffers from a high level of unemployment and seasonal employment due to the heavy reliance on tourism for jobs. The project will help create jobs, which will help to reduce rural poverty. It will also provide recreational activities for rural dwellers which are currently unavailable which will help reduce rural crime in the area. 

Whilst a small number of users will not be able to walk to the BLC and will have to make their own way to the facility. However, the location of Quay Road is accessible through public transport using the current public transport connections. This project aims to reduce the cost barrier for rural dwellers by siting the new facilities in a more accessible location.

 

2D. Please indicate which of the following rural policy areas the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is likely to primarily impact on.

Education or Training, Health or Social Care Services, Poverty, Deprivation in Rural Areas and Rural Development.

If the response to Section 2A was YES GO TO Section 3A.

Rural Businesses, Tourism, Jobs or Employment, Health or Social Care Services, Deprivation and Crime or Community Safety 

 

2E. Please explain why the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is NOT likely to impact on people in rural areas.

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SECTION 3 -
Identifying the Social and Economic Needs of Persons in Rural Areas

 

3A. Has the Public Authority taken steps to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas that are relevant to the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service?

Yes           If the response is NO GO TO Section 3E.

3B. Please indicate which of the following methods or information sources were used by the Public Authority to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas.

Consultation with Rural Stakeholders.
Published Statistics .
Consultation with Other Organisations.
Surveys or Questionnaires.
Other Publications.

 

3C. Please provide details of the methods and information sources used to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas including relevant dates, names of organisations, titles of publications, website references, details of surveys or consultations undertaken etc.

 

• Quantitative evidence has been sourced via the NI Census in 2021, the Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey 2020.
   
• Qualitative evidence has been gathered through sustained consultation prior to the development of the OBC including:
  • Engagement with the Elected Members;
  • Direct consultation with existing users of the Sheskburn House facility;
  • Consultation with the wider public and casual users; 
  • Consultation with appropriate statutory sector representatives;
  • Consultation with internal stakeholders who will be impacted by any investment decisions in the Ballycastle Leisure Centre site (e.g., grounds maintenance, operations, Town Centre management); and
  • Specific interest consultation
     
• Partnership Working – CCG has been pro-active in developing a collaborative framework of local and national partner organisations and stakeholders including local authorities; health bodies; schools; national governing bodies, youth organisations, local community groups and charities. This approach allows groups in rural areas a forum for voicing issues and concerns as they arise.

 

3D. Please provide details of the social and economic needs of people in rural areas which have been identified by the Public Authority?

Social:

• NISRA statistics detailed the usual resident population of Causeway Coast & Glens Local Government District to be 141,700, accounting for 7.4 % of the N.I. total.
• Ballycastle is a predominantly nationalist town with a predominantly protestant hinterland. 
• CC&G has a slightly older age profile than the NI average, with a growing number of older people residing in the Council area;
• In 2020/2021, 52.9% of school leavers in the area left with 3 or more A-levels at grades A* - C or equivalent,  82.5% (female) and 73.1% (male) school leavers achieved 5 or more GCSEs at grades A*-C or equivalent including English and Maths (89% of all NI students achieved at least grade C).
• Rural dwellers with public transport links to Ballycastle will be able to access these services which they may not have been able to in other urban areas. 
• The project will reduce costs to rural dwellers who will now be able to access the services provided cheaper as the distance they must travel will be reduced. 

 

Economic: 

• With over 144,436 hectares farmed in the area in 2022 the region has 2,621 farms, representing 10.0% of the Northern Ireland total. 
• The majority of land in the Borough is used for grazing rather than crops, with only 6.2% of farmland used for crops compared to 4.6% in Northern Ireland.
• Sheep farming is the dominant farming category, with 425,837 sheep farmed in 2022, 20.3% of the Northern Ireland, reflecting the extent of high land and rough grazing. 
• NIMDM 2017 shows that the Ballycastle town and hinterland is mostly within the most 20% deprived SOAs in NI, largely due to low income levels. The Glentaise & Kinbane ward and Armoy, Mossside & Moyarget ward are the 25th and 72nd lowest scores for Income out of 890. 
• In 2022, 69.9% of those aged 16-64 living in the Borough were economically active and 28.4% were economically inactive. This compares with 73.7% economically active and 32.3% economically inactive for NI. 
• In 2022, the 16-64 employment rate in the area was 67.6% (NI rate = 71.9%). 
• In 2022, the median annual earnings for residents of Causeway Coast and Glens was £24,825 compared with £26,182 for NI, 5.3% lower. 
• 12% of the employed population work in tourism, compared to the NI average of 8% (NISRA 2013).
• The project will provide job opportunities for the locals in both the build and operational phases. 
• This will help increase and encourage economic activities in the rural areas through increased jobs, increased tourism and associated spending.
• There may be an additional cost for rural dwellers with a disability as they may require a taxi, however this cost would currently be more if they had to travel further away to Coleraine or Ballymoney for this service. 
   

If the response to Section 3A was YES GO TO Section 4A.

 

 

3E. Please explain why no steps were taken by the Public Authority to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas?

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SECTION 4 -
Considering the Social and Economic Needs of Persons in Rural Areas

 

4A. Please provide details of the issues considered in relation to the social and economic needs of people in rural areas.

Pricing & Marketing – CC&G will use innovative pricing and marketing techniques and the digital technologies to increase participation and offer concessionary pricing to ensure that leisure facilities and activities are available to disadvantaged groups, including individuals and families on low incomes and those on low incomes because of disability.

Research indicates that cost is not necessarily a single factor limiting participation in sport for all S75 groups. The groups likely to be impacted most by pricing are disabled, older people and socio economically disadvantaged in rural areas. 

Council will therefore target pricing policy at those with lowest levels of participation where cost is a barrier and ensure concessionary rates maximise benefit and achieve VFM. Categories to which users should/will get a concessionary rate to maximise inclusivity:

• Under 5’s; Senior citizens; Students in full-time education; Economically disadvantaged.

Key to addressing the Economically Disadvantaged is a concession which can be availed of via evidence based means testing. As well as concessions prices for standard activities the IHT currently runs specific programmes targeted at groups that contain significant numbers of concession users. E.g.:

• Everybody Active Programme, Sport NI.
• Physical Activity Referral Scheme, Northern/Western Health Trusts.
• Healthy Towns, Public Health Agency..
• Neighbourhood Health Improvement Programme, DfC.
• Move More Programme, MacMillan Cancer Care.

Programming – BLC will deliver a variety of centre-located and outreach activities with exclusive use for specific target groups including gender specific, age specific and ability specific programmes.
CC&G are placing first priority on Sport and Wellbeing Programmes reflecting the positioning it requires to achieve Council outcomes, whilst also working in partnership with a range of sports clubs and community groups who contribute to the outcomes and actions of the broader Community Plan.  Council will endeavor to align its services with public transport timetables where possible to ensure rural dwellers have the same opportunity as urban dwellers to avail of the services. 

Location – The Quay Road site was selected in part because of the existing public transport connections available which will help ensure the facility is as accessible as possible for individuals in rural areas. 
Staffing – Recommendations from a review of the Sport & Wellbeing Structure, has resulted in the appointment of a General Manager, Business Support Manager and Commercial Development Manager. These posts provide the synergy required to work together with the Sports Development Team and develop stronger commercial and business focus that looks across the whole service and proactively engages with users and non-users, to deliver the outcomes of the Sport & Wellbeing Plan. There will be employment opportunities because of this project and rural dwellers can apply for these positions.  

Facilities – The accessibility of the BLC facilities will be operated in an effective way to ensure participation opportunities to a demographically diverse customer base to assist with the achievement of Council’s strategic outcomes. BLC which service underrepresented groups and become increasingly important in tackling inequality within the Borough. Rural dwellers livings in the glens DEA of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council have the furthest to travel for this service and therefore using one of council’s facilities is relatively more expensive for these users. This project will help address this inequality. There will also be a meeting space and community kitchen which rural community groups can avail of. 

Monitoring & Evaluation – CC&G will use the reporting mechanisms with the Leisure Management System to provide, Monthly Performance Monitoring reports including Programmes of Use and Participation Targets to meet the requirements of the Service Plan & Strategy. 

Connectivity – digital strategy – Council has undertaken a digital strategy and looked at geographical make-up of the Borough and the needs of those in remote, rural areas who may require an upgrade to their digital connectivity and skillsets. As the digital strategy does not cost the residents of the Borough any money, the outcome of a coherent roll-out plan will be beneficial to all individuals across the borough. 

 

 

SECTION 5 -
Influencing the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service

 

5A. Has the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the Policy, Strategy or Plan, or the design or delivery of the Public Service, been influenced by the rural needs identified?

Yes      If the response is NO GO TO Section 5C.

 

5B. Please explain how the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the Policy, Strategy or Plan, or the design or delivery of the Public Service, has been influenced by the rural needs identified.

Council has completed Accessibility Audits on all leisure facilities throughout the borough, which accounts for individuals from rural and urban areas, through the ‘Every Customer Counts’ Programme and has installed ‘Changing Places’ provision at Roe Valley LC and CLC, this design feature will be replicated in the development of BLC.

Council is fully committed to Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 which requires public authorities, in carrying out their functions, powers and duties, to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity for rural dwellers. Therefore, Council aspires to ensure that fairness, inclusion and respect are at the heart of everything we do. 

Council has developed a full socio-economic profile of the Borough which ensures that we are equipped with the necessary information to target the under-represented groups within the Borough, including barriers faced by the rural community.

EBA 2020 also contributes to realising Council’s commitment to delivering outreach programmes across the borough in rural areas with limited access to facilities.  In addition, the S&WB Department staff will assist with enhancing provision, increasing capacity/participation and enabling a more diverse programme to meet identified customer needs.

Council has identified several training opportunities to increase awareness and adapt activities to develop Autism Friendly Services. This will include establishing Autism Awareness Training as a mandatory training requirement for S&WB Department Staff. Council is aware that rural dwellers with these needs have larger costs, due to accessibility needs and proximity to services, this project will help to reduce these costs to rural dwellers as it will be siting the new facilities in a more accessible location.

Council recognises that creating awareness of the benefits of sustained physical activity and our programmes is paramount to encourage increased participation within the rural community and traditionally under-represented groups.

Council will hold ongoing consultations with relevant stakeholders, users, special interest groups etc. and will use the reporting mechanisms with the Leisure Management System to provide, Monthly Performance Monitoring reports including Programmes of Use and Participation Targets to meet the requirements of the Service Plan & Strategy. Council will ensure there is opportunities for Rural communities to input to this monitoring through the Community Development Team. 

The lit running / walking route will provide rural dwellers with free access to physical activity during the winter months which is often difficult in a rural setting and was a specific request of the consultations with the local community.

The location, close to a bus route, maximizes ease of access for those living in the surrounding rural areas.

 

 

5C. Please explain why the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the Policy, Strategy or Plan, or the design or the delivery of the Public Service, has NOT been influenced by the rural needs identified.

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SECTION 6 -
Documenting and Recording

 

6A. Please tick below to confirm that the RNIA Template will be retained by the Public Authority and relevant information on the Section 1 activity compiled in accordance with paragraph 6.7 of the guidance.

 

I confirm that the RNIA Template will be retained and relevant information compiled.  

 

Rural Needs Impact Assessment undertaken by:    SIB Project Manager

Date:   12.12.23

 

Rural Needs Impact Assessment approved by:   Head of Service Sport and Wellbeing

Date:  04.11.23