Development of a new Ballycastle Leisure Centre Equality Screening Part 1

S75 Equality And Good Relations Screening Form

General Information: Project

Is this an existing, revised or a new function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?   New   

Operational Area:  Sport & Wellbeing

Title:  Development of – a new Ballycastle Leisure Centre (and outdoor leisure facilities)

Brief Summary:

In June 2022, Council approved the Stage 1: Outline Business Case for Ballycastle Leisure Centre: “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. On balance this option scored highest and is the option deemed to be most able to meet the project aims and the needs of the community”. 

Given the projects scale and associated financial risk of advancing without external LUF funding, the approval of Stage 1: OBC did not constitute the normal approval to progress immediately to Stage 2: FBC (procurement of ICT, Planning application and detailed design). 

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.

This process resulted in a number of minor changes which increased the footprint of the leisure centre building from 1650m2 to 1850m2 which could increase the total project cost by £1.6m. However, at this early stage sufficient budget allowance is in place for Net Zero, Design Risk, Optimism Bias and Inflation totalling c.£5m (or 33% of total project cost). Costs will be kept under close review and if these allowances are no longer deemed sufficient a further report will be brought back to Committee/Council during detailed design phase. 

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.

Before progressing to detailed design, the Project Team has agreed to carry out a S75 Screening exercise.

What is it trying to achieve? (intended aims and outcomes)

The following aims have been agreed for investment in Ballycastle Leisure Centre:

• To contribute strategically to the Ballycastle offer for ratepayers and visitors;
• To improve the presentation of the Town to complement existing and planned redevelopment with the shared Campus Project. 
• To help distribute visitors and footfall across Ballycastle contributing to its functionality as a regional destination and as a service town for its indigenous population.
• To provide fit for purpose indoor leisure facilities to replace those at the repurposed school building, Sheskburn House.
• To accommodate the needs of local young people to learn to swim.
• To support healthy lifestyles with the provision of free to use outdoor facilities.
• To improve health and wellbeing of local population through increased involvement in physical activity, sport and community engagement.
• To Increase participation in physical activity by individuals from currently underrepresented groups.
• To Increase participation in health improvement programmes.

The following objectives have been agreed for investment in Ballycastle Leisure Centre:

• 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.

Who owns and who implements each element of the function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?

The SRO for the project is the Director of Leisure and Development and the Sponsor is the Head of Sport and Wellbeing.  Implementation of the project will involve support from internal stakeholders (Capital Delivery Team, Estates, Operations, Maintenance, Communications, Town Centre Management); and collaboration with external stakeholders (Special interest groups and general public).

Other policies etc. which have a bearing on this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?

The OBC for the project demonstrates the contribution of the project to the following Strategies:

• NI Programme for Government 2016-2021 (Draft) and Draft Outcomes Framework.
• Recreation and Youth Service (Northern Ireland) Order 1986.
• The DfC Strategy “Building Inclusive Communities 2020-2025”.  
• DfC Sport and Physical Activity Strategy, 2022.
• Sport NI Corporate Plan 2021-2026.
• ‘A Fitter future for All: Obesity Prevention Framework 2012–2022 & 2019-2022.
• Together Building a United Community.
• Causeway Coast and Glens Corporate Strategy 2022-25.
• Causeway Coast and Glens Community Plan 2017-2030.
• Bridging the Gap 2009 and Causeway Coast and Glens, Sport and Leisure Facilities Strategy 2015.
• Draft Tourism Strategy for NI (in development).
• Causeway Coast and Glens Equality Action Plan.
• Causeway Coast and Glens Disability Action Plan.
• Ballycastle Strategic Town Development and Action Plan, 2009.
• Ballycastle Strategic Town Development and Action Plan Review, 2021.
• Levelling Up agenda.
• Low Carbon.

Studies, Publications, Statistics and Guidance:

• Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency – Census 2021;
• NINIS, Census 2011; and
• Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2017.

Available Evidence

Evidence to help inform the screening process may take many forms.  Public authorities should ensure that their screening decision is informed by relevant data.
What evidence/information (both qualitative and quantitative have you gathered to inform this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?  Specify details for relevant Section 75 categories.

It is proposed that all Section 75 categories will be considered via:

• 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:
  o Engagement with the Elected Members;
  o Direct consultation with existing users of the Sheskburn House facility;
  o Consultation with the wider public and casual users; 
  o Consultation with external stakeholders such as relevant governing bodies of sport;
  o Consultation with appropriate statutory sector representatives;
  o 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
  o Specific interest consultation such as Disability Sport NI and Mae Murray Foundation.