Decision

In our mutual capacities of Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Governance, and Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Public Realm, we:
a). approve the final Playzone business plans as set out in the accompanying background report, and authorise the Assistant Director (Sport, Culture and Health) to enter into JCT agreements with McArdle Sport to construct Playzone facilities at Clacton Leisure Centre, Walton on the Naze, Jaywick Sands and Harwich;
b). agree the schedule of fees and charges, as set out in Table 2 (pricing structure) of the background report; and
c). authorise the Corporate Director (Finance and IT) to include the associated PlayZone budget amendments in a future Budget Monitoring Report for Cabinet's consideration.

Reasons for the decision

At their meeting on 27 June 2025, Cabinet agreed to install four new “PlayZones” at Clacton on Sea, Walton on the Naze, Jaywick Sands and Harwich; which are modern, largely free to use intergenerational multi activity hubs around the Tendring District, at a total cost of £1,119,257, with 75% match funding agreed from the Football Foundation (FF).
Prior to entering into contract for the construction phase, Cabinet requested that Officers ‘produce business cases for this scheme with authority for approval and associated actions delegated jointly to the Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Governance and Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Public Realm in consultation with the Corporate Director (Finance and IT), Assistant Director (Sport, Culture and Health) and Legal Services.’
Taking the profit and loss information set out in the accompanying report into account, it is projected that there will be an overall surplus of £124,727 over the first five years of operation.
The percentage of anticipated activity across four PlayZone facilities demonstrates a sustainable financial model, and activation will continue in advance of construction and once the facilities are operational.

Alternative options considered

Not to progress the project any further: Such a decision would result in the projects being cancelled, and loss of £839,355 of external funding into the District. As this project is a key action in providing new free to use facilities in focussed areas of the District, as set out in the Sport and Activity Strategy, a key route to delivering a Council objective would be lost.
To scale down the project and deliver fewer Playzones in the District: This would reduce the project costs and resourcing implications involved, but would in turn reduce opportunity and a platform for increased activity levels across our communities. As the business planning process suggest there will be no wider financial implication to the Council it is considered viable to progress the project through to construction .