Appendix G – Action Plan of recommendations for Rochford

In the main report, the Council has introduced a list of solutions/recommendations to tackle the issues identified. In many cases, there is more than one solution to the issues identified. Where there is more than one action that is applicable, and the action(s) is/are already covered in the list below, you will find the numbers representing the solutions appear in the ‘Action required’ section on the table from page 2.

Short term:

1. Encourage education institutions to sign up a formal community use arrangement for dual use of school facilities

2. Redesignate adult pitches to mini/ junior pitches

3. Continue to work closely with partners / open space contractors/ organisations to provide better service for the public

Medium – Long term:

1. Provide additional pitches to bring supply in line with demand

2. When providing new provisions for football, they should mainly be mini and junior pitches, and focus should be on providing them on the western side of the District

3. Roles and responsibilities to be reviewed and updated in the management contract

4. Secure developer contributions wherever through planning obligations and / or community infrastructure levy

5. Focus investment in floodlit synthetic turf pitches/ Artificial Grass Pitches

6. Ensure the relocated pitches are made to standard league requirements and on a fit-for-purpose site.

Action Plan of recommendations for Rochford
Issue identified through consultation / study	Action	Location	Lead/ Partner	Timescale
Concern expressed by clubs regarding poor provision	Short-medium term: i, iii Long term: i, v	Rochford	Environmental Services / Open spaces contractor / Leisure Department/ Sport clubs	Short-medium Term Long Term
Some clubs have expressed difficulty in obtaining information as to the availability of pitches, and information as to where/how/who from pitches can be hired.	Improve communication methods - consider using alternatives methods such as emails, SMS, social networking websites	All	Environmental Services / Open spaces contractor / Communication department	Ongoing
There is potentially high latent demand for artificial hockey pitches	Short-medium term: i, iii Long term: i, v	All	Environmental Services/ Leisure Department/ Sport clubs	Short-medium Term Long Term
Shortage for mini and junior football pitches will continue 18 in the long term. The major shortfall will be on Sunday	Short-medium term: i, ii, iii Long term: i, iv, v	All	Environmental Services / Leisure Department/ Planning Department/ Sport clubs	Short-medium Term Long Term
The surplus in cricket and rugby pitches shown in the current PPM will turn into a small deficit in the future	Short-medium term: i Long term: i, iv	Cricket: Rayleigh and Hockley; Rugby: Rayleigh, Hockley, Great Wakering and Hullbridge	Environmental Services/ Leisure Department/ Planning Department/ Sport clubs	Short-medium term Long Term
Imbalanced geographical spread - players residing on the western side of the District (e.g. Rayleigh, Wickford, Basildon) tend to find it difficult to obtain pitches in the local area, thus clubs travel further to the east (e.g, Rochford, Great Wakering) to use pitches	Short-medium term: i, iii Long term: i, vi	All	Rochford District Council and Neighbouring Councils/ Sport clubs	Short-medium term Long Term
Pitches are considered by some to be expensive	Regular evaluation on price. However, it is important to note that the pitch hiring price in Rochford is considered affordable in comparing with our neighbouring authorities.	Not specified	Environmental Services/ Open spaces contractor	Medium-long term
Concern express regarding lack of consultation/information on changeover of pitch providers	Short-medium term: iii	N/A	Environmental Services/ Communications Department	Medium term
One respondent stated they had encountered abusive grounds staff	Complaints procedure already in place. Council to promote use of this procedure	Rochford – Not specified	Rochford District Council	Ongoing
One respondent stated that changes to maintenance and administration methods are not an improvement	Short-medium term: iii Long term: iii	N/A	Environmental Services/ Open spaces contractor/ Sport clubs	Short-medium term Long Term
A club expressed concern regarding poor facilities – toilets locked, grounds staff missing, wonky goal posts, infrequent grass cutting, pot holes	Improvement in maintenance/ upkeeping required Short-medium term: iii	Rochford - Not specified	Environmental Services/ Open spaces contractor/ Sport clubs	Short-medium term
It is considered that there is limited facilities and they are in poor condition	Short-medium term: iii Long term: iii, iv, vi	Rochford - Not specified	Environmental Services/ Planning Department/ Open spaces contractors/ Sport clubs	Short-medium term Long Term
One Sport club suggested that hedges require cutting back as balls are lost at Rawreth Lane Playing Field	Improvement in maintenance/ upkeeping required. Notwithstanding this, removal of hedges is required to be in accordance with the Hedgerow Regulations 1997 which designed to give protection to important hedgerows in England and Wales.	Rawreth Lane Playing Field	Environmental Services/ Open spaces contractors	Short-medium term
One respondent suggested that goal nets are poor – some have not been changed for at least six seasons	To review quality of facilities on a regular basis	Great Wakering Recreation Ground	Environmental Services/ Open spaces contractors	Short-medium term
It is suggested that in order to move to higher level of the league, certain criteria should be met, however, Rochford Council pitches have no such facilities.	Long term: iv	Not specified	Environmental Services/ Leisure Department/ Planning Department/ Open spaces contractors/ Sport clubs	Long term

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¹⁸ To date, it was advised that the pitch hiring rate for mini and junior football pitches is relatively low in 2010/11, which does not seem to be reflecting the projection in the study yet.