Briefing 2 July 2007 Blaenavon Recreation Centre

1. Briefing 2 July 2007Blaenavon Recreation Centre

2. This briefing will… • Provide a context for the “schools and pools” debate • Give you up to date information on our ambition for Blaenavon • Provide an outline of the likely timetable and process

3. Context Huge demands on revenue and capital: • Enormous maintenance backlog (mainly schools) • St Peter’s • Hillside Primary • Hillside Nursery • County hall replacement • New cemetery • Canal project • etc.

4. The state of play now… • Centre closed in January • Key issues from Member Seminar in May • Relatively high cost per user • Significant cost associated with re-opening Centre • Re-opening ‘Centre’ a poor fit with Corporate Plan priorities • Storm damage brings forward the need to resolve this debate – it didn’t cause it

5. Our community provision

6. The future… • Real opportunity for modern school, modernised health and social care and modernised community facility • Innovative, exciting proposals likely to attract external funding to supplement our capital programme • Site feasibility and evaluation study suggests two strategic options • Community focussed school • Integrated education and community services campus

7. Integrated Provision? A campus with • A school fit for the 21st century • Modern primary care health and social care provision • Some local leisure provision including a floodlit outdoor facility • Single access point for council services and the police Plus • Extra care housing in Blaenavon • Opportunities for additional affordable housing

8. Key Issue • New facilities unlikely to be affordable without application of money released through Centre closure (can be used to raise up to £4million) • Other Considerations • Study suggests that Recreation Centre site is the only viable site for either option • Integrated option only likely to be available if a decision to close is taken soon – otherwise Local Health Board will probably act independently • A new integrated facility can be available from 2009 completing in 2012 (delay factor is affordability to Council).

9. Elements of the Process • Public Display, Workmen's Hall, 6-7 July • Cabinet Decision 18 July • Consultation on Primary Care resource Centre – October to December • In respect of school closure Council must undertake comprehensive consultation with statutory consultees (lasts between 8 – 12 months)

10. 420 place primary school 130 place nursery school 2 additional classes Small group rooms Library/resource room Main Hall Small Hall Foyer – entrance area External play Other accommodation Storage Kitchen Entrance HT office General office Staff room WCs Changing facilities Foundation phase compliant DDA compliant Indicative School Proposals

11. Indicative Community Facilities • Reception • Meeting/interview rooms • Community Safety access point • Council Customer Care access point

12. Indicative Health Facilities • Primary health Care • at least 5 GPs, Health Visitor, Practice Nurse etc • Space for: • Pharmacy, dentistry, training, consultation & community use • Community Nursing Base • Physiotherapy, podiatry & other therapeutic services • Expansion space

13. Indicative Leisure Provision Likely to include: • Hall • Community uses of school hall (possibly a stage, badminton etc.) • Leisure & Fitness • Fitness Suite (including multi-gym) • Instructed classes • Table Tennis • Martial Arts • Dance • Changing facilities • Off-site pitch and play area enhancements • All weather floodlit Multi Use Games Area (MUGA)

14. Example Provision at Hollybush

15. Indicative Leisure Provision

16. Indicative Leisure Provision • All weather floodlit Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) • 5-a-side football, • Tennis, • Mini Tennis, • Netball, • Basketball, • Hockey, • Rugby Training, • Athletics Training, • Football Training

17. Indicative Block Plan

18. Design features • Significant user involvement • Choices & Affordability • Sympathetic design • Sustainability

20. A community needs... A child needs….

21. Indicative Site Uses • Health • Primary health Care, at least 5 GPs, Health Visitor, Practice Nurse etc • Space for:Pharmacy, dentistry, training, consultation & community use • Community Nursing Base, Physiotherapy, podiatry & • other therapeutic services • Expansion space • Community • Reception • Meeting/interview rooms • Community Safety access point • Council Customer Care access point • Leisure • Hall - Community uses of school hall (possibly a stage, badminton etc.) • Leisure & Fitness - Fitness Suite (including multi-gym),Instructed classes, Table Tennis, Martial Arts, Dance • Changing facilities • Off-site pitch enhancements • All weather floodlit Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) for 5-a-side football, Tennis, Mini Tennis, Netball, Basketball, Hockey, Rugby Training, Athletics Training, Football Training • School • 420 place primary school • 130 place nursery school • 2 additional classes • Small group rooms • Library/resource room • Main Hall & Small Hall • Foyer – entrance area • External play • Other accommodation -Storage,Kitchen, Entrance, HT office, General office, Staff room, WCs, Changing facilities • Foundation phase compliant • DDA compliant