Peer Review Service

SPARC has introduced a ‘Peer Review Service’ for territorial authorities (TAs).

The service offers TAs a high level, independent, and economical quality assurance model for feasibility studies, and sport and recreation strategies.

Peer review

Peer review panels will comprise of a selection of professionals from the sport and recreation sector (including SPARC) with expertise appropriate to the particular strategies and studies being reviewed.

The New Zealand Recreation Association (NZRA) is facilitating this process on behalf of SPARC.

Benefits

• independent perspective - from the input of a panel of industry experts
• assurance of a second opinion
• checks and balances regarding the project scope and how that fits with the national perspective
• overall improved outcomes with the potential to save on costs
• latest good practice advice
• enhanced sector capability
• encourages peer review as a standard practice in line with other industries.

How it works

• Councils submit projects/strategies to NZRA for Peer Review Service consideration
• NZRA and SPARC agree which projects/strategies are funded
• NZRA establish a contract with the client to determine the scope of the review and the council’s financial contribution (minimum of $2,000)
• all parties agree on the membership of the Peer Review panel which may include representatives of relevant national sports organisations and if required a council attendee for background understanding
• NZRA co-ordinate and chair the Peer Review process
• NZRA provide written feedback to the client within two weeks of the peer review.

Investment

SPARC is investing staff time and expertise to provide a national perspective and alignment with sector strategies and programmes.

SPARC will also make a financial contribution of up to $5,000 per peer review, dependent on the size and scope of the project.

Peer Review – Facilities

The preparation of a comprehensive feasibility study for facility development projects is an essential process in good planning.

The Peer Review Service will consider some or all of the following aspects;

• capital budget range
• project operating costs
• projected user numbers and revenue/income
• how robust the rationale is for all projections
• project design

Peer Review – sport and recreation strategies

Councils’ sport and recreation strategies are reviewed in proportion to the size of the strategy tabled.

The Peer Review Service will consider some or all of the following aspects:

• scope
• methodology, including consultation and research methods
• draft strategy as against project brief and level resourcing/funding
• how reflective a strategy’s recommendations are of the project’s consultation and research
• how robust and realistic the implementation plan is including governance of the strategy’s implementation

For further information please contact:
Kirsten Malpas
New Zealand Recreation Association
Phone 04-801 9365
Email k.malpas@nzrecreation.org.nz

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