Agenda item

Review of Districtwide Playground Provision

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Barry)

 

Report of the Head of Environmental Services.

Minutes:

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Barry)

 

The Head of Environmental Services submitted a report updating Cabinet on the recent review of districtwide playground provision.

 

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

 

Option

 

Pros

Cons

1-      Adopt the policy for playground provision outlined- without consultation

 

 

 

Provides for a comprehensive, well located, well equipped, sustainable playground network.

 

Encourages partnership working with Parish Councils and allows Parish Councils to divert funds that would otherwise be spent on playground inspections and minor maintenance elsewhere.

 

Focuses on quality rather than quantity but ensures there are play areas within easy reach of most children.

 

Identifies gaps in existing provision and makes recommendations as to how best to fill these.

 

Allows officers to plan with certainty.

 

Doesn’t allow for consultation with relevant stakeholders.

 

Reduction in number of play areas

2- Adopt the policy for playground provision outlined – for consultation

Allows for consultation with relevant stakeholders which will influence implementation.

 

Provides for a comprehensive, well located, well equipped, sustainable playground network.

 

Encourages partnership working with Parish Councils and allows Parish Councils to divert funds that would otherwise be spent on playground inspections and minor maintenance elsewhere.

 

Focuses on quality rather than quantity but ensures there are play areas within easy reach of most children.

 

Identifies gaps in existing provision and makes recommendations as to how best to fill these.

 

Allows officers to plan with certainty.

 

 

Reduction in number of play areas

3- Adopt / consult on a policy other than that set out in the report

 

The recommendations set out in the report have been prepared based on Officers knowledge of the condition of current play ground stock, recommendations of insurers, PPG17 and the recommendations of the Parish Task Group.

 

The officer preferred option is option 2

 

It was moved by Councillor Barry and seconded by Councillor Ashworth:-

 

“(1)      That consultation be carried out on the basis of the following list (appended to these minutes).

 

(2)               That the proposed £50,000 of capital funding for play areas in 2010/11 be used to build a play area in Heysham and further information will be sought on where the other play area is to be built.

 

(3)               That details of the consultation be brought back to Cabinet in June 2010 for decisions.”

 

Members then voted:-

 

Resolved unanimously:

 

(1)        That consultation be carried out on the basis of the following list (appended to these minutes).

 

(2)               That the proposed £50,000 of capital funding for play areas in 2010/11 be used to build a play area in Heysham and further information will be sought on where the other play area is to be built.

 

(3)               That details of the consultation be brought back to Cabinet in June 2010 for decisions.

 

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

 

Corporate Director (Community Services)

Head of Environmental Services

 

Reasons for making the decision:

 

The decision allows for consultation to take place and be reported back to Cabinet before decisions are taken on the individual playground provision sites listed in the report.

 

Supporting documents: