Agenda item

The Assistant Director Planning and Leisure Services presented the Bromsgrove Play Audit and Investment Strategy, and in doing so informed Members that the Bromsgrove Play Audit and Investment Strategy was presented at the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting on 9^th December 2024.

Appendix 1 to the report detailed all of the play areas locations and their condition.

Appendix 2 to the report detailed the order of investment needed for play areas that would be within 10/15 minutes walking time for nearby residents.

The report detailed that currently there were 85 play areas across the district. A total of 40 of these were owned and managed by Bromsgrove District Council, the other 45 were owned / managed by other organisations including parish councils, community associations, and private management companies.

Bromsgrove Play Investment Strategy was focused on the 40 play spaces that Bromsgrove District Council were responsible for.

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillor P. M. McDonald, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board stated that the Board had raised a few minor questions, with regards to some minor detail anomalies in the cfp document.

Councillor McDonald drew Members attention to the Boards suggested amendment to Recommendation 2 in the report, as follows:-

2.       That the approach to capital investment as presented in The Bromsgrove

           Play Audit and Investment Strategy (Appendix 2) is accepted and that

           officers are requested to prepare bids for capital funding, as applicable,

           to be considered in due course and in the context of other funding bids

           in consultation with Ward Members.

The Leader thanked Councillor McDonald.

The Leader further referred to the English Devolution White Paper and sought reassurance from the Deputy Chief Executive (and s151 officer) in securing funding for Bromsgrove ensuring that the Council had enough reserves. We needed to ensure sustainable provision.

The Deputy Chief Executive (and s151 officer) that the capital programme funding and capital spend, along with earmarked reserves would be looked at.

The Deputy Leader commented that funding could not be secured for broken play equipment only for the replacement of play equipment.  Should this be referred to in the Risk Management, as this could impact on the delivery of the Strategy.

In response the Assistant Director Planning and Leisure Services agreed this  was correct and that Parish Council mapping needed to be carried out and included in the next MTFP. The Deputy Chief Executive further agreed that this would be included in Tranche 2 of the MTFP.

Further discussions followed on the play areas that were managed by management companies and their maintenance.

RESOLVED that   

1)    the approach to improve the accessibility of equipped children’s play as presented in the Bromsgrove Play Assessment, as detailed at Appendix1 to the report, be adopted; and

the amended Recommendation, from the Overview and Scrutiny Board, as referred to in the preamble above, as follows:-  

2)    the approach to capital investment as presented in, The Bromsgrove Play Audit and Investment Strategy, as detailed at Appendix 2 to the report, be accepted and that officers be requested to prepare bids for capital funding, as applicable, to be considered in due course and in the context of other funding bids in consultation with Ward Members.