Agenda item

The Executive Director presented the Inclusive Play Policy report for Cabinet’s consideration.

In doing so, the following was highlighted for Members consideration:

·       The Inclusive Play Policy had been developed to deliver better outcomes for accessible and inclusive outdoor equipped play areas across Bromsgrove District. It included specific recommendations for Strategic Parks and a design checklist to improve other play spaces.

·       Definitions of ‘Accessible’ and ‘Inclusive Play’ were included in the Policy. It was explained that inclusive play went beyond accessible play to support more equitable provision allowing disabled and non-disabled children to enjoy high play value.

·       Good practice guidance from the Fields in Trust, Sensory Trust, Scope UK and Play England had been reviewed. However, there was a lack of national standards for inclusive play provision (for outdoor equipped play).

·       Plan Inclusive Play Areas (PiPA) was the UK's only independent accreditation system for evaluating accessible and inclusive play area design. It was reported that this was an exceptionally high standard to achieve with only one site in the West Midlands, at Cannock Chase being a recipient of PiPA accreditation. It was proposed that an audit / assessment of Sanders Park play provision be carried out against the PiPA standard and then implement improvements within twelve months. Achieving the PiPA standard for Sanders Park would clearly demonstrate the Council’s commitment to inclusive play, providing a centrally located destination play space with good car parking and accessible toilet provision, which was important for many disabled visitors (both children and carers).The learning from Sanders Park would then be applied to other strategic parks in Bromsgrove e.g. St Chad’s Recreation Ground, King George V Playing Field and Lickey End Recreation Ground. However, only St Chad’s Recreation Ground had accessible toilet provision. It was further noted that future development at Perryfields may create opportunities for inclusive play and supporting facilities at King George V Playing Field.

·       Other BDC play spaces in receipt of investment through the Play Investment Strategy, as approved by Cabinet in December 2024 would be assessed to consider how the investment could be used to improve the accessibility and inclusiveness of the play offer. A Design Checklist had been developed to assist officers and play companies to audit existing provision and consider opportunities. This had a numerical scoring system (with the scoring system based on similar criteria to PiPA) to allow change to be recorded and monitored.

·       The proposed approaches in the policy were considered to be a good balance between the ambition to deliver more inclusive play and the challenges of investing in and improving existing play provision. Consideration needed to also be given to high levels of use, anti-social behaviour, vandalism and limited maintenance budgets for outdoor equipped play provided in public open space.

·       The proposed approach had been reviewed by Members at Cabinet Working Group in December 2025 and at a Cabinet Advisory Group meeting in January 2026. The Policy had been revised based on comments from Members.

·       The costs of the project to support the aspirations set out in the policy was £500,000. An amendment to the recommendation in respect of the Capital Programme 2026/2027 to 2029/2030 contained within the Medium-Term Financial Plan 2026/2027 including Treasury Management Strategy, Capital Strategy and Investment Strategy to reflect this cost would be made prior to its consideration at the Council meeting on 25^th February 2026.

RESOLVED that

1)     the Inclusive Play Policy Statement be adopted

2)    the detailed audit of play provision at Sanders Park (against the Plan Inclusive Play Areas [PiPA] accreditation criteria/checklist) be approved

3)    the proposals for Sanders Park be implemented within a 12-month period, strategic and local sites within the next 24 months.

4)    subject to completion of resolution 3 above, authority be delegated to the Assistant Director of Planning, Leisure and Culture Services to apply for accreditation for Sanders Park play area against the PiPA standard;

5)    authority be delegated to the Assistant Director of Planning, Leisure and Culture Services to develop plans to make the play space in Sanders Park a District wide exemplar for accessible and inclusive play;

6)    authority be delegated to the Assistant Director of Planning, Leisure and Culture to commission an assessment of the other strategic parks and other play areas against the PiPA standard/checklist and to establish the viability of gaining accreditation;

7)     the Design Checklist be approved as a tool for improving the accessibility and inclusivity of all other play spaces; and

8)    To NOTE that a budget bid of £500,000 in the capital programme had been submitted to pay for inclusive play improvements and for additional officer support.