Decision details

To agree improvement works and a 3 year refurbishment programme for the Council’s play areas in the Borough.

The Council has 43 play areas located across the Borough that are provided predominantly for young people up to the age of 13.

A strategic review of all the play areas has been undertaken to determine what works needed to be completed to bring all the play areas up to standard and to establish a programme of future priority improvements.

In addition there is a need to determine what financial resources will be required to deliver an ongoing programme of play area improvements in order to maintain current standards.

Ward Councillors were consulted on the results of the evaluation for play areas within their ward and in principle agreement was reached on when future improvements or refurbishments could be implemented.

Appended to the report is the 3 year play area priority improvement programme which can be funded from section 106 developer contributions collected for the provision of play and recreational facilities.

The draft version of the programme was presented to the January meeting of the Leisure & Community Policy Development & Review Panel and members endorsed the programme without any amendment.

RESOLVED that the Executive approves;

(a)  the 3 year play area priority improvement programme as detailed in Appendix A, to be funded from Section 106 contributions for the provision of play and recreational facilities; and

(b)  a budget of up to £50,000 for other improvements required to bring all play areas up to standard, funded from Section 106 for the maintenance of play areas.