Issue - meetings

The BCP Council Plan for Play brings forward a strategy that sets out how our play infrastructure should be managed, designed and improved.

This key strategy directly aligns and supports many of the Council’s key ambitions. This report highlights the detail contained in the strategy, most notably how our stock of play facilities – play equipment, cycle and bmx facilities – is in severe decline and in need of significant investment.

The Plan for Play includes an Improvement Plan that sets out a phased approach to investing in the equipment that is crucial to our young people and their physical and mental well-being. This investment can make an immediate impact that ensures play areas stay open and creates a pathway to work with communities, local business and funders to support our play needs.

Adopting the Plan for Play sets out a vision and priorities for what future provision should look like across BCP and can be applied as funds become available or decisions are made.

The Portfolio Holder for Communities and Partnerships presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Committee was informed that the BCP Council Plan for Play brings forward a strategy that sets out how the Council’s play infrastructure should be managed, designed and improved. The key strategy directly aligns and supports many of the Council’s key ambitions. The report highlighted the detail contained in the strategy, most notably how the stock of play facilities – play equipment, cycle and BMX facilities – was in severe decline and in need of significant investment.

The Plan for Play included an Improvement Plan that set out a phased approach to investing in the equipment that was crucial to young people and their physical and mental well-being. The investment could make an immediate impact that ensures play areas stayed open and create a pathway to work with communities, local business and funders to support  play needs within BCP.

Adopting the Plan for Play sets out a vision and priorities for what future provision should look like across BCP and could be applied as funds became available or decisions were made.

A presentation was given by The Strategic Lead for Greenspace and Conservation on the strategy and play equipment. Full details were not given on the play sites that would benefit as there would be an all members briefing in the future that would outline those specific sites.

It was stated that a lot of sites are in need of replacement or repair. Site audits had been done to understand needs for each area. 

It was stated that play was found to be the second most important thing for residents and was important for children’s development.

The Plan for Play included a 5 phased approach which would include 2 new play spaces. Just over 10 million pounds in funding was received for the 5 phased approach.  The 1^st phase would commence from April 2025 if approved at Cabinet.

One of the 5 priorities was Play Streets and the active travel team were part of this.

It was noted that if play equipment was removed from an area it would become/ remain green space and there may be a small amount of funding available to put in a bench or something similar.

RESOLVED that Committee reviewed the Plan for Play presentation and relevant information as an update on previous presentations and as the strategy moves towards BCP Cabinet adoption.

Voting: Unanimous