Agenda item

To receive an update from the Chief Officer (Climate, Energy and Green Space) on the proposed approach for the future development of a Playful Green Spaces Plan.

The Chair began by welcoming the early engagement on the future development of a Playful Greenspaces Plan.

Those in attendance for this item were:

-  Cllr Mohammed Rafique (Executive Member)

-  James Rogers (Director, Communities, Housing & Environment)

-  Polly Cook (Chief Officer, Climate, Energy & Greenspaces)

-  Vicki Marsden (Parks Technical Manager)

Cllr Rafique set out an ambition to improve access to nature-based play environments in the city’s greenspaces. He highlighted the range and extent of parks and greenspaces looked after by the Green Spaces Service, and advised the Board that a future Playful Greenspaces Plan will seek to provide play opportunities for young people of all ages and abilities.

It was further noted that the plan will support the priorities set out in the Play Sufficiency Report, previously agreed by the Executive Board in December 2023, and the city’s Child Friendly ambitions.

The Scrutiny Board acknowledged that this plan is focused on playful spaces that do not include fixed playground equipment – such as den building in woodland or mazes in long grass.

Members welcomed the development of the plan and the early engagement with Scrutiny.

Cllr Farley shared the success and learning that has emerged from the positive experience in his ward of the of the Playbox initiative. He also highlighted the need to ensure any future plan considers opportunities for play for slightly older children and teens.

Polly Cook noted that the outcome of planned community consultation will inform the final plan. However, she anticipates that recent consultation feedback regarding the perceptions of women and girls about safety in parks and greenspaces will also influence its development.

The Scrutiny Board was advised that the plan will provide a set of principles which can be applied to greenspaces. Where funding opportunities are subsequently identified the Council will then be able to act quickly to deliver more playful opportunities within greenspaces.

Members expressed concern about the ownership of land being a potential barrier to delivering improvements in areas that have the least access to greenspaces. They sought further clarity about how officers will work with colleagues to ensure that housing land, for example, is included in the plan.

Polly Cook set out the importance of taking a partnership approach to this work – citing the example of working with Wades Charity with regards to the Playbox programme.  

The Scrutiny Board explored the importance of community engagement. It was also noted that increasing the use of parks can reduce anti-social behaviour in these locations.

It was acknowledged that some areas of the city have very limited access to greenspace and the planning service is seeking to address that challenge through the Local Plan.  

Members noted that an audit had been developed to assess parks from the perspective of accessibility and the safety of women and girls. Officers were asked to consider whether a similar audit could be developed to identify current opportunities for play and the age groups associated with those opportunities – so as to inform future decision making about improvements to that provision.

The valuable role of local volunteer groups was highlighted, including the ‘friends of’ groups and their relationships with local rangers.  Cllr Cunningham shared her positive experience of intergenerational work in parks in her ward and the importance of involving teenagers in developing local greenspaces.

Members queried whether a revised approached to monies received through the Community Infrastructure Levy could help address imbalances in access to opportunities to play in some areas of the city.

The Chair noted that the Play Sufficiency Strategy addresses the broader challenge of opportunities to play in urban areas. He also highlighted the impact of increased traffic on the ability of some young people to play safely in their immediate localities.

Members discussed the enhanced benefit of a local neighbourhood plan in securing CIL monies and the associated challenges for some communities in developing such a plan.

The Scrutiny Board highlighted links to the approach to grass cutting with the ability of communities to use some areas of limited greenspace for play.

It was noted that members would appreciate conversations based on the geography of their wards and the potential opportunities for play within their local landscapes.

RESOLVED:

The Scrutiny Board agreed the recommendations of the report, namely:

a) For Environment, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Board to support and endorse the development plans and outlined consultation process for the creation of a Playful Green Spaces Plan.

b) For Environment, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Board to provide feedback of the process outlined in the report and to suggest areas for continued data gathering and research.

c) Note the contents of the report and future development of a Playful Green Spaces Plan.