Agenda item

To consider the joint report of the Director of City Development and the Director of Children and Families which provides an overview of the first Leeds Play Sufficiency Assessment and its future development proposals. The report seeks the Board’s endorsement of the Play Sufficiency priorities as outlined, and also the appointment of a ‘Play Champion’ to raise awareness of Play Sufficiency and to support the work of Play Sufficiency across all Council directorates.

The Director of City Development and the Director of Children and Families submitted a joint report providing an overview of the first Leeds Play Sufficiency Assessment which had been undertaken and which also presented future development proposals in relation to play sufficiency. The report sought the Board’s endorsement of the Play Sufficiency priorities as outlined, together with the appointment of a ‘Play Champion’ to raise awareness of Play Sufficiency and to support the work of Play Sufficiency across all Council directorates.

By way of introduction, it was noted that the report was being presented jointly on behalf of the Executive Member for ‘Adult Social Care, Public Health and Active Lifestyles’ and the Executive Member for ‘Children’s Social Care and Health Partnerships’. Also, it was noted that Leeds was the first city in England to undertake a play sufficiency assessment, which aimed to assess, improve and protect children’s opportunities to play through a range of actions and via a multi-agency approach. The report presented nine play sufficiency priorities for the Board’s consideration.

A Member raised concerns regarding the proposals within the report and highlighted that during this time of financial challenge, the Council had more urgent areas that should be prioritised ahead of such proposals. As an alternative, it was suggested that such an initiative could be progressed via a more locally based approach such as through Community Committees. 

In response, the Board received further information in support of the proposals, including how they were consistent with the Council’s ambition to be a Child Friendly City and the principles of being a Marmot city. Also, emphasis was placed upon how the proposals would aim to deliver a more co-ordinated approach to the provision of play opportunities across different sectors and how it was a preventative initiative given the importance of children’s right to play, particularly when considering the emerging impact of the pandemic upon children, with the Director of Public Health’s 2022 Annual Report into related matters being specifically referenced. Also, it was noted that the proposals were not seen as being particularly resource intensive, with it being confirmed that given the scale of the financial challenges faced, should these proposals not be delivered, then this would not remove the need for the Council to make very difficult financial decisions in relation to the services it provided.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the Play Sufficiency priorities, as set out in the submitted report, which directly link to Child Friendly Leeds Wish 2, the new play priority in the refreshed Children and Young People's Plan and the Physical Activity Ambition, be supported and endorsed;

(b)  That the Executive Member for Children’s Social Care and Health Partnerships be appointed as a ‘Play Champion’ to raise awareness of Play Sufficiency and to support the work of Play Sufficiency across all directorates of Leeds City Council;

(c)  That agreement be given for the ‘Play Champion’ to help drive the development of the Play Sufficiency Action plan and to provide an annual oversight of progress to the Executive Board;

(d)  That support be given to the embedding of the Play Sufficiency principles and recommendations within the Priority Neighbourhood Partnership Plans;

(e)  That the contents of the submitted report be noted, with it also being noted that the responsible officers for such matters are the Chief Officer of Children and Families and Chief Officer Operations and Active Leeds.

(Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.5, Councillor Lamb required it to be recorded that he voted against the decisions referred to within this minute)