Issue - meetings

Councillor Elsie Bates, portfolio holder for Culture and Leisure, introduced a report providing an update on the current position in relation to the Policy for Unsupervised Children’s Playgrounds and seeking approval for a programme of repairs and replacement of play equipment and associated items identified in the annual independent inspection report for 2013.

The report also sought to make financial provision in the General Fund Capital Programme for the cost of repair and replacement of play equipment and associated items identified in the annual independent inspection report for 2013/14 and to consider provision for future works in 2014/15 and 2015/16.

This would ensure that children’s playgrounds provided by the council were maintained in a fit-for-purpose condition, and in accordance with independent safety inspections and the council’s adopted European Safety Standards, while minimising the authority’s exposure to risk in respect of reducing accidents and improving its ability to defend claims that may arise.

An alternative option would be to reduce the current level of play provision by ceasing to repair or replace items which    failed to meet the safety standards and opting to remove such items, focusing on providing a fewer number of larger multi-functional sites at major parks and open spaces.  This would require a significant policy shift away from local provision to more centralised provision and would necessitate a full policy review preceded by public consultation.  The financial and human resource implications of this option would be significant.

Resolved:

(1)               That the programme of works for 2013/14 be approved; and

(2)               That the Executive Director – Operational Services be authorised to seek and accept the lowest suitable tender or quotation for the works.