Agenda item

The report seeks approval for the adoption of the Play Area Strategy and for its recommendations to be adopted as guidance for use by the Council when considering play area provision and refurbishment in the borough.   In addition, the report seeks to highlight that the play area strategy is aspirational and that there are financial implications for the Council in delivering the play area strategy, for which external funding will be required.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Executive:

1.            endorse the findings and recommendations of the Play Area Strategy and recommends to Council that the Play Area Strategy 2015-2024 be adopted;

2.            recognises and notes that the Play Area Strategy is aspirational and that there are financial implications for the Council to fully deliver the strategy, its recommendations and action plan; and

3.            acknowledges that the financial implications will be met by using funding received from developer contributions sought through the planning process such as PIC, CIL and s106 and also any available external grant funds for playground provision and refurbishment.

The Executive has:

1.            endorsed the findings and recommendations of the Play Area Strategy and RECOMMENDS to the COUNCIL that the Play Area Strategy 2015-2024 be adopted;

2.            recognised and noted that the Play Area Strategy is aspirational and that there are financial implications for the Council to fully deliver the strategy, its recommendations and action plan; and

3.            acknowledged that the financial implications will be met by using funding received from developer contributions sought through the planning process such as PIC, CIL and s106 and also any available external grant funds for playground provision and refurbishment.

[This item is recommended to the Council for approval and is not subject to the call-in procedure].

[Reason: to seek adoption of the Play Area Strategy as guidance for the Council when considering play area provision and refurbishment in the borough]

55.1    A Play Area Strategy for the Council has been produced by undertaking a complete review of play provision across the Borough (including Town and Parish Council owned sites) of all known playground, skatepark and multi-use games area (MUGA) sites.  The review involved measuring areas of formal and informal play space and comparing it to; Fields in Trust (FiT) Standards, Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) assessments of play value and accessibility and lastly the estimated life expectancy of playground equipment.  

55.2    This information has been compiled to produce an up-to-date strategy with recommendations and an action plan enabling the Council to have a structured approach towards playground provision and refurbishment across the borough.   The strategy provides the evidence for sound reasoning and justification to use development gains from the planning process such as Planning Infrastructure Charge (PIC), Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 monies.

55.3    Whilst producing the play area strategy, the Council fully consulted with playground providers and the planning department in order to fully understand the levels of provision across the borough.  This year the Council has already completed three playground refurbishments; Phillips Memorial Park, Holloway Hill and Farnham Park Play Area.  Consultations took place for all three schemes using a range of communication channels including social media.  Each scheme received over 400 responses from local residents and park users who voted for their favourite design

55.4    Consultations on design options for the partial refurbishment of the Broadwater Park and Aarons Hill play areas have recently been completed and work is due to start on the refurbishment of these sites.  Furthermore the Council is also conducting a survey on the provision of play at Oast House Crescent and White Cottage Close, Farnham and Hale Reeds Open Space.

55.5    The Council has also implemented a phased signage improvement programme across all the boroughs play areas.  Phase one (32 play areas) has been completed and phase two (8 play areas) is in progress.  The signage has been designed to inform users; of the name of the play area, that the play area is managed by Waverley Borough Council, how to get in touch with the council and the ages of children the site is intended for.  Phase three will be implemented as part of the ongoing refurbishment programme.

55.6    The Council aims to provide clean and challenging play environments that are accessible for children of all abilities and ages to play together.   This enables children to play in a social environment where they will experience and learn about risk.   Clearly the Council aims to minimise risk and to not provide unsafe play opportunities but must balance this against the level of challenge provided.   All playgrounds managed by the Council will confirm to the relevant safety standards applicable and endorsed by RoSPA.

55.7    One of the main focuses of the play area strategy is to constantly seek to improve the play provision and environment of the playgrounds and skate parks directly managed by the Council by a programme of continual refurbishment of sites each year (see Action Plan at Annexe 1).   Wherever possible we will seek to encourage and influence other playground providers such as local development, Town & Parish Councils and other organisations to also provide challenging play environments and to continually seek to improve the play provision and play environment.

55.8    Where it is of interest to the Council, the transfer of the management and maintenance of playgrounds over to the Town & Parish Councils will be considered.  When local development provides new play provision, the Council will seek to ensure that these are managed by a management company rather than the Council taking on the management and maintenance obligations and associated costs and risks.

Health and Wellbeing

55.9    The Play Area Strategy promotes the ‘Health and Well Being’ benefits of adequate play provision in terms of quantity and quality of play value.   There is a large body of research that highlights the benefits of open space and physical activity for children and adults alike in reducing health inequalities and improving mental as well as physical health.  This research complements the physical activity guidelines for children and adults produced by the Department of Health.  There is also evidence that the more children play outside, the more likely they are to do so as adults and therefore to go on and encourage their own children to play outside.

55.10  The greatest health risk facing children today is obesity.   Recent statistics from the National Centre for Health Statistics report that the number of obese and overweight children is increasing.   It is also known that Children who are obese are more likely to become adults who are obese.   Therefore the adequate provision of play opportunities for children within the borough that provide access to challenging physical activity are essential to providing a solution to combat child obesity.

Executive Summary

55.11  The Play Area Strategy provides an executive summary which summarises the main 35-page document and its appendices A-F, (Annexe 2), and sets out its purpose and timescale over a ten-year period from 2014-2024 and includes methodology, introduction to play, standards for play and recommendations for action.

Recommendations

55.12  The Play Area Strategy provides recommendations which have been organised into geographical areas, giving an opportunity to see provision for communities as a whole rather than just in ward areas.   Where the strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) has highlighted potential development sites, these have been identified as presenting an opportunity for improved play infrastructure in that area.   Whilst these sites are not confirmed development sites, they have been highlighted in case an opportunity for play provision arises.  Annexe 2 (Executive Summary) summarises the main recommendations of the play area strategy.

Action Plan

55.13  The findings from the recommendations have enabled an action plan to be drawn up that addresses current and future needs for play provision.  The action plan lists playground sites generally in order of priority of need for refurbishment and also includes areas for review and consideration such as new play areas (Action Plan, Annexe 1).   Sometimes the order of priority will change dependent on funding available, e.g. PIC/s106 and the forthcoming CIL or the condition of the equipment changes significantly.

Local Development Links

55.14  The details of this action plan will enable a direct link to be made to the Council’s justifications for spending PIC monies on play area improvements and will put the Council in an ideal position when CIL contributions become available.  The playing area strategy will provide a sound justification to argue successfully for developer contributions (once adopted by the Council) to be used towards; maintenance, quality improvements, additional play provision and other facility improvement.

Funding and Risk Implications

55.15  The Council will need to decide how to fund investment into play provision and refurbishment against the other competing priorities of the Council.  This could be achieved by considering a combination of capital investment, use of PIC/s106 & and the future CIL from planning gains and also any identified external grant funds available during the normal budget setting process.

55.16  Should the Council decide not to fund investments into play provision and refurbishment, the Council will be at risk of; providing inadequate play provision, providing poor play value, missing out of the health and well being benefits and potentially providing poor maintained facilities which may pose a health and safety risk.

Financial Implications

55.17  Playground provision and the refurbishment of existing play areas associated with this play strategy are not fully funded so funding will be sought from a combination of capital investment, use of PIC/s106 and the future CIL and any identified external grant funds.  In addition to the capital investment in playground facilities there is an ongoing revenue cost for inspections and repairs.  By continuing the ongoing refurbishment programme maintenance costs associated with older playgrounds should be reduced over time.  

55.18  Where new developments provide new playground provision as part of the overall scheme, the management and maintenance costs will be covered by the setting up of management companies who manage and maintain the play area independently, rather than the Council incurring the costs associated.  

55.19  On occasions there may be a requirement for new playgrounds to be provided directly by the Council in order to deliver adequate play area provision.   As a result the Council would then be responsible for the additional management and maintenance costs associated.

55.20  The Executive has recognised and noted that the Play Area Strategy is aspirational and that there are financial implications for the Council to fully deliver the strategy, its recommendations and action plan and acknowledged that the financial implications will be met by using funding received from developer contributions sought through the planning process such as PIC, CIL and s106 and also any available external grant funds for playground provision and refurbishment.  The Executive, having endorsed the findings and recommendations, now

RECOMMENDS that

21.       the Play Area Strategy 2015-2024 be adopted.

[Reason: to seek adoption of the Play Area Strategy as guidance for the Council when considering play area provision and refurbishment in the borough]