Agenda Item No. 6

AGENDA ITEM NO. 6

REPORT TO: Executive Board

REPORT NO: CEnO/15/09

DATE: 2 June 2009

LEAD MEMBER: Councillor David A Bithell (Environment and Transport)

LEAD OFFICER: Chief Environment Officer

CONTACT OFFICER: Martin Howorth (Tel: 763142)

SUBJECT: Wrexham Outdoor Fixed Play Equipment Strategy

WARD: All

1. PURPOSE OF THE REPORT

To consider the Wrexham Outdoor Fixed Play Equipment Strategy following public consultation (Appendix 1).

2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

2.1 The Wrexham Play Strategy’s broad aim is to increase the range, quality and inclusivity of play opportunities which all children, young people and their families have access to within their own communities. The Wrexham Outdoor Fixed Equipment Play Strategy helps deliver the Wrexham Play Strategy and considers the provision and distribution of open access outdoor fixed play equipment in Wrexham County Borough (play areas, skate parks, MUGA’s, BMX tracks).

2.2 There is a need to focus existing resources on improving the existing play area stock and rationalising play areas that are in close proximity that are of poor quality. The longer term aim should be to provide a minimum of one good quality play area per Community Council area by refurbishing existing play areas. This does not mean we would remove all the other play areas. 2

2.3 Work has begun on providing capital improvements to the play areas through a four year programme of £50,000, starting in 2009/10 rising to £139,000 in 2012/13. The current annual revenue budget for play area equipment is £35,000 per year.

3. RECOMMENDATIONS

3.1 That Members approve the Wrexham Outdoor Fixed Equipment Play Strategy.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

To enable the delivery of better quality outdoor fixed play facilities and improve children’s opportunities for play in Wrexham County Borough.

John Bradbury Chief Environment Officer

4. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

4.1 Members of the Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee received a presentation on the current situation of Wrexham’s Outdoor Fixed Equipment Play facilities on the 24 September 2008. This was followed by a site visit by members on the 14 October 2008, to some play facilities as part of the fact finding stage of the strategy development. The initial Draft Wrexham Outdoor Fixed Equipment Play Strategy was considered by the Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee on the 17 December 2008 (report CEnO/31/08S refers) and was subsequently sent out for consultation. Members of the Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee considered the results of this consultation process on 1 April 2009 and requested further information on the Fields in Trust standards and the cost implications of reaching that standard to be added to the Strategy.

4.2 The Wrexham Play Strategy’s broad aim is to increase the range, quality and inclusivity of play opportunities which all children, young people and their families have access to within their own communities. The Wrexham Outdoor Fixed Equipment Play Strategy helps deliver the Wrexham Play Strategy and considers the provision and distribution of open access outdoor fixed play equipment in Wrexham County Borough.

4.3 This supporting strategy concentrates on the provision, management and development of fixed play equipment on Wrexham County Borough Council sites. This includes fixed equipment play areas, multi-use goal 3

areas (MUGA’s), BMX style cycle tracks, youth shelters and skate parks. 4.4 Wide ranging consultation has been undertaken as part of the development of both Play Strategies. The Play Development Team and Youth Service undertook a series of consultation events with children and young people through road shows, youth forum, urban and rural primary schools and traveller children’s groups. Parents and carers, disabled children and children and young people have been asked their opinions at play events and other activities. Community Councils were asked their opinion of play provision in their area.

4.5 The general feeling from the various pieces of consultation undertaken suggests play areas and youth facilities (MUGA’s, Skate Parks, BMX tracks) remain popular with children of all ages. There is some suggestion that children would like to enjoy more natural play, not just traditional fixed play equipment. Children with disabilities appear to want to play and use the same facilities as everyone else and not to feel segregated.

4.6 Cleanliness, good quality play equipment and fencing to keep out dogs are the top priorities for parents and carers. The majority of Community Councils and Members that responded were concerned about the lack of funding for play areas and felt Community Councils should not be burdened by maintenance of play areas (though some already do this). Community Councils feel the provision for children and young people is not particularly good. However, Community Councils do have dual powers in order to provide provision of play areas and therefore responsibility could be shared.

4.7 Key issues arising out of the strategy are:- Current Wrexham County Borough Council revenue resources are inadequate to maintain and improve the existing play area and related youth facilities. There is a need to provide capital investment in upgrading play areas, to prevent the deterioration and removal of these facilities. Out of 96 play areas, 17 are considered in poor condition this year and 35 in good condition, the remainder are average. The majority of Community Councils consider the provision of youth facilities as poor in their area.

4.8 There is a need to focus all existing resources on improving the existing play area stock and rationalising play areas that are in close proximity that are of poor quality. Through new planning build (Section 106) opportunities or other grant or lottery funding allows for the creation of a play area in a community with little or no play provision, then this could be pursued to improve the spread of play areas in communities with a poor provision.

4.9 With limited resources, it is important to try and achieve a spread of good facilities across the communities. The longer term aim should be to provide at least one good quality play area per Community Council 4

area by refurbishing existing play areas. This does not mean we would remove all the other play areas. 4.10 The park play facilities are the most popular and heavily used play facilities in the County Borough. With such good use they also receive heavy wear and tear. The Play facilities at Ty Mawr Country Park and Nant Mill need upgrading if they are to maintain the standard of green flag parks. Acton Park play facilities have been identified as requiring improving as part of the Heritage Lottery Fund research on how the park needs to improve over the next five years.

4.11 It is important when considering play facilities in new housing developments, that the existing play facilities in close proximity to the site are looked at to see if it would be sensible to upgrade these areas using Section 106 money, rather than creating a new play area close to an existing poor quality play area.

4.12 The strategy indicates we will work towards providing youth facilities for Community Council areas with no youth provision, if external funding supports this and there is a demonstrable need.

5. CONSULTATION

5.1 See 4.4 above.

6. SCRUTINY COMMITTEE COMMENTS

6.1 The Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee agreed to review and update the existing Strategy, for the provision and distribution of open access outdoor fixed play equipment in Wrexham, to ensure it supported the Play Strategy for Wrexham.

The Committee considered a draft Strategy at a meeting on 17 December 2008 and this was distributed for consultation.

The Committee considered the final draft of the Strategy at its Meeting on 1 April 2009. Members considered the negative consequences of WREN and Section 106 funding not being guaranteed on the proposals to improve the quality of play areas.

It was noted that the financial contribution of Community Councils was not the key consideration of WREN grant. It was more important that a sufficient degree of support should be demonstrated. They welcomed the increased budget for the provision but realised the difficulties in maintaining the 96 play areas in the County Borough. It was also considered appropriate that the final version contain detailed information on the costs of implementing the relevant Fields in Trust Standards.

The Committee agreed "take in resolutions". 5

6.2 AGREED:- That the Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee request that the Wrexham Outdoor Fixed Play Equipment Strategy contains more detailed information on the Fields in Trust Standards, highlighting the costs to this Authority if they were to bring the fixed play provision up to the minimum standard; and

6.3 That subject to the aforementioned amendment, the Executive Board be recommended to approve the Wrexham Outdoor Fixed Play Equipment Strategy.

7.0 IMPLICATIONS

7.1 Policy Framework – The need for Wrexham to develop its own play strategy is identified in “Shared Planning for Better Outcomes” the Welsh Assembly Governments planning guidance and regulations for Local Authorities and their partners on Children and Young People’s Plans, under Section 26 of the Children Act 2004. More specifically within Wrexham’s Children and Young People’s Plan (2008-2011), the key task “complete and support the implementation of our new Play Strategy, to increase the range, quality and inclusivity of play opportunities which all children, young people and their families have access to within their own communities”.

7.2 Budget – Following concern over the level of the Environment Department’s play equipment budget, the Executive Board agreed a three year capital programme of £50,000 per year for the years 2009/10 until 2011/12 for play areas. In 2012/13, a capital sum of £139,000 has been agreed for the improvement of play areas. This is in addition to the existing play area budget of £35,000 to assist in the delivery of the Wrexham Outdoor Fixed Equipment Play Strategy.

7.3 Legal – N/A.

7.4 Staffing –There are no staffing implications in the delivery of this strategy.

7.5 Equalities/Diversity – A joint Equality Impact Assessment has been carried out on the Play Strategy and the Wrexham Outdoor Fixed Play Equipment Strategy in conjunction with the Play Development Team from the Children’s and Young People’s section and sent onto the Equality Manager.

BACKGROUND PAPERS LOCATION WEBSITE INFO. 6