Decision details

To use recommendations from the Parks Play Area Review and feedback from public consultations to:

• Proceed to community asset transfer three play areas to town councils in Radstock and Midsomer Norton.
• Re-purpose two play areas (at Parry Close and St Saviours in Bath), replacing conventional play equipment with natural play opportunities and landscape improvements.
• Undertake a further consultation on the future of the play area and adjacent open space at Ridge Green Close/ Sulis Meadows in Bath
• Work with residents at Calton Road, Bath to raise grant funding to replace the current play area provision with new natural play facilities.
• Make no changes to play areas at Chalfield Close in Keynsham and Loxton Drive and Burnt House Road in Bath.

The Cabinet Member agrees to use recommendations from the Parks Play Area Review and feedback from public consultations to:

• Proceed to community asset transfer three play areas to town councils in Radstock and Midsomer Norton.

• Re-purpose two play areas (at Parry Close and St Saviour’s in Bath), replacing conventional play equipment with natural play opportunities and landscape improvements.

• Undertake a further consultation on the future of the play area and adjacent open space at Ridge Green Close/ Sulis Meadows in Bath

• Work with residents at Calton Road, Bath to raise grant funding to replace the current play area provision with new natural play facilities.

• Make no changes to play areas at Chalfield Close in Keynsham and Loxton Drive and Burnt House Road in Bath.

The Council’s Parks team manages 60 children’s play areas across the district. All play areas need to inspected at least weekly and require ongoing capital investment to replace play equipment as it reaches its end of life. The Council’s Green Spaces Strategy identifies access standards for play areas with the aim of ensuring that there is a children’s play area within 580m of all residents. In 2018, the Parks Service reduced the number of play inspectors.  The Service was also mindful of the emerging pressures on the council’s capital, programme and the costs for replacing all end of life play equipment. Within this financial context, the Parks Team conducted an assessment of the play value of all 60 of B&NES owned play areas (2019). Residents were consulted on proposals to re-purpose ten of these spaces – protecting their status as open spaces- but presenting options for alternative, and less costly play and leisure facilities.

Option 1 – Retain existing play facilities and support volunteer groups to take on a greater responsibility for the maintenance of facilities; working with the community to fundraise for replacement equipment. This option was suggested by members of the public at a number of feedback sessions but, as explained, it is unworkable as the Council needs to maintain a rigorous inspection schedule staff for manufactured play equipment, with inspections undertaken by qualified staff. Without regular, recorded inspections by qualified staff, there is a risk to the Council’s insurance liability.

Option 2 – Maintain the existing number of play areas and restore pre 2019 numbers of inspection staff.  This would require the diversion of funds from another area of the Council’s budget or from a reduction in the park’s service elsewhere. This is arguably inequitable when the reduction in the number of formal play areas outlined in the play review would still safeguard the provision of a play area within 580m of every resident in B&NES.

Option 3 – Out-source the inspection and maintenance of play areas to a third party. The Council’s play inspection services were bench-marked against other local authorities in 2018 and found to be very cost effective.  In-house provision ensures more flexible operations and allows ad hoc and planned repairs to be made by the team - which is more cost effective than paying for the work to be done by an external contractor.