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Motion from the Green Group - Enabling outdoor play and community Belonging

 

 

Meeting: 19/03/2026 - Council (Item 72)

72 MOTION FROM THE GREEN GROUP - ENABLING OUTDOOR PLAY AND COMMUNITY BELONGING pdf icon PDF 84 KB

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The Council considered a motion from the Green Group calling for measures to enable outdoor play and community belonging.

 

On a motion from Councillor Saskia Heijltjes, seconded by Councillor Joanna Wright, it was

 

RESOLVED that

 

Council:

 

  1. Recognises the vital role that physical activity and outdoor play have in supporting the health, wellbeing, and development of children and young people across Bath and North East Somerset.[1]

 

  1. Notes the work undertaken by the charity Playing Out. Play streets (or ‘playing out’ sessions) are neighbour-led temporary road closures on quiet, residential streets, creating a safe space for children to play freely together on their doorstep. Playing Out also champions School Streets, to provide children with more opportunities for outdoor play at the beginning and end of school days.[2]

 

  1. Notes research published in the British Medical Journal identified a mental health crisis in young people before COVID19, with the pandemic exacerbating these issues and widening inequalities. Playing out can help children and young people build emotional resilience by creating strong ties to their local community and developing both social skills and a sense of belonging.[3]

 

  1. Is concerned that 2022/2023 data from Sport England reveals that 39% of BANES’ children are failing to meet the Chief Medical Officers’ recommended 60 minutes of daily exercise. Council notes that outdoor play in England has declined by 50% in a generation, with traffic, fear of crime, and unwelcoming public spaces contributing to this drop.[4]

 

  1. Acknowledges that the BANES Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy (2023-2030) aims to put in place the best conditions for people of all ages to live healthy and fulfilling lives including enabling and encouraging proactive engagement in health promoting activity at all ages for good quality of life.[5]

 

  1. Believes play sufficiency is an important part of supporting Bath and North East Somerset’s children, leading to better outcomes for their health, wellbeing and education.

 

  1. Notes that play provision within Bath and North East Somerset sits across departments and there is no one or team responsible for play provision.

 

Council resolves to:

 

  1. Invite the appropriate Policy Development and Scrutiny panel(s) to consider adding the issue of play provision to their workplan(s).

 

  1. Suggest that PDS work could include reviewing existing plans and strategies, identifying any gaps, and considering how Council could enable more children in Bath and North East Somerset to play more of the time.

 

[Notes;

1.  Councillors in favour (48); - Councillors Michael Auton, Tim Ball, Alex Beaumont, David Biddleston, Colin Blackburn, Alison Born, Anna Box, Stuart Bridge, Paul Crossley, Chris Dando, Jess David, Mark Elliott, Fiona Gourley, Kevin Guy, Alan Hale, Ian Halsall, Dave Harding, Liz Hardman, Steve Hedges, Saskia Heijltjes, Joel Hirst, Lucy Hodge, Duncan Hounsell, Shaun Hughes, Eleanor Jackson, Grant Johnson, Samantha Kelly, George Leach, Hal MacFie, Ruth Malloy, Lesley Mansell, Paul May, Matt McCabe, Simon McCombe, Sarah Moore, Robin Moss, Michelle O’Doherty, Manda Rigby, Sam Ross, Onkar Saini, Toby Simon, Shaun Stephenson-McGall, George Tomlin, Malcolm Treby, Andy Wait, Sarah Warren, Tim Warren, Joanna Wright.

 

Councillors against (2);  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72

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