Issue details

The adopted 2015 Green Spaces Strategy informs the Parks’ service’s approach to the provision of formal play areas in parks and green spaces across the district – identifying deficits and surpluses in provision.

The Current Council administration included a manifesto commitment to provide for the replacement of play equipment across the Council’s play areas as equipment reaches its end of life, and the Parks’ service maintains a comprehensive asset register for its play equipment with projected life expectancies for all of its play assets. The condition of all play equipment assets are assessed through weekly inspections and this information informs the rolling programme of replacements as equipment reaches its end of life. This approach has informed a rolling programme of capital replacements over recent years - for which there is currently provisional approval up to 2022.

The review also seeks to identify priority areas for ongoing investment and provision (such as Royal Victoria Park) where there is a very strong public demand, high levels of use and a good business case for continuing to provide formal play provision (for instance the play area in Victoria Park supports a vibrant café and ice cream concession which helps the Parks Service to meet its income targets). The Service is also increasingly being asked to provide accessible play equipment which meets the needs of young people with mobility and sensory impairments. We have identified Alexandra Park as the site where, with a modest investment, the Council could provide a fully accessible play area for young people with disabilities- helping to meet the Council's responsibilities under the Equality Act.

So, in 2018/19, the Parks service wishes to deliver a capital programme which includes:
• Replacing end of life play equipment in Royal Victoria Park play area.
• The provision of accessible play equipment and associated landscaping work at Alexandra Park
for the reasons outlined above.
• The removal of end of life equipment at Burchill Close, Clutton. The equipment needs to removed for safety reasons.The Council needs to take action to make the site safe- which requires the removal of the play equipment as soon as possible.

See council approved budget 2018/19 . (Council report Feb 2018).