Resolved:  That all items on the agenda be web-cast.

Apologies were received from Councillors Pickett, Smith, Burton and Ash.

It was noted that Councillor Fran Wilson and English was substituting for Councillor Pickett and Smith respectively.

It was noted that Councillor Vizzard and Councillor Fitzgerald were visiting Members.

There were none.

Resolved:  That all items be taken in public as proposed.

Interview with:

·  Jason Taylor, Parks and Open Space Manager; and

·  Councillor Chris Garland, Leader of the Council.

The Chairman welcomed Councillor Garland, Leader of the Council and Mr Jason Taylor, Parks and Leisure Manager, to the meeting. The Members who had called in the item, Councillor Mrs Wilson, Councillor English and Councillor Fitzgerald, were invited to present the report.

Councillor Wilson summarised the reason for calling in this item; the decision had been made to reduce the capital budget for play areas prior to a play area review which would likely highlight areas in need of improvement. Councillor English informed Members that this decision was premature as the discussion of concurrent functions and asset transfers was still to be finalised. Councillor Fitzgerald stated that the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture had responded in writing to the Councillors original concerns after the call-in, and believed that he had misunderstood the their concerns as they were not proposing to get rid of the budget, but rather wanted to earmark it for future use. He informed Members that should they have received this letter prior to the deadline for the call-in, they may have been able to avoid the need to bring this to Committees’ attention. The Members were informed that in 2003 an assessment was made of the play areas in the urban and rural areas which identified that there was limited scope for development. Councillor Fitzgerald stressed that the safety of the children must not be compromised as a result of the proposed budget cut.

Councillor Garland informed the Committee that there was a need to assist the pressures on the capital programme, and to unlock the money set aside for play areas would create flexibility. Mr Taylor informed the Committee that there were 74 play areas in the borough, which were either controlled by the Council, Golding Homes or Parish Councils and ranged from toddler to teenage use. The Committee noted that maintenance was funded through the revenue budget not capital budget. The rationalisation review would take a couple of months to complete. Many parks are assessed daily by his team, and all at least weekly, as well as this and an audit is carried out annually by Zurich, MBC’s insurers.  In response to a question Mr Taylor informed the Committee that the review would be based on time taken to get to each play area on foot. The Committee highlighted that this review should be done with sensitivity and consideration for how children access the play area, whether any major roads are nearby for example.

Councillor Garland informed the Committee that this proposed budget was for 2010/11 only, and that 2011/12 budget may remain at £125,000. However, as the capital programme must remain flexible he proposed that until the review was undertaken, the budget for the play areas should be kept at £50,000 and released £75,000 from the budget. Councillors Wilson, English and Fitzgerald informed the Committee that they were in favour of this proposal and thanked the Leader of the Council for this compromise. The Committee accepted this proposal from the Leader of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

6.30pm to 7.20pm