Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendations.

The Cabinet Member for Waste Strategy, Public Protection and Leisure provided details of the approach to the Children’s Equipped Play Areas Match Funding Scheme for this year and from 2016/17 onwards.

                        Since 2010 the Council, in partnership with local Town and Community Councils, had successfully delivered a match funding programme to upgrade children’s playgrounds.

                        Initially in 2015/16, Fixed Play Match Funding of £105k would be made available on the same basis as previous years, details of which were outlined in the report.  Proposals would be required from Town and Community Councils by Friday 10 July with any unallocated funds then being available to support organisations who were taking on Community Asset Transfers (CATs).

                        Where a CAT of a play area was agreed the Council proposed to make a ‘one off’ payment of up to £5,000 per play area transferred with a maximum of £10,000 per community per year.  From 2016/17 onwards any unallocated funds from ‘Play Area Community Grant Scheme’ would then be made available on a match funding basis for the enhancement of children’s fixed play areas as outlined in the report.

            RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Play Area Match Funding scheme in 2015/16, as outlined in the report, be agreed, with any balance to be allocated to play areas subject to Community Asset Transfer; and

(b)       That from 2016/17 the Play Area Community Grant Scheme be established with its primary focus on supporting play areas that are transferred to, or managed by, communities.