Issue - items at meetings - Brighton & Hove City Council Project Plan for Playbuilder Scheme

Joint report of the Director of Children’s Services and the Director of Environment (copy attached).

1.     That Cabinet approves the proposed 22 sites for Playbuilder investment.

2.     That Cabinet approves the establishment of a Play Task Force (which is a pre-requisite for the funding).

208.1         The Cabinet considered a joint report of the Director of Children’s Services and the Director of Environment concerning allocation of  Playbuilder funding to recommended play area sites across the city (for copy see minute book).

208.2         Opposition councillors praised the approach taken by officers in allocating funding and were pleased with the spread of sites across the city.

208.3         Councillor Simson commented that the project offered a good opportunity to put the council’s Community Engagement Framework in to practice to involve relevant parties, including children. She added that it was important to remember that the funding was for creating imaginative play areas and the high expectations would need to be borne in mind.

208.4         In response to queries, Councillor Theobald confirmed that the Friends of Parks groups had and would continue to be involved in the project, and that the council was already in receipt of the section 106 funding for play at the Level. He added that the project would complement ongoing work carried out by the council’s park department.

208.5         Councillor Watkins was assured by the Chairman that officers were looking into provision for older people.

208.6         RESOLVED - That, having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet accepted following recommendations:

(1)       That the proposed 22 sites for Playbuilder investment be approved.

(2)       That the establishment of a Play Task Force (which is a pre-requisite for the funding) be approved.