Agenda and minutes

To formally elect a Chair of the Task Group.

The Task Group were invited to nominate a Chair.

Resolved: That Councillor Craghill be appointed as the Chair of the Play Opportunities Scrutiny Review Task Group.

At this point in the meeting, Members are asked to

declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of

Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they might have in respect of business on this agenda.

Members were asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests or disclosable pecuniary interests which they might have in respect of the business on the agenda. None were declared.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak can do so.  The deadline for registering is 5.00pm on Monday 8 August 2016.  Members of the public can speak on agenda items or matters within the remit of the committee.

To register to speak please contact the Democracy Officers for the meeting, on the details at the foot of the agenda.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officers (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/file/6453/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetingspdf

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report presents some initial information in support of this new scrutiny review on developing high quality play opportunities for children, young people and families across the city, and asks the Task Group to agree a method for progressing this review.

The Task Group considered a report that presented some initial information in support of this new scrutiny review on developing high quality play opportunities for children, young people and families across the city, and asked them to agree a method for progressing this review.

Officers gave an update and highlighted the background to the scrutiny topic. They discussed in detailed the four objectives and it was noted that a fifth one was also approved at the Learning and Culture Policy and Scrutiny Committee:

v, Look at where the gaps are across the city and where the lack of community capacity makes identifying need more challenging.  

The Task Group went on to consider the importance of play within communities and noted the existing and future play areas across the city, including the gaps, and officers confirmed there was a poorer distribution of opportunities for teenagers.

The Task Group questioned how they could improve play opportunities across the city and engage with communities to identify potential schemes.  Officers confirmed that councillors can use an allocation of their ward budgets to bring forward or develop new play schemes. All Members would become an integral part of this process and be encouraged to retrieve feedback from children, young people and families by visiting their local schools and user groups.

Officers went on to explain the consultation process and the different options available to bring a scheme together and confirmed they were currently advertising in various publications to identify potential capital projects. 

The process invited suggestions from children, young people, parents and carers in York and the completed applications were due to be considered by a multi- agency panel and the successful schemes would be approved at an Executive Member for  Economic Development and Community Engagement (Deputy Leader) Decision Session.

The Task Group went on to discuss the barriers to play and then considered the proposed timetable and the information they required to proceed with the review.

Resolved:

i)             That the update information on previous steps to encourage play provided in this report be noted.        

ii)            That the consultation feedback contained within Annex D of the report  be considered.

iii)          That at the next meeting officers provide:

·        case studies on the play schemes at Acomb Green, Clarence Gardens, Wigginton, and Strensall

·        examples of local good practice from engagement through to delivery of a project including feedback from users.

·        examples of failed schemes to gain an understanding of why they were refused.

iv)          That a fifth objective be agreed:

·        To look at where the gaps are across the city and where the lack of community capacity makes identifying need more challenging.  

Reason: To progress this review in line with scrutiny procedures, and protocols.