Report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods)

This report provides an update on the progress of delivering the Park Strategy.

The Committee received a report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods) which provided an update on the progress of delivering the Park Strategy since the last report to Communities and Equalities Scrutiny Committee on 24 May 2018.

The Strategic Lead (Parks, Leisure, Youth and Events) referred to the main points and themes within the report which included:

• Providing a context and background, noting that in December 2017 a ten year strategy for Manchester’s Parks was launched to guide investment, upkeep and activation;
• Describing progress against the actions identified within the Plan;
• Information on Quality Standards;
• Information on income;
• Information on Friends, Communities and Volunteers;
• Information on resourcing of the Park’s Team; and
• The contribution towards mitigating climate change.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were:

• How would local Members be involved with the development of park plans;
• Who would be responsible for the maintenance of the Hough End mobile changing rooms;
• How effective was the new interactive football wall at Platt Fields Park, and was the intention to roll this out;
• There appeared to be a lack of investment in playing pitches in North Manchester, in particular the smaller parks;
• What was being done to support Friends Groups in terms of their own marketing, branding and social media;
• What criteria is applied to assess a ‘safe’ park, noting that safe is a relevant term to different people and what measures have been introduced to ensure they are safe;
• Consideration should be given to installing CCTV equipment in parks, particularly secluded parks to address issues of Anti-Social Behaviour; and
• Commenting on the lack of play facilities in parks for children with disabilities and their families.

The Executive Member for Skills, Culture and Leisure informed Members that playing pitches were subject to a different strategy and that was the reason they were not referenced within this report. He stated that all Members had been contacted previously regarding this subject and had been invited to comment on and prioritise pitches in their respective wards, and Officers were currently working through these responses. He said that there was a programme of developing bespoke park plans that would involve all relevant stakeholders, including Police, Housing Providers, Friends Groups and Members. He said that despite the ongoing budget cuts Manchester had continued to invest in parks.

The Strategic Lead (Parks, Leisure, Youth and Events) commented that a report was scheduled for consideration at the January 2020 meeting on Capital Strategy for Leisure Facilities that would provide Members with an update on the Playing Pitch Strategy. He stated that they were two separate strategies for the purposes of planning to protect playing fields, however acknowledged that there was a cross over in terms of investment

The Strategic Lead (Parks, Leisure, Youth and Events) stated that planning applications were currently submitted for temporary changing facilities at Hough End, to be delivered in March, subject to planning approval. He said this would be followed by capital investment for improved facilities at the site, and it was anticipated that this would be managed using existing arrangements. He further commented that the football wall would be evaluated, pending any decision to roll out further and the Committee would be kept informed of these developments.

The Parks Lead informed the Committee that Friends Group had been supported to embrace and use social media, using a volunteers’ development programme. She further commented that staff undertake safety inspections, in conjunction with Friends Groups, commenting that these were undertaken from a service user perspective, noting that parks needed to appear well loved and cared for, free of weeds and graffiti.

The Parks Lead stated that accessibility was important for all citizens and consideration would be given as to how best consult on park plans to ensure all opinions were captured and understood, including those who currently did not use local parks as a result of limited accessibility.

The Executive Member for Skills, Culture and Leisure acknowledged the comment from the Committee Member who had raised the issue of accessibility by acknowledging that more needed to be done to improve this. He stated this was understood and was a priority for future investment and planning across all parks.

A Member commented that the Our Manchester Disabled Peoples Board could offer support this area of work.

The Strategic Lead (Parks, Leisure, Youth and Events) responded to a question from a Member regarding the ‘Parks in Partnership’ grant funding offer by advising that information on how this funding could be accessed was to be agreed and information on this would be made available at the appropriate time, adding that it was anticipated that the fund would be launched in spring 2020.  

Decision

To note the report.