Council notes a number of recent incidents that have occurred within the city’s parks, which have affected the security and safety of park users. Council also notes that such incidents may result in residents feeling reluctant to use the city’s parks in the way they were intended. Manchester has a strong history of creating, acquiring and maintaining parks for the use and benefit of the city’s residents (and visitors), and parks have long been a cornerstone of the social, physical, cultural and economic health of the city and its communities. As well as organised events, activities and sports, the presence of a park in a community can contribute in very tangible ways to the overall health, wellbeing, social cohesion, aspiration and skills of its users and stakeholders – as has been argued, affirmed and proven by many individuals and organisations over the 172 year history of public parks in Manchester.

Nevertheless, recent incidents in a number of our parks – and a growing perception of insecurity among park users – threatens to undermine the beneficial contribution our parks make to our communities. Council notes that this can only have a detrimental effect to our city. Concerns about safety have left many people reluctant to visit their local park, or to engage with the opportunities and services it offers. Without action and a reaffirmed commitment to the security and safety of park users, we risk facing further reduction in usage and engagement (particularly in smaller parks with few or no ‘destination events’). The Council has a strong Parks Strategy, developed through both public consultation and Scrutiny, but this strategy cannot succeed if people do not feel safe going into our parks.

Council calls upon the Executive and officers to undertake a review of security and safety arrangements for parks across the city, with a view to developing a refreshed strategy for park safety that will enhance and strengthen the implementation of the Parks Strategy. In addition, Council calls on the Executive and officer to look at ways of supporting user and stakeholder groups (including, but not limited to, Friends groups) who are often called on to deal with the consequences of incidents, and who are ‘frontline’ in assessing and reporting security concerns, and to develop and support channels for sharing best practice and multi-agency working to promote and maintain the safety and security of all our public parks.

Proposed by Councillor H Priest, Seconded by Councillor Riasat and also signed by Councillors Holt, Wills, Curley, Craig and Ali Ahmed

Motion proposed and seconded:

Council notes a number of recent incidents that have occurred within the city’s parks, which have affected the security and safety of park users. Council also notes that such incidents may result in residents feeling reluctant to use the city’s parks in the way they were intended. Manchester has a strong history of creating, acquiring and maintaining parks for the use and benefit of the city’s residents (and visitors), and parks have long been a cornerstone of the social, physical, cultural and economic health of the city and its communities. As well as organised events, activities and sports, the presence of a park in a community can contribute in very tangible ways to the overall health, wellbeing, social cohesion, aspiration and skills of its users and stakeholders – as has been argued, affirmed and proven by many individuals and organisations over the 172 year history of public parks in Manchester.

Nevertheless, recent incidents in a number of our parks – and a growing perception of insecurity among park users – threatens to undermine the beneficial contribution our parks make to our communities. Council notes that this can only have a detrimental effect to our city. Concerns about safety have left many people reluctant to visit their local park, or to engage with the opportunities and services it offers. Without action and a reaffirmed commitment to the security and safety of park users, we risk facing further reduction in usage and engagement (particularly in smaller parks with few or no ‘destination events’). The Council has a strong Parks Strategy, developed through both public consultation and Scrutiny, but this strategy cannot succeed if people do not feel safe going into our parks.

Council calls upon the Executive and officers to undertake a review of security and safety arrangements for parks across the city, with a view to developing a refreshed strategy for park safety that will enhance and strengthen the implementation of the Parks Strategy. In addition, Council calls on the Executive and officers to look at ways of supporting user and stakeholder groups (including, but not limited to, Friends groups) who are often called on to deal with the consequences of incidents, and who are ‘frontline’ in assessing and reporting security concerns, and to develop and support channels for sharing best practice and multi-agency working to promote and maintain the safety and security of all our public parks.

Resolution

The motion was put to Council and voted on and the Lord Mayor declared that is was carried.

Decision

The Council calls upon the Executive and officers to undertake a review of security and safety arrangements for parks across the city, with a view to developing a refreshed strategy for park safety that will enhance and strengthen the implementation of the Parks Strategy. In addition, Council calls on the Executive and officers to look at ways of supporting user and stakeholder groups (including, but not limited to, Friends groups) who are often called on to deal with the consequences of incidents, and who are ‘frontline’ in assessing and reporting security concerns, and to develop and support channels for sharing best practice and multi-agency working to promote and maintain the safety and security of all our public parks.