The operational management and maintenance of Bradford District’s Parks

and Green Spaces is a service devolved to Area Committees.  The service

merged with the Street Cleansing Service in April 2019.

The Strategic Director, Place will submit Document “O” which reports on the

activity during the past year and the trends and direction options where

available for future service delivery.

Recommended-

That the Committee welcomes the content of the report and the smooth merger of the operational management and maintenance of Parks and Green Spaces with the Street Cleansing Service, whilst reducing the number of complaints to the service over the summer.

(Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

                                                            (David Cansfield – 01274 437026)

Resolved-

(1)       That the Committee welcomes the content of the report and the smooth merger of the operational management and maintenance of Parks and Green Spaces with the Street Cleansing Service, whilst reducing the number of complaints to the service over the summer.

(2)       That the Committee recognises the importance of the districts parks and open green spaces for the health and wellbeing of the districts residents.

(3)       That the Committee raises concerns about the limited budget for the maintenance of a large number of children’s play areas and the impact of this on offer to young children and families across the district.

(4)       That officers work with Ward Councillors to look at additional opportunities to extend areas of green spaces.

Action:           Strategic Director, Place

Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny

                                                                        (David Cansfield – 01274 437026)

The operational management and maintenance of Bradford District’s Parks and Green Spaces was a service devolved to Area Committees. The service merged with the Street Cleansing Service in April 2019.

The Strategic Director, Place submitted Document “O” which reported on the activity during the past year and the trends and direction options where available for future service delivery.

It was reported that the Council’s Sports Pitches Investment Programme would deliver the District’s new 2019 Playing Pitch Strategy to provide a hierarchy of outdoor playing pitch and ancillary facilities, which met current and future demand. This would seek to address declining playing numbers within the key sports of football, cricket, rugby (both league and union), tennis and athletics.

Members were informed that the capital spend of £15m, approved by the Project Approval Group and the Executive would be partnered by other external grant funding from National Governing Bodies and partners. This would deliver three district wide multi-sports hubs, five local multi-sports hubs and a number of single pitch improvements, creating opportunity for everyone to participate in physical activity and sport to improve outcomes across the District relating to health, well-being and community cohesion.  

In response to a Members question it was reported that the sites within Bradford East were currently being assessed; however Myra Shay had been identified as a District Wide Hub; investment would be made in a new floodlit All-Weather Pitch with updated changing facilities and a new all-weather cricket wicket.

There was a discussion on the limited budget for the maintenance of a large number of children’s play areas and the impact this would have on young children and families across the district.

It was reported that £39,500 was the yearly funding to maintain 308 current facilities; facilities were in the main repaired and replaced where possible; if a facility was not repairable and the Service did not have the funds it would not be replaced.

A Member commented on the importance of the districts parks and open spaces for the health and wellbeing of people in the district  

Resolved-

(1)       That the Committee welcomes the content of the report and the smooth merger of the operational management and maintenance of Parks and Green Spaces with the Street Cleansing Service, whilst reducing the number of complaints to the service over the summer.

(2)       That the Committee recognises the importance of the districts parks and open green spaces for the health and wellbeing of the districts residents.

(3)       That the Committee raises concerns about the limited budget for the maintenance of a large number of children’s play areas and the impact of this on offer to young children and families across the district.

(4)       That officers work with Ward Councillors to look at additional opportunities to extend areas of green spaces.

Action:           Strategic Director, Place

Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny