The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “Q”) will provide an update on the use of green spaces in the District. The paper seeks to outline the current position, opportunities and challenges across the district, particularly in relation to areas of high deprivation.

Recommended –

That the Committee comments as appropriate.

(Mick Priestley – 01274 437345)

The joint report of the Strategic Director of Health and Wellbeing and the Strategic Director of Place Document “Q” provided an update on the use of green spaces in the District.

In 2018 the Committee agreed that the next report should focus on what is happening locally to increase and improve local green space, and to make access to green spaces easier for more people. The Committee also requested a particular focus on the more deprived areas of the District after a 2018 local study showed that some urban parts of Bradford have relatively green streets compared to similar urban areas, but on average have fewer green spaces for leisure and play (Ferguson and colleagues, 2018). There are some notable exceptions where urban areas have large, well maintained award-winning parks.

The appendix to the paper was a piece of work prepared by the “Born in Bradford” service,  which brings together evidence around the things that enable people to use spaces and the things that act as barriers to people. 

The Council manages 36 public parks (270 hectares) which is comparable with many other local authorities.  The District has 109 wooded areas or woodlands with over 850 hectares, which is below the national average. The Council has 100 recreation grounds as well as cemeteries and memorials spaces, and moorlands.  There are various strategies that relate to this issue, namely the Play Space Strategy, the Sports Facilities Strategy and Cycling Strategy.

Following the presentations Members discussed a number of matters,including:-

·      On the subject of “playful snickets”, officers highlighted the areas around healthy places in the Local Delivery Pilot will identify two or three snickets to work on, adding that it is not a district wide plan.

·      As regards bidding to the Heritage Fund for refurbishing parks. The park strategy group are looking at which parks are going to be the most successful in order to determine which bids be submitted.

·      Officers explained that the Local Delivery Pilot is working with children aged 5 to 15 across ten wards in the District, with the aim of improving and increasing their physical activity levels. They are in the process of developing their programme which has four discreet project areas within it. They are developing plans that are based on the engagement work they have done.

Concern was expressed about relying heavily on the Sport England Local Delivery Pilot, as Sport England are currently consulting on how funds should be allocated, as they are running eighteen months late in delivering their own projects.  Officers responded that they had met with Sports England the summer and staff are now in place. 

Concern was also expressed that some of the EU funding may end, and members questioned whether any contingency plans were in place.  It was explained that within Public Health there is an understanding that the funding is secured if Britain leaves with a deal, and where Bradford is part of a partnership, as far as possible, that will continue if the bids are successful as most of the bids have been developed through partnership of eight or nine European cities. The uncertainty is if there is no deal.

A question was raised regarding the future support to voluntary organisations. How are we working with the voluntary sector to create the sort of engagement seen in other areas to be successful.

Officers explained that they started developing plans with the National Governing Bodies, then expand discussions to other local organisations including GP surgeries along with colleagues in Public Health, to look at how non-sporting people can be encouraged to use the facility.  Management will not be through a traditional Council management model.

A Member stated that recent studies show that people that live in inner city areas have a shorter life expectancy due to health inequalities and asked what was being done to tackle those health inequalities.  What links are being made with the NHS.

Officers responded that the Public Health Team works very closely with the NHS regarding life expectancy studies, adding that there will be a report at the Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 24 October 2019 looking at the spending that was just mentioned, and will list all the programmes. Members of this Committee are welcome to attend that meeting.

In addition it was reported that the measure in the Public Health outcomes framework is to increase physical activity in our green spaces.  Work has already started looking at what information to capture and how the impact on public health outcomes across the Council is measured, to maximise opportunity.

A Member expressed concern that the cycling strategy appeals to those who want to cycle as a form of recreation, but doesn’t appear to address the issue of people cycling to and from work.

A Member asked what the Council was doing to promote footpaths and countryside (along with other activities such as climbing) from a health perspective.  Officers said this query would be fed back to the “Living Well” service.

On the subject of removing barriers a member stated that it may not be realistic to provide wet weather gear and transport for people to access the countryside, and queried where the funding would come from.  Officers responded that the point about wet weather gear and transport was reported by an organisation as evidence of what they actually do.  The open space audit is currently looking at issues engaging with people around facilities that they want to see in green spaces and open spaces.

Officers added that they have been working with the LDP in Peel Park and agreed the design for the new play area which is specifically for children to play and get muddy. The LDP will provide footwear and transport to get the children from the inner city out to the open spaces. It is about changing the perceptions of play facilities.

A member expressed concern that charging people to park in these areas was putting a barrier in place. If the Council want to encourage people to visit these places, we should not be charging for parking. This makes things difficult for people operating on a budget.

Resolved –

That the Committee welcomes the report and requests that an update be presented in 12 months, detailing specific projects and their outcomes.

Action: Strategic Director, Place