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 report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “O”) seeks to review the activity during the past year and the trends and direction options where available for future service delivery.

Recommended –

That the content of Document “O” and the smooth merger of the operational management and maintenance of Parks and Green Spaces within the Street Cleansing Service, whilst reducing the number of complaints to the service over the summer, be welcomed. 

(Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

(David Cansfield – 01274 437026)

Members were reminded that 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 report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “O”) sought to review the activity during the past year and the trends and direction options where available for future service delivery.

It was explained that following the merger the Parks and Green Spaces staff were based at Cliffe Castle, Keighley and the Cleansing Service at Stockbridge Depot. 

The managed facilities in the Keighley constituency were reported together with the managerial structure and events which had taken place.  Those events included a circus; band concerts, fun runs, play days, 1940’s and 1960’s events and play days and festivals.

The district wide parks depots budget was reported.  Document O revealed that recent budget savings had focused on alternative management and maintenance models of sites and facilities.  Those methods were outlined in the report.  District wide statistics were presented for grass cutting complaints from April to September 2019 and showed an increase in those complaints.  Other year’s data appeared to be consistent and it was considered that the sustained period of very hot weather during 2018 when the grass did not grow, and did not, therefore, require cutting, could account for the rise in complaints during the current year.

Awards received by the service were presented and included that Cliffe Castle was the only park in the district to be granted Green Flag and Green Heritage status.  Central Park, Haworth, had retained its Green Flag award with a mystery shopper style judging visit.

Members were reminded of the Council’s Sports Pitches Investment Programme to deliver the District’s new 2019 Playing Pitch Strategy to meet current and future demand and of a report which had been considered by the Executive which provided a breakdown of the location and condition of play/open spaces in the District.

A Member believed that Haworth Rotarians had offered to support the erection of a Skate Park in the district and it was agreed to investigate that proposal.

It was questioned if the proposal to reduce the parks and Green spaces by reducing the number of pitches maintained by the service would be through asset transfers and it was confirmed that was the case. 

A Member queried if there were alternative proposals for the proposed BMX track at Ilkley Riverside Gardens and it was reported that as the site was prone to flooding proposals were being considered elsewhere in the Ilkley area.  Details of the Technical and Play Officer Team which had remained in the Sport and Culture Department were provided so that Member could contact them directly for further information.

The progress of on going projects at Devonshire Park was questioned and it was explained that there were plans to cut back shrubs; clear trees and work on shrub beds during the winter.  The Bowls Pavilion was to be demolished.  The play area would be removed and replaced with a natural play area.

It was agreed to contact the technical department to asses the current situation and to email Members directly about Devonshire Park and the Beechcliffe play area. 

Resolved –

That the content of Document “O” and the smooth merger of the operational management and maintenance of Parks and Green Spaces within the Street Cleansing Service be welcomed. 

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: Regeneration & Environment

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place