Decision details

The Shadow Executive (Cabinet) Members with the responsibility for Leisure and Culture will be asked to consider the current differences in approach to the playground inspection service across Forest Heath and St Edmundsbury and to put forward an interim option for 2019/20 and 2020/21 whilst a wider review is being completed.

The  Forest Heath DC and St Edmundbury BC Portfolio Holders for Leisure and Culture (also Shadow Executive (Cabinet) Members with the responsibility for Leisure and Culture) have each made the following decision:

(1)     the proposed interim arrangement for a free play area inspection service for the financial years 2019/20 and 2020/21, as outlined in paragraph 1.3 of Report No: EXC/SA/18/007, be approved; and

(2)     as part of the 2019/20 budget setting process, the budget for play inspections be increased by £6,500 to take account of the increased costs and reduced income, as in paragraph 1.4 of Report No: EXC/SA/18/007, be agreed.

The Forest Heath DC and St Edmundsbury DC Portfolio Holders for Leisure and Culture consider it is appropriate to align the approach to play area inspections for implementation on 1 April 2019 (creation date for the West Suffolk Council) and for the playground inspection service be offered to all parish and town councils and Playing Field Associations without a charge for the financial years 2019/20 and 2020/21. During that time the play area inspection service will be considered as part of a wider review of the new Council’s relationship with town and parish councils.

The £6,500 budget increase as part of the 2019/20 budget setting process to take account of the increased costs and reduced income, is considered appropriate to warrant the implementation of the above.

To levy a charge to town/parish councils in St Edmundsbury, as is current practice in Forest Heath; however, this is not a preferred option given the play area inspection service will be considered as part of a wider review of the new Council’s relationship with town and parish councils.