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Play activity in 天涯社区
Published: 04/01/2017
The Council has made a clear commitment to sustaining play activity. At last
month鈥檚 Cabinet, it was reported that almost 拢900,000 is to be invested over
three years to replace play equipment, upgrade play areas and replace the
playing surface of synthetic sport pitches.
In addition to that, the Council will continue the revenue match funding of
拢123,000 for play areas to ensure they are safe and maintained correctly. This
funding is being matched by Town and Community Councils to give an investment
of approximately 拢250,000 in local play areas.
In 2016, the Council agreed to provide, for one year only, funding to continue
the level of play scheme provision provided in previous years following the
withdrawal of Welsh Government funding. As a result, this year鈥檚 play schemes
were funded partly by the County Council with approximately 拢80,000 and partly
by Town and Community Councils.
The Council continues to work with Town and Community Councils to find the best
solution to ensure the continuation of future play scheme activity, making the
best use of the resources available in this financially challenging
environment. The Council鈥檚 position is to protect the provision of play
schemes 鈥 many of which are being lost in other parts of Wales through the
impacts of enforced budget cuts 鈥 because there is high demand for them and
clear evidence of the value of play for young people鈥檚 development.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Aaron Shotton, said
The Cabinet in January will consider allocating a one off funding amount of
拢40,000 to continue a level of transitional support to play schemes in 2017/18.
We recognise the value of these schemes to local communities and the value they
have in inspiring children to play and be creative. Overall in 2017/18 the
Council is seeking to support play areas and play schemes by providing
additional investment in the region of 拢1.2 million.
天涯社区 Cabinet Member for Leisure, Councillor Kevin Jones,
said:
鈥淕iven the requirement of the national Play Sufficiency Assessment and the
challenges of providing these type of services in the current climate, it was
agreed to re-establish the 天涯社区 Strategic Play Forum to co-ordinate work
across the County. An event to 鈥榢ick-start鈥 this process was held in
November, facilitated by Play Wales and Doctor Stuart Lester with an invitation
extended to all community members and officers. The next steps will be to
identify a new Chair and Vice Chair for the Forum. All this hard work shows
that 天涯社区 really is committed to sustaining play activity
in the County and will work with partners and Town and Community Councils to
provide the best possible service for our residents.鈥