Issue - meetings

Playbuilder Programme - Update

Meeting: 18/09/2009 - Children, Families & Education - Resources and Infrastructure Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Item 8)

8 Playbuilder Funding pdf icon PDF 81 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(Report by Ms R Turner, Managing Director and Mrs A Graham, Projects Manager)

(Mr K Abbott and Mr G Ward were present for this item)

 

(1)                           In the absence of Mrs M White, who was presenting at another CFE POC meeting, the Chairman sought Members agreement to questions that could not be answered by the officers present to be sent to Mrs White for answers in writing outside the meeting.

 

(2)                           Members agreed and made comments and asked questions that included the following:

 

·        Mr Brazier sought clarification on the on accessing the funding pool for a local resident

·        Mr Long sought an explanation on whether rural areas around the county would receive a fair chance in receiving funding for play areas

 

(3)               RESOLVED that the Members questions be forward to Mrs White for a response and the proposals set out in the report be approved.

 

(Following the meeting the following response had been received by Members)

 

Kent received its Playbuilder allocation a year ahead of the date originally notified (originally notified it would be April 2009 - Mach 2011) when the Government decided that it would bring forward a number of capital programmes to help deal with the economic downturn and the effect it was having on capital programmes elsewhere in the economy.

The result was that for Year 1, there was little time for planning and consultation and the planning process had to be in place before the official grant letter was received. As Year 1 agreed programmes would have to be in place by the end of the financial year, with no ability to roll funds into the next year, a pragmatic approach had to be taken. A minimum of 22 schemes over the two year period have to be delivered.

 

Districts already have Play strategies in place, have undertaken audits and have plans for the development of their Play areas. It was therefore agreed with the Districts and with other representatives that in Year One we would invite the Districts to put forward applications. Applications were reviewed by a selection panel ( this has KCC, Distriscts, Voluntary sector reps plus a technical expert from Play England). The aim was to ensure that there was at least one scheme in each District. Below is the list of Year One schemes (Maidstone withdrew their scheme and will resubmit in Year 2):

 

·         Ashford (Mersham Recreation ground)

·         Ashford (Hothfield)

·         Canterbury (Herne Bay Memorial Park)

·         Dartford (Darenth Park)

·         Dover (Connaught)

·         Gravesham (Judsons)

·         Sevenoaks (Swanley)

·         Shepway (Cheriton)

·         Swale (Faversham)

·         Thanet (Northdown)

·         Tonbridge & Malling (Leybourne Lakes)

·         Tunbridge Wells (Frittenden)

 

Year two planning is just starting and will be opened out beyond Districts