Response to Environmental Scrutiny

Monday 20th September 2010

RE: Allotments, Parks and Open Spaces

Questions from members:

1)  General update on progress since officers last attended scrutiny in Feb 2010?

·  Cumberland Avenue Cadishead has now fully opened providing 20 allotments on a site that was previously derelict.

·  Clevelly’s allotment has had improvements made to the drainage facilities, which has now resulted in the remediation of flooded land and provided 13 additional allotments.

·  New site signage has been provided at 3 sites (Clevelly’s, Tindall St & Cumberland Ave).

·  Work has commenced on both Weaste & Clowes Park allotments and once completed will provide 35 allotment plots.

·  The rules and regulations have been formally approved by Environment Lead Member & Allotment Association.

2)  Have the current budget constraints had an impact on the allotment, parks and open spaces improvement programme?

Presently there has been no impact to the allotment, parks and open spaces services and its planned improvement programme. Capital funding for parks and allotments has been secured for forth coming years, however, each year the budget provision is reviewed by the SCC Treasury Team, and as such there is no guarantee that the future provision will be in place in forth coming years.

The parks and the allotments strategy have improvement programmes linked to them, however the programmes are linked to financial support, and if the finance is not available, the programmes may have to be reduced/delayed as a consequence.

3)  Progress on work with partners (Sustainable Regeneration, Salix etc); to promote open spaces and secure external funding?

There have been very productive discussions with our colleagues at Salix Homes (Colin Mannion), with regards to utilising “unused” gardens and open spaces that could be available for community use. Colin Mannion (Senior Manager at Salix)will provide further updates on the progress on Monday’s tour/visits.

4)  Levels of expenditure being incurred by the council in dealing with vandalism in parks and open spaces?

The last 3 years the following amounts have been spent on repairing and repainting play equipment and furniture within our parks and open spaces:

2010/11 (to date) / £19,498
2009/10 / £49,529
2008/09 / £45,105
2007/08 / £34,407
2006/07 / £34,268
2005/06 / £49,038

5)  What do we do to deter incidents of crime and disorder?

·  It is important that we ensure that our parks and open spaces are wherever possible “self policed” by the public, and to ensure this we provide equipment and activities that encourage the increased usage and visitors to our sites.

·  We have site-based operational teams that monitor public activity within these areas.

·  There are Park Rangers site based who add/compliment the operational teams. The rangers arrange activities, especially with school children and provide educational support for our community, with a focus on protecting and valuing our valuable greenspace assets.

·  The ‘dusk to dawn’ gate locking service also deters anti social behaviour (ASB - which is more likely to occur after night fall).

·  The Police and PCSO’s are also requested to patrol and inspect locations, and it is felt that their presence (especially after park gates are closed) can and will reduce any acts of ASB and therefore reduce crime and disorder.

David Robinson

Head of Liveability Services

Environment & community Safety Directorate