Adventure Playgrounds – Scrutiny

26th June, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plans by the executive of the City Council, to cut the Adventure Playgrounds funding have been scrapped. This follows strong protests and demonstrations from the playgrounds and an in depth scrutiny enquiry.

All of those involved in the scrutiny process were pleased at the result, as one member of the scrutiny commission said “this is democracy at work”.

The proposals from a consultant to cut the funding and reorganise the way the playgrounds work would have spelled the end of of this kind of play provision which the city had enjoyed for over 30 years.

The extensive scrutiny investigation identified the important contribution the playgrounds made to the lives of children young people and their families.  The commission recommended that the council should:

“acknowledge that the adventure playgrounds, not only provide excellent play opportunities for children, but that they also contribute to important social, behavioral and learning outcomes for children and families and promote community cohesion”

Scrutiny identified that the playgrounds levered in over £360,000 of additional funding and harnessed volunteer time worth over £500,000. Some 180,000 individual visits by children were made to the playgrounds in the last year.

The full scrutiny report can be seen here. A procurement process is underway and continues to be monitored by members of the commission.

The Commission placed on record its thanks to all those involved in securing this outcome, those involved in scrutiny, the executive for listening and not least the playgrounds for providing information and mobilising support.

The Leicester Mercury covered the story here and here and also here.