Agenda item

Briefing Note of the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services

The Scrutiny Board considered a Briefing Note of the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services which provided a detailed indication of the levels of usage and steps taken to encourage usage of greenspaces and parks in the City.

The Briefing Note indicated that there is now increasing tangible evidence which demonstrates how the city’s greenspaces including all of the parks, recreation grounds, playing fields, children's playgrounds, ornamental gardens, golf courses, and woodlands directly contribute to people's health and wellbeing. In addition to the health benefits, they help create thriving communities providing significant opportunities to develop and enhance the social, recreational, environmental, educational and economic wellbeing of our community.

The City Council adopted its second Green Space Strategy in 2019. The Strategy initially identified 747 individual areas of greenspace covering an area of 2002 hectares.  It was recognised that many of these sites were small and offered little amenity value. The Strategy therefore focussed on individual sites greater than 0.1 hectares of which there are 650 individual sites covering 635 hectares.  These varied greatly in size with the largest including Coombe Park covering 202 hectares and the War Memorial Park which approximately 48.5 hectares.

Two thirds of green space across the city, some 430 sites have no restrictions on public access with almost all the remainder having at least some limited public access. The sites with restricted access typically included sports clubs, allotments and school grounds. The Briefing Note indicated that it is important to recognise that greenspace can take many forms including less obvious forms such as cemeteries which also provide opportunities for quiet recreation.

Consultation in developing the Green Space Strategy found that the main reasons given for visiting parks and open spaces was for the fresh air, to walk and jog and to enjoy peace, quietness and relaxation. It also included seeking and being close to nature and wildlife and providing somewhere for children to play including dedicated play areas. A number of barriers were also cited. These included perceptions of antisocial behaviour, and generally not feeling safe; dog fouling, poor quality or lack of facilities and some concerns around clashes with cycling and vehicles in parks.

The Briefing Note outlined:-

·  The significant increase in the use of the greenspaces in the City during the Covid-19 pandemic which placed a huge strain on the infrastructure of the parks and impacted on the wear and tear of infrastructure, including play equipment

·  The likelihood that the current cost of living crisis will mean that parks will be extensively used in 2023 and will continue to suffer from increased levels of wear and tear for the indefinite future

·  Maintenance of the parks and green open spaces. It was noted that the maintenance budget was reduced by £1m in 2016, which has led to a significant reduction in basic infrastructural maintenance

·  Toilet provision in parks, including work undertaken with the Equalities and Diversity Team to provide modular toilet facilities accessible for people with severe and multiple disabilities where personal care can also be accommodated

·  Catering facilities in parks

·  Paths and access, including the cost of constructing and maintaining footpaths

·  Seating provision, including a “memorial seat” sponsorship scheme

·  Lighting, particularly along footpath networks

·  Signage and information boards

·  Biodiversity provided by greenspaces

·  Staff presence in parks, including the work of the Parks Services’ Rangers Team, who play a vital role in the maintenance and management of many  of the parks in the City, especially in terms of public engagement

·  Dog control, including the number of Fixed Penalty Notices (12) issues for dog offences in parks and prosecutions (2) in the last 3 years

The Scrutiny Board made comments and asked questions on a number of issues including:-

·  The use of Section 106 monies to improve greenspaces in new developments

·  The valuable work undertaken by the Park Rangers

·  The costs associated with providing CCTV in parks

·  Dog littering prosecutions

·  Notices erected under Section 6 of the West Midlands Country Council Act 1980 (which is now redundant) and which prohibit ball games on smaller pieces of land

·  Work being undertaken on Sowe Valley footpaths

·  Work undertaken to prevent anti-social behaviour in parks, including bull dog rallies

·  Biodiversity being provided by the City’s greenspaces, including wild flower planting on the central reservations of the A45

·  The valuable work being undertaken by the Friends of the Parks groups in the City

·  Commercial activity, which provides 50% of the Parks budget, and grant funding

The Scrutiny Board placed on record their appreciation and support for the valuable work undertaken by the Park Ranger service, recognising the impact on engaging and involving the local community and volunteers in their parks and green spaces, which is particularly important for on-going sustainability in a time of limited resource.

RESOLVED:-

1)  That the contents of the Briefing Note and the steps undertaken to improve access to parks and greenspaces be noted and welcomed

2)  That a letter be sent to the Park Ranger Team expressing the Scrutiny Board’s thanks and appreciation for all of the work undertaken 

3)  That information regarding the number of dog fouling prosecutions be circulated to the Scrutiny Board