Meeting documents

The Environment and Living Scrutiny Committee received a report outlining the variety of district wide green spaces owned and managed by Aylesbury Vale District Council, how they are used and how the Council actively encourages the spaces to be used.  It was noted that quality green spaces were important for the District, and this included the facilities provided within them and events that were held upon them.  Councillors were advised that there was an error in the report circulated regarding the pitch hire usage figures in Appendix 1.  The corrected figures are attached to these minutes.

Aylesbury Vale District Council managed 190 hectares of green spaces within the District.  The majority of the spaces were owned by the Council, with the exceptions being the six closed churchyards at Aylesbury, Buckingham, Hulcott, Marsh Gibbon, Stoke Mandeville and Wing.  The types of green spaces managed included parks, playing fields, children’s play areas, woods, meadows, other natural areas and grassed areas.

Importance was placed on the ensuring quality, well maintained green spaces as these were community assets that were essential to the local economy.  Good maintenance standards were stated to be essential in ensuring quality spaces and ensuring they remain in good quality.  The day to day maintenance of the green spaces was carried out by the Council’s joint horticulture and street cleansing contractors John O’Conner and SITA UK.  The existing contract would be in place until 2020 and was noted to operate to ISO standards for Environmental Management and Quality Management.

The Council’s Supplementary Planning Guidance for Sport and Leisure Facilities detailed the type of sport and leisure facilities that should be provided per development. An engagement process was carried out with users, stakeholders and ward members before the building of new facilities or improvement of existing facilities.

Several of the AVDC owned sites were available for hire.  Improvements had also made to existing access routes, and new access routes were also provided to and through the green spaces, which also enabled increased usage.  A variety of licensed events were also run on Council owned parks and open spaces, and these included ‘fitness bootcamps’ and large scale events such as fun fayres.  The Communities Team supported a number of projects which take place in Council owned parks and open spaces.

Members were advised that local residents were initially made aware of major park or open space improvement projects through the Council’s engagement process, which may via articles in publications, letters to residents, emails to established residents groups or school presentations.  Resident groups increasingly used social media, which increased levels of engagement and also response rates.  Once projects were completed, press releases were issued and official opening were organised to which the ward Members, user groups, stakeholders and local media were invited.  Ongoing promotion of parks and play areas was carried out through the Council’s website, and individual clubs also promoted the facilities for hire.

Aylesbury Vale District Council was noted to actively support a number of national campaigns that help to promote the use of our parks and open spaces.  One such national campaign that had also attracted the attention of community groups was the Clean for the Queen.  Councillors noted that this was an ideal opportunity to increase community ownership of their local spaces, and it was stated that Parish Councils would be reminded of the campaign. A campaign would take place which aimed to reduce the amount of litter.  There would be a display in Aylesbury Town centre of the volume of litter that was collected daily.  Members questioned whether members of the public were fined for littering, and were advised that work was being undertaken on education, as enforcement was an expensive option.  Enforcement did take place for fly tipping offences.  Members were advised that there was a dog warden employed for 10 hours a week.  Town and Parish Councils were responsible for the provision of dog bins, but it was noted that the level of dog fouling in the area was too high.

Members suggested that a list of all parks and open spaces should be kept by the Council, so that the authority was aware of the spaces available to the public. It was noted that there was information held on play areas, but that there was not enough capacity to create and maintain a list of open spaces in the District.

It was noted that the pitch hire figures had decreased.  It was noted that this was due to a variety of reasons, including an increase in cost to hire.  Some groups, such as the Hockey Club, were now using different facilities for some of their matches. It was noted that while football was a rich sport, local clubs received a lack of funding.

The team could comment on applications as part of the planning process to ensure provision of open space.  Shared service provisions were in place regarding ground service.  Ground service was provided for Bucks Fire, and also for some Parish Councils.

RESOLVED

That the report be noted.