Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Head of Finance, Property and Climate Resilience reviewing the Council’s management of play area risk assessment and safety inspections.

The Group had before it a report * from the Head of Finance, Property and Climate Resilience reviewing the Council’s management of play area risk assessment and safety.

The contents of the report were outlined with particular reference to:

·       This was a tri-annual review of the play area inspection process.

·       It was routine in nature and largely operational.

·       The process was overseen by a regulator providing added reassurance to Members.

·       Inspections were carried out on a cost recovery basis only.

RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that:

The approach for the inspection and risk assessment of the Council’s play areas and that these are brought back for future review no later than 2028 be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr L Knight and seconded by Cllr C Harrower)

Reason for the decision

The Council must have an inspection and maintenance regime for its play areas as stated within the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

There is a potential cost of litigation and loss of reputation should the Council be found negligent with regards to inspection and maintenance of its play areas in the event of injury or death of a child or any other person.

Notes:          (i) Cllrs J Buczkowski and L Knight declared personal interests as they were members of Cullompton Town Council which was a leasee of a number of play parks.

(ii) Cllr M Farrell also declared a personal interest in that he was a member of Tiverton Town Council which also managed local play parks.

(iii) Cllr C Harrower declared a personal interest in that she was a Trustee of Peoples Park in Tiverton.