Agenda item

The Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study is currently out for consultation.  Officers will provide a verbal update on the consultation at the meeting.

The Study is attached at Appendix B for Members’ information and will form the basis of discussion at the meeting. 

The Study also is available on the public consultation website, via the following link: https://consultations.leicester.gov.uk/communications/ossr/

The Commission is recommended to receive the update and comment as appropriate.

Councillor Clair, Deputy City Mayor, introduced the Open Space, Sport and Recreation (OSSR) Study, which currently was being consulted on, explaining that this would contribute to the development of the next Local Plan.

Councillor Clair stressed that open space was highly valued, for the many benefits it provided.  However, it was recognised that it could be expensive to maintain and manage, and that issues such as anti-social behaviour also could arise.

Councillor Clair reminded Members that the consultation period on the OSSR Study had been extended to 30 November 2017 and that the results of the consultation would be fed in to the next stage of the development of the Local Plan.

Officers from Planning and Environmental Services service areas jointly presented further information on the OSSR Study.  A copy of this presentation is attached at the end of these minutes for information.

During the presentation, the following points were made:

·           The Local Plan was at an early stage of development.  Once approved, the Plan would set the framework for planning decisions for the next 15 years;

·           As part of the consultation, 220,000 leaflets had been distributed in the city and to areas outside the city boundary.  Stakeholder events also had been held for people such as park users’ groups, sports governing bodies and developers;

·           Each local authority had to prepare its own Plan, but it was recognised that people crossed administrative boundaries to access facilities covered by the Plan, so the Council also consulted neighbouring authorities;

·           The recommended standard of 2.88 hectares of open space per 1,000 population had been derived based on census population figures.  On this basis, the city had a 153 hectare over-supply of open space, but 2016 population figures had not been factored in yet.  As the population had increased, it was likely that the ratio of open space per 1,000 population in the city would change;

·           School playing fields were not included in the calculation of open space, as the space had to be accessible to the public to be considered within the OSSR study;

·           A separate Playing Pitch Strategy had been adopted.  This had considered all kinds of pitches, as well as issues such as pitch provision, quality, capacity for increased use and how to increase their use in line with population increase;

·           Assessment of the quality of open space had shown that some was overgrown, poorly lit and subject to anti-social behaviour.  It was hoped that these issues could addressed over a two-year cycle;

·           Enhancement of open space was funded from the Council’s capital programme, as well as sources such as developer contributions;

·           The location of outdoor gyms initially had been determined by identifying areas where access to resources was limited, (for example, due to residents’ economic situations, cultural reluctance to attend formal facilities, or a lack of formal facilities in the area).  Areas where a demand had been identified, or requests made, were then considered, to see if the new equipment would complement existing facilities, (for example, children’s play areas).  Some funding for this had been provided though public health services;

·           The majority of outdoor gyms in the city were well used;

·           Members suggested that the reinstatement of entertainment in parks, (such as band concerts), would be welcomed.  Some events were held, but many parks had space to stage events that was not being used.  For example, even if parks no longer had bandstands, their bases often were still in situ and could be used as platforms for events;

·           An important part of encouraging people to use parks and other open spaces was to provide the right quantity at the right quality, with appropriate access;

·           The Council was required to assess the suitability of all open space in the city for development.  As all open space had to be assessed, approximately 270 sites were listed in the draft Local Plan, but this did not mean that they all would be developed.  No decisions had been made at this stage;

·           The Council would not be able to provide the required amount of housing in the city, so was working with district authorities in the county to determine where it could be provided;

·           The OSSR consultation was running alongside the Local Plan consultation.  80 responses to the OSSR Study consultation had been received by 9 November 2017.  Approximately 50% of these respondents used open space daily and just under 40% used it weekly.  Approximately 60% of the respondents felt that 2.88 hectares of open space per 1,000 population was too low and 35% thought it was about right.  No respondents thought it was too high.  Parks and Gardens were used most often, followed by Natural Open Space;

·           As a result of the OSSR consultation, some suggestions had been received for open space that could be used for housing or employment land in the future, but any such change would have to be balanced against other Local Plan needs; and

·           Over 1,000 responses to the Local Plan consultation had been received to date, which was considered to be a good rate of response.  Further consultation would be carried out as the Plan evolved.

AGREED:

1)    That the Festival and Events Manager be asked to consider how entertainment in parks can be reinstated;

2)    That the Director for Estates and Building Services be asked to consider how anti-social behaviour on the site of the former Western Park can be addressed;

3)    That all Members be encouraged to respond to the consultations discussed above, both with their own comments and on behalf of residents; and

4)    That the Director of Planning, Development and Transportation be asked to advise this Commission of the outcome of the consultation on the Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study.