Decision details

The Director of Leisure and Cultural Services presented a report seeking approval to the adoption of a Play Strategy for Chorley.

The Council’s prospective bid for Big Lottery funding of a play initiative in the sum of £208,000 would be strengthened by the evolvement of the former Chorley Play Forum into the Chorley Play Partnership and the production of a strategy to highlight the play needs of the Borough.

The Play Strategy had been compiled by the Play Partnership to take account of the responses to a wide consultation exercise and was designed to cover a 10 year period up to 2016.  The Strategy was supported by a preliminary action plan to be reviewed annually.

The action plan identified a wide range of projected initiatives and activities designed to improve access to quality play opportunities.  The delivery of the proposals would be dependent upon the attraction of external funding (including the Big Lottery funding), effective partnership working and the alignment of available Council resources to the Strategy objectives.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Councillor Edgerley) informed the Members of the differing opinions expressed at the last meeting of the Committee regarding the possible appointment of a non-Executive member of the Environment and Community Overview and Scrutiny Panel on the panel of assessors to consider projects to form part of the Big Lottery bid.  The Executive Member for Health, Leisure and Well-Being (Councillor Perks), however, queried whether such an appointment would prejudice the Members’ participation in any future scrutiny of the Play Strategy by the Panel.

Councillor Khan also requested the Executive Cabinet to ensure that the implementation of the Strategy encompassed all black and ethnic minority groups (including female and young people’s groups) and suggested that the Executive Cabinet should receive the minutes of meetings of the Ethnic Minorities Consultative Committee.

Decisions made:

(1)    That the Play Strategy for Chorley, as now presented, be approved, subject to the Officers’ examination of the ethics and appropriateness of a non-Executive Member of the Environment and Community Overview and Scrutiny Panel being appointed to the small panel to be set up to assess projects to form part of the bid for Big Lottery funding.

(2)    That the Executive Leader be delegated authority to agree the finalised Play Strategy for adoption.

(3)    That the minutes of future meetings of the Ethic Minorities Consultative Committee be presented to the Executive Cabinet.

Reason for decisions:

Approval of the Strategy will enable progress on the action plan and will enhance partnership working, which, in turn, will ultimately help to reduce inequalities; stimulate greater involvement; improve access to quality play opportunities; and develop Chorley as a good place to live and play.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected:

The alternative option not to apply for Big Lottery funding, thus precluding the need for the Play Strategy, has previously been rejected.