Issue - meetings

To submit a report by the Head of Learning.

It was resolved to approve the draft Play Sufficiency Action Plan for 2017-18 and to forward the Plan to Welsh Government in accordance with statutory requirement.

The report of the Head of Learning incorporating a review of the Play Sufficiency Action Plan 2017/18 was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Portfolio Member for Education, Libraries, Culture and Youth commended the report and Action Plan to the Executive.

The Head of Learning confirmed that the there are no concerns that the Authority is not meeting the statutory requirements with regard to play opportunities and play sufficiency. However, the way the Play Officer post is funded has changed. The post was funded previously through the Families First grant; as the terms of the grant will change from April, 2018 and as this is a statutory requirement, the grant cannot be utilised for this purpose.

Consequently, and as the post holder has left, the Learning Service has incorporated the duties of the post within its Supporting Families Unit and will combine the statutory responsibilities with those of the childcare sufficiency assessment. This will allow for cohesive delivery, targeting of resources and development across both sectors. The Officer said that the review of the action plan addresses nine areas of work which the Authority is required by statute to report on including work undertaken with schools and communities to ensure free/low cost play activities, play opportunities in rural areas and play opportunities to meet the specific needs of children and young people. The action plan further reports on how the Authority ensures that play activities take place within a safe environment.

The Executive noted that invitations to apply for grant funding for play areas have sometimes been issued with very tight deadlines (in some instances as little as 24 hours) making it difficult for groups/organisations to apply unless they have ready-made, off the shelf plans which they can submit at very short notice. The Executive noted that whilst it is advisable that groups do have plans at the ready, it should also be impressed upon Welsh Government that the timescale for presenting such plans/applications needs to be realistic.

The Head of Learning said that although the funding which the Welsh Government makes available annually in addition to the play opportunities grant tends to be late, the majority of the Authority’s partners with regard to play related work now have plans in place meaning that it is then a matter of ensuring the application is made.

It was resolved to approve the draft Play Sufficiency Action Plan for 2017-18 and to forward the Plan to Welsh Government in accordance with statutory requirement.