Agenda and minutes

The evacuation procedure was noted.

There were no interests declared.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 21 December 2023.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the Crime and Disorder Select Committee meeting which was held on 21 December 2023 for approval and signature.

AGREED that the minutes of the Committee meeting held on 21 December 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To receive information from the Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) Town Centres Development department in relation to this scrutiny topic.

The third evidence-gathering session for the Committee’s ongoing Scrutiny Review of Outdoor Play Provision: Quality and Distribution, Maintenance, and Physical Accessibility comprised consideration of a submission from the Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) Town Centres Development service.

Led by the SBC Assistant Director – Town Centre Development, and supported by the SBC Programme Delivery Manager, a report was presented in response to the following key lines of enquiry:

•           Town Centres Development department’s responsibility for development of new facilities (brief outline including key personnel and their roles):  The team was made up of a broad range of roles with the focus on overseeing and co-ordinating the development, design and delivery of capital projects, predominantly under the funding umbrellas of the Levelling-Up Fund, Towns Fund, National Lottery Heritage Fund, and Future High Streets Fund, as well as town centre business engagement and market management.  The management and delivery of the new Stockton waterfront scheme required close liaison with the developers.

•           Interdepartmental consultations on new facilities (i.e. how this works / what is the process?): The inclusion of formal play space and equipment within the new Stockton waterfront park was established as a fundamental element of the space at concept stage and through the preliminary design process in 2021.  The SBC Town Centres Development team relied upon the expertise and knowledge of colleagues within SBC Environment, Leisure and Green Infrastructure as plans for the urban park were in development, particularly in regard to play equipment.  This collaboration, along with public consultation in summer 2022, led to a design brief for the play space being developed by Ryder Architects in October 2022.

Since then, officers from both SBC Town Centres Development and SBC Environment, Leisure and Green Infrastructure have attended workshops and meetings to refine the design of the park, and have formed part of the appraisal panel for prospective play equipment providers as part of the initial procurement phase for play equipment from a quality, aesthetics, accessibility and sustainability (choice of materials) perspective – subsequent queries and challenge have been raised by both directorates in relation to guarantees, spares, play surfacing, play value and safety.  The interrelationship between Council teams extended to site visits and individual design meetings, as required, alongside the architect design team.

Further refinement to specific elements of equipment and play areas were still to be made, with further input from SBC Environment, Leisure and Green Infrastructure colleagues intended.  Given the Council was potentially oversubscribed in terms of equipment, identifying best ‘play value’ would be central to discussions.

•           Summary of new and improved play / informal sport provision under the Town Centres programme (including new Stockton waterfront plans): Led by the Town Centres Development team, new and improved play / informal sports provision had been delivered, or was under development, at Stockton waterfront (with the intention of using naturally differing levels as part of the offer), Romano Park (complete), Victoria Park (complete), and Snaiths Field (still in preliminary design stage – likely to focus on enhancements of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item CD/32/23

Chair’s Update

The Chair had no further updates.

Work Programme 2023-2024

Consideration was given to the current Crime and Disorder Select Committee Work Programme.  The next meeting was scheduled for 22 February 2024 and would feature the next evidence-gathering session for the ongoing Scrutiny Review of Outdoor Play Provision.

AGREED that the Crime and Disorder Select Committee Work Programme 2023-2024 be noted.