Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bob Davis and Emma Toal. Councillors Stefan Mullard and Nancy Watson attended as their substitutes.

To receive Councillors’ declarations of interest (if any) in relation to any matters on the agenda.

None.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 16 July 2019.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 16 July 2019 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair subject to the amendment of the final sentence in the second paragraph of Minute 7 to read ‘In particular, barriers surrounding people with mental health and learning difficulties, and unpaid carers’.

None.

To receive any questions from members of the public in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.

None.

To receive any questions from Councillors in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.

None.

To consider responses (if any) of the Cabinet to reports and recommendations from the Committee.

None.

Adrian Voce, Leisure and the Environment, gave an update on the work which had been carried out as part of the consultation on paddling pools and splash parks. The questionnaire had been devised following discussions with Officers and Councillors and aimed to be direct and simple. A separate questionnaire had been put together for children.

Extensive consultation had already taken place with people using the paddling pools throughout the summer and a wide number of groups had been engaged with. The online consultation had already received over 800 responses. Schools would be sending information to parents on the consultation via Parent Mail next week.

He said that when the consultation ended on 20 September the results would be analysed by a number of metrics and this would include by location. An initial report would be presented to the Committee at the meeting on 15 October.

The Committee discussed the progress on the consultation and praised the number of responses which had been received so far. However, it was noted that the children’s questionnaire did not allow children to answer about specific paddling pools. It was also noted that age and gender were not questions on all versions of the questionnaire.

The Committee requested that the costs of various options were included in the next report. They also requested that the raw data from the consultation were made available to the Committee members.

To review the Committee’s work plan for the current year.

The Committee received a report summarising its work plan for 2019/20.

RESOLVED that the work plan be noted.

None.

Such other business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be received as a matter of urgency by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the minutes.

None.