Issue - meetings

This report presents the Committee with five-year park management plans for Auriol Park and Alexandra Recreation Ground, and the results of recent visitor surveys to both parks.

Following consideration, the Committee:

(1)          Approved the 2017- 2021 park management plans for Auriol Park and Alexandra Recreation Ground.

The Committee received a report presenting five-year management plans for Auriol Park and Alexandra Recreation Ground, and the results of recent visitor surveys to both parks.

The following matters were considered:

a)            Toilet facilities in parks. The Committee was informed that officers viewed the reopening and provision of toilets in parks as being a matter which fitted closely with the operation of café facilities, and would discuss the matter with operators as appropriate. This would be the case in Auriol park, for which a café operator had recently been approved. In parks with no existing café/toilet facilities, the possibility of mobile units would be considered should a suitable application be received by the Council.

b)            Management plans for other parks. The Committee was informed that it was intended to produce management plans for all of the Borough’s parks and recreation grounds, and that officers hoped to produce two per year. It was noted that a management plan for Poole Road Recreation Ground (King George V field) was anticipated to be amongst those produced next.

c)            Green flag status. The Committee was informed that it was not intended to apply for Green Flag status for all of the Borough’s parks due to the cost of doing so. This was £400 for each application, and officer time to manage the process. Officers informed the Committee that through the introduction of management plans for all parks and recreation grounds, it was intended to bring all sites up to “Green Flag status”, without formally applying for the award.

d)            Parking at Alexandra Recreation Ground at weekends. It was noted that officers would look into problems of congestion created by parking for sporting events at Alexandra Recreation Ground at weekends.

e)            Amendments to managements plans. The Committee was informed that a number of minor amendments to the Auriol Park and Alexandra Recreation Ground Management Plans had been received prior to the meeting and would be made to them, but that they were not detailed in the agenda documents. The Plans were intended to be ‘live’ documents and would receive future updates as relevant.

Following consideration, the Committee:

(1)          Approved the 2017 - 2021 park management plans for Auriol Park and Alexandra Recreation Ground.