Purpose

The Children and Families
(Wales) Measure 2010, places a sufficiency duty on Local
Authorities to assess whether their local area offers children
enough opportunities to play. 
 
There are two parts to the
duty. The first part, which states that local authorities must
assess whether their local area offers children enough
opportunities to play, commenced in November 2012.  
 
The second part, which
commenced in July 2014, says that local authorities must secure
enough opportunities for children to play in their area, as far is
reasonable and practical.
 
Every local authority in Wales
must complete a Play Sufficiency Assessment (PSA) every three
years. The next PSA is required to be submitted to the Welsh
Government by 30th June 2025 and requires cabinet approval prior to
submission. 

Content

RESOLVED: that
 
1.    
The publication of the draft 2025 – 2028 Play
Sufficiency Assessment and Executive Summary on the Council website
for the statutory 28-day period be approved.
 
2.    
Authority be delegated to the Director for Childrens
Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Children's Services and Tackling Poverty
& Supporting Young People, Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member
for Culture, Sport & Parks and the Cabinet Member for
Education, to
approve and submit to Welsh Government by 30th June
2025, the final version of the Play Sufficiency Assessment,
Executive Summary and Action Plan, having considered the results of
the consultation.
 
3.    
Authority be delegated to the Director for Childrens
Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Children's
Services and Tackling Poverty & Supporting Young People,
Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport & Parks
and the Cabinet Member for Education to work with partners and Lead
Officers to complete the final Action Plan, for its submission to
Welsh Government by 30th June 2025.
 
4.    
Authority be delegated to the Director for Childrens
Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Children's
Services and Tackling Poverty & Supporting Young People,
Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport & Parks
and the Cabinet Member for Education, to establish a working group
for children’s play, inviting key stakeholders to contribute
to, and develop a vision for play with the support of Child
Friendly City; embracing the shared responsibility for ensuring the
actions set out in the Action Plan is met.
 
5.    
Submission of an annual progress report on the Play
Sufficiency Assessment action plan be approved to Cabinet, the
Public Service Board, and the Children and Young People’s
Scrutiny Committee escalating any significant risks if
necessary.