Proposed Children and Families (Wales) Measure

Consultation Response

CF28 - Pembroke Dock Town Council

The Town Council have considered the consultation questions posed by the Committee and we would reply as follows:-

Q1. The Town Council believe that there is a need to create a play environment which challenges and stimulates the minds of young people. We would endorse the comments made by Play Wales in their response to the consultation document on this point.

Q2. We believe that there should be a proper investment in play provision for young people. There seems to be only a token spend by some county councils and lottery funding appears to be the only way to make realistic improvements to current provision. There should be proper cyclical maintenance and replacement of play equipment included in County Council or minor authority budgets. There needs to be a realistic partnership between Town / Community Councils and Unitary Authorities to ensure provision is substantially improved. Often there is no real encouragement for minor authorities to play a role in this area it has become a question of not delegation of responsibilities but abdication of Unitary Authority responsibility. Good dialogue is often lacking.

Q3. We would support the replies put forward by "Play Wales” in their submission to the Committee.

Q4. We would support the comments made by "Play Wales” in their response.

Q5. As stated earlier there is a need to perhaps "ring fence” money allocated to be used on the provision of play equipment. We believe that current funding has not been properly assessed and that there are clear shortfalls in adequate provision.

Q6. We believe that the measure will have some effect on promoting better play experience for younger people. The failure of some Unitary Authorities to replace old play equipment has meant that currently there are often inadequate facilities and therefore a consequential high cost to bring current provision up to an acceptable standard. In some senses current provision is worse than it was 10 - 20 years ago. Token gestures at improving facilities are insufficient.

Thank you for allowing the Town Council to make representations on this issue.

Yours sincerely,

Ian Jones

Town Clerk
Pembroke Dock Town Council,
Council Offices,
Pater Hall,
Lewis Street,
Pembroke Dock,
SA72 6DD
Tel: 01646 684410