Basingstoke & Dean Borough Council
Councillors:
54
Wards:
18
Committees:
22
Meetings (2025):
67
Meetings (2024):
72
Meeting
Resident Services Committee - Basingstoke & Dean
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Wednesday, 19th March 2025
6:30 PM
Wednesday, 19th March 2025
6:30 PM
End:
Wednesday, 19th March 2025
10:30 PM
Wednesday, 19th March 2025
10:30 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
19 Mar 2025
19 Mar 2025
Location:
Committee Rooms 1 & 2 - Deanes
Committee Rooms 1 & 2 - Deanes
Meeting Attendees
Secretary
Ellie Cole
Expected
Chair
Deputy Mayor and Chair of the Resident Services Committee
Reserve
Chair of the Human Resources Committee
Reserve
Chair of the Investigating and Disciplinary and Standards Appeals Committee
Reserve
Leader of the Conservative Group
Committee Member
Deputy Leader of the Labour Group and Chair of the Environment and Infrastructure Committee
Committee Member
Councillor Karen Watts
Basingstoke & Deane Independent Group
Apologies, sent representative
View Profile
Committee Member
Chair of the Resources Committee
Agenda
1
Apologies for absence and substitutions
Minutes
Councillor K Watts was replaced by Councillor Tuck.
2
Declarations of interest
Minutes
Councillor Vaux declared a non-pecuniary interest as she was a member of the Basingstoke Tennis club.
3
Minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2025
The Chair will move that the minutes of the meeting be signed as a correct record. The only part of the minutes that can be discussed is their accuracy.
Attachments:
- Document Minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2025 11 Mar 2025
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2025 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
4
Play areas update
Contact Officer: Susan Croker
The Resident Services Committee requested a presentation regarding play area provision across the borough.
The Resident Services Committee requested a presentation regarding play area provision across the borough.
Attachments:
- Document Report 11 Mar 2025
Minutes
The Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services and Housing introduced the report and presentation which updated the Committee on play area provision across the borough.
The Committee discussed the report and presentation and made the following comments.
Stated that some wards had more play park provision than others.
Questioned whether s106 funds could be used to make upgrades to play parks.
Stated that the timings for capturing usage figures and user feedback needed to be carefully considered.
Requested that Officers consider the creation of dog play areas, adult parks and the addition of another splash pad to create destination parks.
Suggested that Officers consider designing the parks with a more sympathetic use of the geography of the area.
Members had differing views of the colour scheme used in the play park areas. Some members felt that it was too over stimulating for children whilst others felt that the use of colour could be helpful for visually impaired visitors.
Reference was made to play area projects that had been designed by local children.
Stated that the locations of play areas had to be considered in line with anti-social behaviour issues.
Suggested that the play parks policy for new developments could be amended to ensure it was fit for purpose.
Questioned the arrangements for Parish Council owned play parks. Officers confirmed that the parish parks had been included in the wider maintenance tender and had Council maintenance inspections, but the parishes had the financial responsibility to fix and maintain the parks.
Suggested that the play park audit take place in different times and seasons in order to properly review any lighting and safety issues.
Resolved: The Committee notes the update.
The Committee discussed the report and presentation and made the following comments.
Stated that some wards had more play park provision than others.
Questioned whether s106 funds could be used to make upgrades to play parks.
Stated that the timings for capturing usage figures and user feedback needed to be carefully considered.
Requested that Officers consider the creation of dog play areas, adult parks and the addition of another splash pad to create destination parks.
Suggested that Officers consider designing the parks with a more sympathetic use of the geography of the area.
Members had differing views of the colour scheme used in the play park areas. Some members felt that it was too over stimulating for children whilst others felt that the use of colour could be helpful for visually impaired visitors.
Reference was made to play area projects that had been designed by local children.
Stated that the locations of play areas had to be considered in line with anti-social behaviour issues.
Suggested that the play parks policy for new developments could be amended to ensure it was fit for purpose.
Questioned the arrangements for Parish Council owned play parks. Officers confirmed that the parish parks had been included in the wider maintenance tender and had Council maintenance inspections, but the parishes had the financial responsibility to fix and maintain the parks.
Suggested that the play park audit take place in different times and seasons in order to properly review any lighting and safety issues.
Resolved: The Committee notes the update.
5
Wellbeing Strategy Annual Update
Contact Officer: Abigail Price
This report provides the Committee with an update on the Wellbeing Strategy (2022-2025) and Annual Action Tracker.
This report provides the Committee with an update on the Wellbeing Strategy (2022-2025) and Annual Action Tracker.
Attachments:
- Document Report 11 Mar 2025
- Document Appendix 1 11 Mar 2025
Minutes
The Cabinet Member for Communities, Partnerships and Inclusion introduced the report which provided the Committee with an update on the Wellbeing Strategy (2022-2025) and Annual Action Tracker.
The Committee discussed the report and presentation and made the following comments:
Welcomed the good work that had been carried out to date.
Acknowledged that Officers were working to further improve signposting and facilitating.
Requested that Officers review the process for creating an app.
Suggested that Officers consider restarting cookery classes for children to encourage healthy eating.
Expressed concern in relation to gaps in mental health provision specifically for ethnic minority groups. Officers agreed to provide a written response on the matter.
Suggested potential initiatives such as family exercise classes and daytime nightclub.
Asked Officers to use what three words app for any route information they produced.
Acknowledged that the Natural environment could majorly improve wellbeing and could easily be used more in the wider wellbeing programme.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report.
The Committee discussed the report and presentation and made the following comments:
Welcomed the good work that had been carried out to date.
Acknowledged that Officers were working to further improve signposting and facilitating.
Requested that Officers review the process for creating an app.
Suggested that Officers consider restarting cookery classes for children to encourage healthy eating.
Expressed concern in relation to gaps in mental health provision specifically for ethnic minority groups. Officers agreed to provide a written response on the matter.
Suggested potential initiatives such as family exercise classes and daytime nightclub.
Asked Officers to use what three words app for any route information they produced.
Acknowledged that the Natural environment could majorly improve wellbeing and could easily be used more in the wider wellbeing programme.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report.
6
Recommendation Tracker
The Committee are presented with the recommendation tracker for Residents Services which includes any recommendations or actions requested by the Committee for the 2024/25 municipal year for noting.
Attachments:
- Document Current Recommendation Tracker RS Resources E&I AA Cabinet 2024 11 Mar 2025
Minutes
The Committee noted the recommendation tracker.
7
Review of the work programme
The Committee is asked to note and review its Work Programme and to receive updates from the Lead Members of Task and Finish Groups.
Attachments:
- Document Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme May v2 11 Mar 2025
Minutes
The Chair introduced the work programme and gave a brief overview of the items that would be included on the agenda for the upcoming meetings.
Councillor Vaux suggested the creation of a Task and Finish group in order to review the cost of playing sports within the borough to ascertain affordability for residents.
The Task and Finish group would also review the contracts in place with sports facilities to ensure that there was appropriate access for all residents.
Councillors Vaux, Grassi, West and Tustain were appointed to the Task and Finish group.
Councillor Vaux suggested the creation of a Task and Finish group in order to review the cost of playing sports within the borough to ascertain affordability for residents.
The Task and Finish group would also review the contracts in place with sports facilities to ensure that there was appropriate access for all residents.
Councillors Vaux, Grassi, West and Tustain were appointed to the Task and Finish group.
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