Calls for improvement to playgrounds

Calls have been made for improvements to all playgrounds in Merthyr Tydfil by 2027 but the independent administration said plans are already in place.

A notice of motion from the opposition Labour group on the council to full council was voted down through a casting vote from the mayor on Wednesday, September 7.

It had called for the implementation of a structured plan to ensure that all playgrounds in all 11 electoral wards are either updated, renewed or replaced by the end of the 2026/2027 financial year.

In the motion submitted by Councillor David Jones, it said that since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, our playgrounds and parks are being used more regularly by our younger residents.

It said that it is well documented that spending time recreationally in the open air helps with mental health and physical well-being.

The motion also said that: “We, the Labour Group of Councillors at Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, published our manifesto ahead of the May 2022 local government election, one of our 6 pledges was playground improvements.

“We believe that the majority of our playgrounds and parks are outdated and need updating to include better apparatus, better disabled access and more appropriate equipment to cover a wider range of disabilities, both physical and neurological.

“This was highlighted whilst speaking with residents across the county borough during the election campaign.”

Former leader said it’s already being done

Councillor Lisa Mytton, independent, said she thinks a state of amnesia had set in among Labour councillors and that they hadn’t taken any notice of the state of the county borough address.

She said the six Labour pledges for the elections are things the independent administration then and now are already implementing.

Cllr Mytton said: “Those playgrounds were assessed on their state of repair and urgency, not what wards they were in or who was leader at the time.”

She added that every single playground in the borough has a full action plan covering 2021 to 2030.

She said: “This is already in place. Motions are being brought for motions’ sake.”

Current leader says the money needs to be there

Councillor Geraint Thomas, independent leader of the council, said: “We all want better playgrounds for the children of Merthyr Tydfil.

“That’s a must. In 2017 when I stood for council that’s what I knocked the doors on and it took me three, almost four, years to get that budget organised.”

He said they have a structured plan to improve the playgrounds in the borough over the life time of the MTFP (Medium Term Financial Plan).

Cllr Thomas said if they get a good settlement this year and they can put more capital money into improving playgrounds in a shorter time-scale they’ll be all for it but currently they don’t know that.

He said the independent group can’t support the motion but what they will support is when the budget comes their way they will put money into improving the playgrounds in a shorter time.

Labour councillor refers to previous comments from independent councillors

Councillor Brent Carter, Labour, said he’s glad there is a structured plan but he raised comments made by the leader around £150,000 they needed to find out of the blue in which Cllr Geraint Thomas said the chief finance officer would find it.

He also highlighted comments from Councillor Andrew Barry, independent, in which he said the independent administration had saved £20m from the Labour deficit previously.

He said: “If we’ve got all these financial gurus I’m sure £3.5m will be quite easy to find.”

Referring to Cllr Mytton’s comments, he said what she mentioned related to four to six parks but the motion states all parks up until 2026/2027 and he said the 3G pitches such as the one for Penydarren come out of Ffos y Fran funding which is separate from the council budget.

Cllr Mytton said there was an element of Ffos y Fran funding but she was talking about money in addition to that and that on September 8 last year they talked about all playgrounds.

Independent councillor lays out the plan

Councillor Andrew Barry, independent, said they were going to spend £518,000 a year for the next four years (£2.1m) and an extra £500,000 on top of that making it £2.6m over the life time of the MTFP.

He said that all Labour councillors voted for the capital programme which was approved in March 2021.

Labour group leader said it’s a political choice as to what they do

Councillor Darren Roberts, leader of the Labour group on the council, said it was quite stark that they were talking about no money being spent on parks since 1996 which he said was aimed at Labour as they’ve been in control of the council for most of that time but added there have been independent administrations as well.

He said there has been work carried out at playgrounds because there was a MUGA (multi use games area) renewed in Twyn Carmel under the last Labour administration.

Cllr Roberts said: “We’re still waiting to see what the independent manifesto pledges are because they didn’t stand in the election on a manifesto.”

He said Labour voted on the capital programme in March 2021 during the last administration and they’re now a new Labour group with new members.

He said: “There is a plan to update our playgrounds. For me it doesn’t go far enough.”

He said he’d love to see his grandchildren have a playground like those in neighbouring authorities and added: “At the end of the day everything comes at a cost but this is a political choice. When we want to do it and how we want to do it.”

He said this is what residents want and that it’s not going to cost the money that is being talked about because there’s already a budget allocated.

Councillor David Isaac, Labour, said wasn’t it Cllr Mytton’s cabinet that wanted to use The Greenie for a new school and if it wasn’t for people power he’s sure that would’ve been pushed through but Cllr Mytton said it was a “collective decision based on what was put in front of us.”

She said it come to full council after consultation and the people spoke and that she voted not to put it there.

Labour councillor says they should be focusing on children and young people

Councillor Jamie Scriven, Labour, said: “There’s political points scoring being made on both sides. It’s getting tedious. It’s getting hard to even sit through.”

He said everyone is concerned about budgeting and finance but no one is talking about children and young people which is the point of the motion.

Cllr Scriven said: “It’s about what we do as a collective group of 15 councillors one side and on the other side together to make sure young people get the best offer in Merthyr Tydfil.”

He said young people are being let down because they’ve got poor facilities, facilities being vandalised and there are access issues for children with additional needs and disabilities.

He said he’s severely disappointed on both sides about the way it’s being handled.

New councillor said she thinks the process can be sped up

Councillor Anna Williams-Price, Labour, said the picture painted for her as a new councillor was that the council had received several positive settlements from Welsh Government and acknowledging all the pressures on the council she felt this was a relatively positive position to be in.

She said if the current state of play is that parks will be renewed by 2030 then she believes there’s scope to accelerate this in line with the time scales set out in the motion.

She said they are facing a cost of living crisis fuelled by poor decisions at a Westminster level and other external factors so access to high quality free local play provision will only benefit residents.

Cabinet member insists this has been done

Councillor Michelle Jones, independent, said: “The plan is in place. The parks have all been assessed. They’re all, where necessary, going to be refurbished.

“The money has been budgeted for it. It’s done. This is why we don’t understand why this notice of motion is here today.”

But Cllr Scriven said they’re looking to make sure that the parks are accessible and every young person and child has equal provision and Cllr Michelle Jones said children are consulted and their impact is really important to the council.

Some improvements have been made but improving all playgrounds need to happen as quickly as possible for maximum benefit

Councillor Scott Thomas, Labour, said although parks haven’t been financially overhauled completely you do see parks get equipment updates as and when they need so obviously has come from somewhere from the council.

Councillor David Jones, Labour, who proposed the motion, stressed the benefits of play for mental and physical well-being and said most of the equipment is dated and near to the end of its life so if they want to encourage outdoor play the need to have new equipment that will not only appeal to younger residents but also be suitable and accessible to those with disabilities.

He said they need to get this done as quickly as possible so young people get the maximum benefit.