Will the Minister state what consideration the Welsh Government has given to creating a statutory duty for local authorities to provide and maintain children’s playgrounds?
Under section 11 of the Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010, every local authority must secure sufficient play opportunities in its area for children having regard to the 3 yearly sufficiency assessment which it must carry out. The Planning Policy Wales also sets out a clear requirement that recreational and play spaces should be provided.
We keep the existing statutory requirements under review, and do not believe an explicit duty in respect of playgrounds is required at this time. Their provision and maintenance forms part of the wider duty on local authorities around the assessment and securing of sufficient play opportunities.