Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Development Manager on the Healthy Open Spaces Strategy.

Executive Councillor: Mrs M L Beuttell.

The Cabinet has endorsed the Healthy and Open Spaces Strategy and the proposed 10-year action plan.

Consideration was given to a report prepared by the Development Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) seeking endorsement of the Healthy Open Spaces Strategy and its vision of “Embrace Your Space” and the associated action plan.

The Executive Councillor for Operations and Environment outlined the background to the report which set out the direction of focus, development and investment in the open spaces in Huntingdonshire. The Cabinet noted the many benefits that would be achieved including how open spaces can support local people to live healthier lives, improve their mental health and wellbeing and contribute to the fight against change as well as addressing social isolation.

Having been informed that targeted public and stakeholder consultation had been undertaken since August 2019 and that the 10 year action plan would be reviewed on an annual basis and that a refresh of the evidence base would be undertaken after 5 years, the Cabinet commended Officers and the Executive Councillor for Operations and Environment for the production of comprehensive report.

The Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources commented on paragraph 7.2 of the report and encouraged any projects and facilities to be revenue neutral as possible prior to any revenue bids being submitted for consideration.

In noting the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Customers and Partnerships), it was

RESOLVED

  that the Healthy Open Spaces Strategy and the proposed 10-year action plan be endorsed by the Cabinet.

The Panel are to receive the Healthy Open Spaces Strategy.

Consideration was given to a report by the Development Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to which was appended the Healthy Open Spaces Strategy.

The Executive Councillor for Operations and Environment introduced the report and explained to the Panel that the Strategy set out the Council’s plan for open spaces for the next 10 years. The Development Manager added that the Strategy was needed in order to protect the District’s open spaces in the future, manage the environment and local ecosystems and fully utilise the open spaces within the District. Members’ attention was drawn to how important open spaces were to residents, as a survey conducted during the development of the Strategy highlighted that 68% of respondents visited greenspaces on a regular basis (at least once a fortnight) and that 90% of respondents thought that greenspaces improved mental health and wellbeing. Also, respondents highlighted nature and wildlife as the most important aspect of greenspaces.

Overview and Scrutiny Members were recognised for their involvement in the development of the Strategy and Councillors Mrs A Dickinson, K P Gulson, Mrs S Smith, Mrs J Tavener and Mrs S R Wilson were thanked for their contributions.

When questions and comments were invited from the Panel, Councillor Wilson commented that she thought the enthusiasm of the team was infectious and that the community engagement undertaken was highly effective. Councillor Alban added that he regularly visits Hinchingbrooke Country Park and was very impressed with the commitment of the staff and volunteers.

Following a question of clarification from Councillor Giles, the Panel was informed that Huntingdonshire has 87 square metres of green space per person, compared to 35 square metres per person in Great Britain and 42 square metres per person in the East of England.

Councillor Davies asked how the Strategy would help in balancing the accommodation of wildlife in green spaces within the District with their use by the public. He added that the Council should be mindful of looking after the various habitats that existed throughout the green spaces. In response, the Panel was reassured that wildlife habitats would be protected and actively managed. Councillor Alban stated that the wildflower meadows were an excellent addition to the open spaces.

Councillor Alban then questioned why Officers had not visited children from rural schools in the same way that they had visited children in larger more urban primary schools. The Development Manager explained that the schools visited had taken up the offer of a visit from the team. It was suggested that many Members were school governors or had links to schools in other ways and these avenues could be used to achieve greater coverage of communication between Council Officers and pupils.

Clarification was sought from Councillor Wilson that the Strategy would be well used and that it had buy-in from the Executive Councillors and Senior Officers. Members were reassured that there was buy-in and there was a recognition that the green open spaces were important to residents and that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16