Agenda item

M Rawdon gave an update on the report and was happy to take questions from Members.

Cllr Banks referred to item 4.2, adventure playground numbers. She asked about youth club centres like Bennetts End, Grovehill and Gadebridge, did we have figures for them.

M Rawdon was unsure; he asked who ran them, as it wasn’t DBC.

Cllr Banks said that she thought it was run by Herts County Council. She also added that this was the 4^th Year that Grovehill had had no heating.

Cllr Harden said that we don’t have any involvement in youth centres its HCC.

Cllr Mahmood said it would be nice to know what’s going on with youth centres and the attendance figures etc we use to have someone come from Youth Connexions to update us at OSC but this hasn’t happened since J Still left, could we possibly invite them to the next meeting.

M Rawdon said he will happily contact them for figures and to see if they would come and do an update at OSC.

Cllr W Wyatt-Lowe said that the HCC Local Area Partnership for Dacorum (“LAP” - comprising the 10 Dacorum County Councillors) often receives reports and presentations from Youth Connexions. He suggested that we should ask YC to keep H&C and LAP informed at the same time - by sending the same papers to both.

Andrew Williams chairs the LAP.

Cllr England referred to 8.1, the staff survey. The percentage, is that in line with previous returns.

Matt Rawdon said its always been around those figures.

Cllr England said is there any reason why or anything we can do to bump figures.

Matt Rawdon said he thinks the reason why is because they don’t get much response back from Cupid Green as they don’t use computers there so their return figures are always low there. We do encourage staff to fill it out but we cant force them, we have shortened the questions and we also enter staff into a competition to win vouchers if they complete the survey.

Cllr Bank asked if we could have historical staff survey figures to compare them with.

M Rawdon to send previous figures (email sent to Members on – 07/03/2019)

Cllr W Wyatt-Lowe said don’t be disappointed with figures as 50% is high compared to elsewhere.

Cllr Bassadone suggested the old pencil and paper as this may also encourage people too, not everyone is computer confident.

Cllr England asked when the Sports Strategy was due to come to OSC and when the action plan comes what scrutiny will apply.

M Rawdon said that its worked out with everyone active to seek feedback which went well, good progress going forward. When it comes back any improvements will be welcomed.

Cllr England asked if the old playground at Gadebridge will be talked about, there has been lots of feedback regarding the fencing not being fenced in, will the action plan deal with this.

Cllr Harden said that we are looking at this and aspects of how, there are improvements to what we have done and include physical activities to get families more engaged.

Cllr Bassadone said that the Gazette reports residents saying about the sandpit needing a gate to stop dogs going in it.

Cllr Harden stated that the area is supposed to be self-policed and it is the responsibility of dog owners, we don’t want to close things off and restrict it as that’s not what its about.

Cllr Pringle said self-policing is the irresponsible ones and people will find it hard to challenge them, as it can be intimidating, there needs to be more of a balance.

Cllr Banks asked why other parks were fenced off then.

Cllr Harden said he believes its to safeguard children as they are play areas. The Gadebridge development isn’t a metal enclosed park area it’s a wooden outdoor play.

Cllr England asked what advice are the Council relying on to say that that is good advice.

Cllr Harden said its supported by other Councils and this is the way forward, he will get information for the committee on the studies behind it.