Tamworth council budget 2017, oh and there is a new play area in there

Another year and another budget is presented to full council, this is my 17th year here but once I left the meeting due to sickness and missed the vote.This year feels a little different, this years budget is a growth budget! And is happening at a time when other authorities are announcing reductions to services.
Just for information Tamworth has a council of 30 members and the vote on the budget went 19 for 1 against so a clear majority of 95% in favour of the budget. (I believe I counted correctly). This in itself is unusual and before people jump up and down about abstentions I have a clear view if you have abstained you haven't voted, you are elected to make a decision abstaining is not a decision.
The meeting was also very positive and for the first time in years I chose not to speak and influence the vote, this was mainly because with the exception of a few niggly points there were no real arguments for or against.

So on to the budget,

• it balances for the 3 year term and sees a council tax increase of £3.87 per year for the majority of Tamworth residents, whilst some could see an increase of £5 per year going to Tamworth Borough Council, (any other increases are for other public services)
• £50m investment in housing including investment in new social housing regenerating tinkers green and the Kerria centre.
• Savings/Income targets for green waste being reviewed an included, (more on this when I have details but we all know who voted for the savings, its the detail that was not in the report).
• £60k spend available for a play area. 

There's loads more in there (click here for the report) but I wanted to highlight the play area.

It was only a few days before this budget was passed that I read the BBC/LGA article warning of play areas falling into disrepair and being closed. And this reminded me of something I was involved with in 2003/4. As councillors the late Jerry Pinner and my self visited all the play areas in Tamworth logging and taking pictures of the state of the play areas in Tamworth which at the time had suffered from neglect and had items removed leaving steel stumps in the ground. We took this back to the council and began to put pressure on for play areas to be invested in.
It was long after this that we became part of the leading group at the council and immediately set about reviewing the situation. The decision was made to build new play areas and support them with repair funding, A policy on play was developed by a scrutiny committee chaired by Danny Cook and taken to cabinet paving the way for 3 strategic play areas, Wiggington park, Castle grounds and Dosthill park. there were also recommendations for a few smaller play areas in other areas to serve local communities but not the number we saw when the estates were built.

Photo borrowed/stolen from http://www.tamworthcastle.co.uk/castle-grounds 

So Tamworth received a £250,000 new play area in the castle ground and as councillors we were lambasted by a minority, mostly about design. albeit at the time one of the best play areas in the area. Wigginton Park and Dosthill park had smaller investments but also had climbing rocks etc for slightly older youths. It was all about diversionary activity. If we can get teens to sit on the climbing rocks and do what teens do then they aren't doing it on the swings. I personally think we should have more swings all over the place, they are like benches but more fun for all ages. whilst on the subject lets not forget about the partnership work moving and improving the skate park

The key for me is informal diversionary activities, This is what I wrote about late last year (follow this link) http://jeremysnewsthoughts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/ninefoot-park-place-to-play-idea.html
I know realise that entry could do with more info. We have an opportunity here to get this play funding spent in a really good way to divert some of the irritations that young people bring. There is nothing worse than a kid kicking a ball against a garage door, they are only doing it because there is no one else out playing and on your own the ball just doesn't come back and its boring.

So that's my ideas for a play area to serve Belgrave and Wilnecote (and my street as it happens).

But as an aside, does anyone remember the radio controlled car track we had on Robeys lane, I wonder what the market demand would be like for something like that in a couple of places in Tamworth, its only takes a bit of concrete and landscaping.(blog on potholes to follow don't worry) This could be like the BMX track, used formally and informally.