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RESOLVED:

1.      That this Council notes
that:

a)      there are over 400 play
areas in Milton Keynes, which are an important factor in
maintaining and improving the physical and mental health of our
children;

b)      the more often and the
longer these areas are used, the better the outcomes for our
families; and

c)      the user-friendliness of
these areas plays a large part in how often, and for how long these
play areas are used.

2.      That this Council believes
that:

a)      the better these areas are
for the users, including importantly the parents and carers of our
children, the more they will be used; and

b)      improving these areas is
therefore a factor in improving the welfare of our
children.

3.      That this Council resolves
to ask Cabinet to consider:

a)      ensuring that every new play
area will be equipped with at least one bench seat so that
parents/carers have somewhere to sit whilst children play, thus
increasing dwell time;

b)      ensuring that every new
play area will be equipped with a waste bin;

c)      retrofitting those play
areas without a bench seat or bin through a five-year rolling
upgrade to be complete by May 2029;

d)      making bench seats with
backs that are installed available for the fitting of memorial
plaques;

e)      encouraging companies to
sponsor benches and bins to defray the cost to council taxpayers;
and

f)       writing to parish
and town councils to and encourage them to place dog waste bins
within 20m of each play area, as when there is a parent/carer and
child there is often the family pet dog with them.