Playgrounds - London Councils

The request was partially successful.

Dear Brent Borough Council,

1. How many public children’s playgrounds were managed and maintained by you at the start of each of the last five financial years (a) 1.4.19, (b) 1.4.20, (c) 1.4.21, (d) 1.4.22 and (e) 1.4.23?
2. What was your spend in each of the last five financial years (18/19) (19/20) (20/21) (21/22) and (22/23) on the maintenance, or improvement or development of children’s playgrounds in your local authority area? If possible please break this figure down into (i) revenue spend and (ii) capital expenditure.
3. How many accidents have been reported to you where people have been injured in public children’s playgrounds for which you have responsibility in each of the last five financial years (18/19) (19/20) (20/21) (21/22) and (22/23)?
4. In relation to accidents in the last financial year (22/23) please provide me with a summary of how each accident took place and the extent of the injury.
5. For each of the last five financial years (18/19) (19/20) (20/21) (21/22) and (22/23) please state how much compensation has been paid to people who were injured in accidents that took place in public children’s playgrounds for which you have responsibility? NOTE: I am interested in when the compensation was paid not when the accident took place or when the claim was lodged.

Yours faithfully,

Matthew Davis

Freedom of Information, Brent Borough Council

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Take part in Brent's draft budget consultation before 31 January at
[1]www.brent.gov.uk/budget

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DoNotReply1, Brent Borough Council

Tel: 020 89371234
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Web: [2]https://www.brent.gov.uk/your-council

Dear Matthew Davis 

RE: Playgrounds - London Councils 

Thank you for contacting the council on 12/01/2024.

Your case will be assigned to an officer and you should receive their
details soon.

Please use this reference number IRC-41025-M8C5S5 when contacting us about
this case.

Please note that we may require further information in order for us to
proceed, in which case we will contact you. 

If you would like further information on how your case will be dealt with,
please visit our website: [3]https://www.brent.gov.uk/your-council 

Yours sincerely 
London Borough of Brent

Take part in Brent's draft budget consultation before 31 January at
[4]www.brent.gov.uk/budget

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The use of Brent Council's e-mail system may be monitored and
communications read in order to secure effective operation of the system
and other lawful purposes.

References

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2. https://www.brent.gov.uk/your-council
3. https://www.brent.gov.uk/your-council
4. file:///tmp/www.brent.gov.uk/budget

Brent Council -Parks, Brent Borough Council

Tel: 020 8937 5565
[1]brentlogo1 (227×84)   Email: [email address]
Web: [2]www.brent.gov.uk/

Our Ref: IRC-41025-M8C5S5
Your Ref:

Dear Matthew Davis
 

Freedom of Information Act 2000

Thank you for your request for information that was received on
12/01/2024.

We are dealing with your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
and we aim to send a response by 09/02/2024.

In some cases, a fee may be payable. If we decide a fee is payable, we
will send you a fee notice and we will require you to pay the fee before
proceeding with your request.

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 may restrict the release of some or
all of the information you have requested. We will carry out an assessment
and if any exemptions apply to some or all of the information then we
might not provide that information to you. We will inform you if this is
the case and advise you of your rights to request an internal review and
to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office.

We will also advise you if we cannot provide you with the information
requested for any other reason together with the reason(s) why and details
of how you may appeal (if appropriate).
 

Further information about the Councils procedures can be found on the
Council's website:
[3]https://www.brent.gov.uk/your-council/tr...

Alternatively, you may contact me using the contact details provided in
this correspondence. 

Yours sincerely 
Kelly Eaton
Head of Parks Leisure and Cemeteries

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The use of Brent Council's e-mail system may be monitored and
communications read in order to secure effective operation of the system
and other lawful purposes.

References

Visible links
2. https://www.brent.gov.uk/your-council
3. https://www.brent.gov.uk/your-council/tr...

Brent Council -Parks, Brent Borough Council

Tel: 020 8937 5565
[1]brentlogo1 (227×84)   Email: [email address]
Web: [2]https://www.brent.gov.uk/

Our Ref: IRC-41025-M8C5S5

Dear Matthew Davis

Freedom of Information Act 2000

Thank you for your information request received on 12/01/2024.
This request is being handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

You requested the following information:

1. How many public children’s playgrounds were managed and maintained by
you at the start of each of the last five financial years (a) 1.4.19, (b)
1.4.20, (c) 1.4.21, (d) 1.4.22 and (e) 1.4.23?
2. What was your spend in each of the last five financial years (18/19)
(19/20) (20/21) (21/22) and (22/23) on the maintenance, or improvement or
development of children’s playgrounds in your local authority area? If
possible please break this figure down into (i) revenue spend and (ii)
capital expenditure.
3. How many accidents have been reported to you where people have been
injured in public children’s playgrounds for which you have responsibility
in each of the last five financial years (18/19) (19/20) (20/21) (21/22)
and (22/23)?
4. In relation to accidents in the last financial year (22/23) please
provide me with a summary of how each accident took place and the extent
of the injury.
5. For each of the last five financial years (18/19) (19/20) (20/21)
(21/22) and (22/23) please state how much compensation has been paid to
people who were injured in accidents that took place in public children’s
playgrounds for which you have responsibility? NOTE: I am interested in
when the compensation was paid not when the accident took place or when
the claim was lodged.
Take part in Brent's draft budget consultation before 31 January at
www.brent.gov.uk/budget
[https://legacy.brent.gov.uk/media/164209...

I can confirm that Brent Council holds the information you have
requested.

The Parks Service manages 45 children' playgrounds and the number has not
changed from 2019 to the current date.
 
In terms of Capital spend per year on improving children's playgrounds, a
breakdown is provided below. 
2018/19 -£157,000 on two playgrounds
2019/20 - £170,000 on three playgrounds
2020/21 - £178,000 on four playgrounds 
2021/22 - no capital spend
2022/23 - £688,486 on 14 playgrounds
 
I'm afraid that we are unable to clearly identify revenue spend on repair
works from our general maintenance budget. 
 
In respect of the number of reported accidents in our playgrounds, we have
a record of three across the last five years. They were a grazed face from
falling from a swing, a twisted ankle and cut lip from a trampoline and a
twisted ankle and bruised arm from falling in a playground over a raised
surface area. None of these resulted in insurance claims or compensation. 

If you are dissatisfied with the way, in which your request has been
handled or the outcome, you may request an internal review within two
calendar months of the date of this response by writing to the following
address:

Freedom of Information
Brent Civic Centre
Engineers Way
Wembley
HA9 0FJ

[3][email address]

If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request or internal
review, you have a right to appeal directly to the Information
Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be
contacted at:

The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF. Phone: 0303 123 1113
Website: [4]www.ico.org.uk

I will now close your request as of the date of this letter. 

Yours sincerely 
Kelly Eaton
Head of Parks Leisure and Cemeteries

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

The use of Brent Council's e-mail system may be monitored and
communications read in order to secure effective operation of the system
and other lawful purposes.

References

Visible links
2. https://www.brent.gov.uk/your-council
3. mailto:[email address]
4. http://www.ico.org.uk/