William Eichler 21 June 2018

Councils slash £15m from parks budgets

Parks and green spaces are falling into ‘disrepair’ because of budget cuts, freedom of information requests reveal.

According to FOI responses from 172 councils responsible for parks in Britain, more than £15m has been cut from parks and green spaces budgets between 2016/17 and 2018/19.

Published by the trade union Unison, the figures also revealed that more than half (59%) of the respondents had cut their parks and green spaces budgets between 2016/17 and 2018/19.

The biggest cut, Unison found, was in Warwickshire County Council, which slashed its parks and green spaces budget by 87% in one year, reducing spending from £108,268 in 2016/17 to £14,184 in 2017/18.

The new data comes after a recent report from the charity Fields in Trust showed that parks provide people with over £34bn of health and wellbeing benefits.

‘Parks and green spaces are a vital local service, contributing to the health and well-being of communities in many ways,’ said Unison general secretary Dave Prentis.

‘But years of funding cuts have left many of our parks run-down, under-staffed, and in need of urgent attention.’

What’s happening inside the LGPS? image

What’s happening inside the LGPS?

Get the most informed take on the challenges and opportunities that substantial reform will bring at this year’s PLSA Local Authority Conference.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Registered Building Inspector (Band 2/Grade 7)

Health and Safety Executive
£60,760 - £65,776
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) is transforming building safety regulation across England. United Kingdom / various Locations
Recuriter: Health and Safety Executive

Revenues and Recovery Team Leader

Ashfield District Council
£37,938 - £40,476 per annum (pay award pending)
We have an exciting opportunity for a Revenues and Recovery Team Leader Sutton-In-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Ashfield District Council

Housing Options Officer

Ashfield District Council
£31,067 - £33,366 per annum (pay award pending)
Do you want to make a real difference to the lives of residents in housing need? Sutton-In-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Ashfield District Council

Building Services Operative

Ashfield District Council
£25,584 - £27,269 per annum (pay award pending)
The Facilities team are looking to recruit an enthusiastic individual Sutton-In-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Ashfield District Council

Street Cleansing Technician (CDC)

City Of Doncaster Council
Grade 5, £24,397 per annum (pay award pending)
Do you enjoy working outside, as part of a team that make a direct difference to the communities of Doncaster? Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recuriter: City Of Doncaster Council
Linkedin Banner