Levelling up for parks?

The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee will be holding a one-off session to follow up on their previous work into the future of public parks in mid-July. The committee are interested in what has changed for parks and green spaces since their report recommendations in 2017.

They would like to invite your organisation to submit written evidence, to help inform the committee. If you have any thoughts that you wish to share with the committee, we would welcome these in writing by latest 28 June. Due to the tight deadline, shorter, focused responses would be welcomed.

We would ask that your evidence particularly covers the below points of interest:

1. What has been the impact of the pandemic on parks and what should the priorities of central and local government be during the recovery?
2. What has been the impact on parks and green spaces, including in bolstering access for disadvantaged groups, of Government initiatives such as pocket parks and the Levelling Up Fund?
3. [to PAG members] How would you assess the effectiveness of the Parks Action Group and what should its future role be?
4. How have local authorities engaged with their communities, including friends group forums, about the planning, effective resourcing, and managing of parks?

To submit your written evidence, please use this link to our portal: Public Parks: Follow Up – Committees – UK Parliament

There is guidance on submitting written evidence here: Guidance on giving evidence to a Select Committee of the House of Commons – UK Parliament

We are meeting to discuss this but would be happy to hear from colleagues asap.