CHILDREN’S play schemes during the school summer holidays could be funded by Penarth Town Council.

Penarth councillors have agreed to look into whether to fund morning and afternoon ‘play scheme’ sessions for five of the six week summer holidays, with a fourth day each week of ‘play rangers’ or ‘family fun day’ activities.

To provide the sessions for five weeks it could cost the town council more than £8,600 to financially support the service from the Vale Council's 'Play Team'.

It comes after a review of services provided by the Vale Council and an invitation to invite town and community councils to provide financial support for school holiday play schemes.

But during a Penarth Town Council leisure and amenities committee meeting on Monday night (January 19) councillors warned about the cost of providing a service and said that it should be the responsibility of the Vale Council.

Councillor Lis Burnett told the committee that there was no provision in Penarth or the Vale last year, and that the town council was being given the opportunity to buy into it.

Penarth councillor Anthony Ernest, who represents the Plymouth ward, said that he was “concerned” about the proposals as they had come quite late in the year and councillors hadn’t had time to consider them in advance of setting budgets for the next financial year

He added that he was also concerned about the cost: “The Vale Council might spend nearly £10,000 and not bat an eyelid, but for us that is a vast amount of money.

“To me it seems a very large amount of money and I would have said at first the town council couldn’t afford it.

“I don’t have a problem with play schemes, far from it, but this is taking on the role of the county council.”

He added: “If there is money it should be going towards lowering the general rate that we will be setting later in the week.”

Councillor Neil Thomas, who represents the Stanwell ward, said that take up for holiday play schemes in the summer holidays in Penarth was “quite large” and that they were “over subscribed”.

“It’s clearly something that the community appreciates and values, and I think we should give some consideration into trying to maintain this facility that the people of Penarth appear to want, especially if the Vale are looking at one of the areas they have to cut over government austerity policies.”

Councillor Martin Turner, who represents the Plymouth ward, asked if the committee could find out what was provided last year and the number of users in Penarth.

Councillor Philip Rapier, who represents the St Augustine’s ward, added that the provision of education was a county council responsibility and that it would be “a lot of money” for the town council to fund.

Councillor Lis Burnett, who represents the St Augustine’s ward, said that before the meeting she had sought clarification from the Vale Council about the provision of play schemes last year, and was told that there was none in Penarth and that the only provision in the Vale was provided by Communities First or grant funding.

“It’s not something we are being asked to take over, as my understanding is there wasn’t a scheme last year,” she said.

She added it was “not fitting into the reshaping services agenda” but that it was a service the town council could buy into.

She added that Penarth Town Council should seek clarification about what other councils were doing before considering it.

Councillors agreed to seek more information about the scheme, a further breakdown of costs and find out what other councils are doing before committing to financial support.