Lambeth first council to offer its residents involvement in decisions over their local parks

Lambeth council’s cabinet is to discuss a report which recommends giving more power to communities and parks groups as part of Lambeth’s ‘Cooperative Parks Programme’.

The Cooperative Parks programme will enable communities and parks groups to work alongside the council to improve local parks, take decisions about where money is spent and influence how parks and open spaces in Lambeth are designed.

Under the proposal, to be agreed on Monday December 9, Lambeth would enter into partnerships to give more power and control to local groups to manage their local parks including: Streatham Common, Larkhall Park, Myatts Field Park, Stockport Playing Fields, Ruskin Park, Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, Brockwell Park and Hatfields Green.

Chair of the Friends of Streatham Common, Richard Payne, said: “Streatham Common is a huge asset to our local community and we’re delighted that Lambeth council is giving us more opportunities to get involved in the management of the common.

“I believe Lambeth’s cooperative parks programme and the establishment of a local co-operative for Streatham Common (SCCoop) will encourage ambition and innovation and get more local people involved in making our parks even better.”

Discussions will be entered into with staff from Lambeth council’s Parks Team and Veolia to explore their proposal to set up a staff cooperative.

Lambeth’s cabinet member for Culture and Leisure, Cllr Sally Prentice, said: “Lambeth’s cooperative parks programme is the first of its kind in the country, giving residents the chance to have their say and greater involvement in decisions about their local parks and open spaces.

“Our cooperative parks programme shows how public services can be delivered in new ways and is a great example of what Lambeth’s cooperative council is all about.

“It is also an important part of our work to make Lambeth a safer, cleaner and greener place to live.”

A public consultation on the programme, launched by Lambeth council last July, found 89% of residents support greater involvement from communities and friends groups in decision-making about parks and open spaces in Lambeth.