§ Mr. HepburnTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will respond to the final report of the urban green spaces taskforce; and if he will make a statement. [67846]
§ Mr. McNultyWe welcome the proposals of the final report, which provide a good basis for preparing our policy on provision and management of urban parks and green spaces as proposed in the urban White Paper [Cm 4911].
Our responses to a majority of the 52 recommendations of the final report rely on other initiatives which have yet to conclude. These include the current spending review, the cross cutting review on improving the public space, and the revision of planning policy guidance on open space, recreation and sports. We also wish to take advice from the Steering Committee set up by the OPDM to consider specific recommendations from the report.
We plan to integrate our policy on urban parks and green spaces with our strategy and action plan for improving public spaces. The resulting document will address all the recommendations of the final report and deliver our urban White Paper commitments for long-term improvements to urban green spaces. The strategy will be published in the autumn.