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Playbuilder scheme loses money and ring-fence

Provision
The Government has announced it is to reinstate the Playbuilder scheme, although it is to lose a third of its funding and the money will not be ring-fenced.

The Education Secretary Michael Gove told local authorities about the £20.8m cut in a letter following last week's public spending review. He said that, based on information provided by local authorities, he has 'decided to make a total saving of £20.8m to the original play capital budget of £75m'.

He added, 'As you know, the ring-fence attached to this grant has been removed, in order to give you more flexibility to manage your own local budgets.'

The £235m Playbuilder scheme to develop 3,500 playgrounds, which was launched by the Labour government, was frozen in July.

Each local authority has now been informed of its revised allocation for the financial year.

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