If given the go ahead by Breckland Council on Tuesday, the town council could be given either given a lump sum of up to £175,000 or annual payments of up to £12,000 over 30 years to help maintain the play areas.

Dereham, Swaffham, Attleborough and Watton town councils are also be included in the deal to take on their own play areas.

The town councils would also take on responsibility for any new play areas built as a result of new housing developments.

A date for an official handover of the play areas will be agreed once Breckland has settled how much cash to give the town councils

Members of Breckland's cabinet are also being asked to make a decision on a match- funding application made by Thetford Town Council for £15,000 towards the provision of a new play facility on the town's Castle Park.

The £114,200 project has already received £66,000 from the Big Lottery Fund, £15,000 from the town council, £15,000 from Waste Recycling Group (Wren), £3,000 from the Round Table and £200 from Thetford Lionesses.

The cabinet agenda states the district council will only consider match-funding the project if the town council agrees to take ownership of this and the other play areas in the town.

Meanwhile, Forest Heath District Council has agreed a deal that will see a trust take over responsibility for the management of the district's leisure facilities.

Anglia Community Leisure (ACL) will undertake the work from May 1, initially on an interim agreement and then a 10-year contract.

ACL will be responsible for managing leisure centres, swimming pools and community centres in Brandon, Mildenhall Newmarket on behalf of the council.

Geoffrey Jaggard, leader of the council, said: "This move will mean long-term savings for Forest Heath District Council.

"The aim is for the trust to secure value for money for local taxpayers in providing leisure services, while having the interests of residents at heart when managing and seeking to improve the facilities."

ACL is a new not-for-profit community organisation established to provide leisure and cultural services to the community.

The organisation's activities will be overseen by a voluntary 12-strong board of trustees recruited from local business and the community.

Town council website: http://www.thetfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/