Agenda item
Provision of Outdoor Community Spaces
Update on the programme of work delivering a strategic network of outdoor community spaces, including current planned investment and recommendations on obsolete play areas. (Copy attached).
Minutes:
3.1 There had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Assets and Infrastructure setting out guidance and recommendations for the Berwickshire Area for future investment in Public Play facilities and proposals for the removal of obsolete play areas, agreed as part of the 2018/19 Capital Investment Plan and updated within the Capital Investment Plan 2019/20. The 2019/20 Capital Investment Plan had funding of £5.036m for investment within Outdoor Community Spaces over the 10 years. This presented a tremendous asset for communities, however also brought a maintenance burden, for which no additional revenue resources were being provided. As part of the original investment within the 2018/19 Capital Investment Plan, it was simultaneously agreed by Council to review the distribution of play equipment provision across play parks in the Borders which could: (1) inform decision making around future investment in communities; and (2) guide the rationalisation of obsolete play facilities which were deemed no longer fit for purpose, ensuring a cost neutral impact on established budgets with the Service.
3.2 The programme of investment in play facilities aimed to improve community wellbeing and enhance activity levels for all ages with a beneficial impact on the health of the population. The programme of proposed projects across the Scottish Borders and an indicative timescale for delivery for the period 2018/19 to 2022/23 was provided within the report. The programme proposed a range of provision including Children’s Playparks, Pump bike/Skate tracks and Fitness/Youth Shelter provision as well as the rationalisation of obsolete equipment, where this was no longer fit for purpose. In conjunction with the strategic investment across the Region, Members previously agreed to: change the Scheme of Delegation to give authority to the Service Director Assets and Infrastructure and create a reference group which would include the remit to “make recommendations to the Service Director Assets and Infrastructure or Executive Committee on which obsolete play areas should be removed, particularly in areas where there had been significant investment. The Neighbourhood Operations Manager, Mr Craig Blackie explained that in this context, officers had undertaken an appraisal of the wider network of play equipment aimed at responding to the issue of low play value, which Scottish Borders Council (SBC) had within its play facilities assets. The evaluation had been undertaken to ensure SBC retained and developed a network of valued, well equipped spaces for local communities. In the Scottish Borders currently the quantity of play provision was high per head of population, but the quality was very low (compared to national benchmarking) and this diminished the wider benefits of these facilities to communities. This programme of investment would address the challenge of balancing quantity against quality, ensuring optimal provision of play facilities across the network. Areas of low value play facilities where there was a recognised need i.e. the only play park in the locality, would be identified as priorities for potential future investment. As no additional revenue resources were being provided to support the long term management and maintenance of the new play parks being created, the removal of obsolete facilities was essential to ensure there was a cost neutral impact on established budgets with the service. Mr Blackie advised that no play facility would be decommissioned until the appropriate investment in new facilities in the locality had been completed. Scottish Borders currently had 243 play parks, including those located within schools, ranging from smaller local areas for play to strategic destination play parks. The programme set the context for refining and rationalising the wider network within Berwickshire sites which included the Public Park in Duns and The Bantry in Eyemouth scheduled for 2020/21. The installation of new facilities was underway in Home Park, Coldstream with an estimated completion date of June/July 2019. Mr Blackie explained that a review of the whole network of play parks had been carried out and sites of low and medium value, based on the Fields in Trust national criteria for play park assessment, had been identified. As a result of this assessment, 74 play parks had been identified to be decommissioned, of which eight are in the Berwickshire area. A full discussion was held, in particular relating to the Lower Burnmouth Site and the alternative location as Upper Burnmouth, covering child safety, previous underspend on play park facilities, the use of developer contributions and planning requirements in new build estates for play park provision, and the consultation process for the new enhanced play parks. Mr Blackie gave examples of work undertaken by groups in Stow and Selkirk and explained that alternative funding/grants could be available to community groups for enhancing play parks and assistance would be given with regard to the submission of applications for any funding. Councillor Aitchison advised that the Council was trying to invest in play parks and that no change would be made to existing play parks until the new ones were in place; as revenue budgets were tight for the Council it had to work within its means. In response to the feedback and various questions raised, it was agreed that Mr Blackie would investigate and respond, in particular to the funding availability for play parks, planning process undertaken, the maintenance of facilities and the small schemes projects. Mr Blackie would welcome any feedback from communities and individuals in the Berwickshire area, confirming that these would be included in a report to Council.
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