Agenda item

Consider report by Service Director Assets & Infrastructure 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).

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Assets and Infrastructure setting out guidance and recommendations for the Teviot and Liddesdale 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.   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, was detailed in the report, for the period 2018/19 to 2022/23.   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. It was noted that the Pump Track at Wilton Lodge Park was £200,000 not £300,000 as detailed in the report.

3.2       The Neighbourhood Area Manager, Fraser Dunlop, explained that officers had undertaken an assessment of play value using the Fields in Trust Scoring criteria and taken into consideration the proximity of play areas to other play facilities and the planning history of sites. The evaluation had been undertaken to ensure that the Council retained and developed a network of valued, well equipped spaces for local communities.   Where there was only one facility serving a community, this was retained and formed a consideration for future investment. Where there were lower value play facilities in areas of multiple provision, these were proposed for decommissioning to reduce the maintenance burden and focus investment to maximise value.   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.   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 Dunlop highlighted that there were 243 play parks across the Scottish Borders of which 11, in the Teviot and Liddesdale area, had scored 20 or less in the Fields in Trust Scoring assessments.  These play parks were proposed for decommissioning.   A discussion was held and officers were asked how the strategy met the needs of all users, particular in rural areas, were there was no provision for adult facilities, which were free to use, and a lack of public transport to reach existing  play parks?  With regard to grants available for the provision of play facilities, Mr Dunlop gave examples of work undertaken by groups in Stow and Selkirk, explaining that alternative funding could be available to community groups for enhancing play parks and assistance would be given with regard to submission of funding applications. Mr Hedley added that community groups had to ensure future maintenance of play facilities to ensure sustainability.    Regarding the timescale for closures, Mr Dunlop advised that no play facility would be decommissioned until the appropriate investment in new facilities in the locality had been completed.  However, Wilton Lodge Park play area had been completed and decommissioning of obsolete play facilities in Teviot and Liddesdale was programmed for the coming winter months.   Denholm and Burnfoot community councillors raised child safety concerns as the alternative playparks in their respective areas meant children crossing busy main roads.  Mr Hedley and Mr Dunlop would discuss with both community councils out with the meeting.  With regard to developers’ play areas required by planning permission, Mr Hedley explained that the Council had ceased adopting these areas in 2005.   However, if they predated 2005 the Council were still responsible; this issue would be the subject of a report to Council in the near future.   The Chairman thanked Mr Dunlop and Mr Hedley for their report and the feedback from communities in the Teviot and Liddesdale area.