Agenda item

(i)      Petition – Hawick Play Parks.  (Copy attached).

(ii)      Briefing paper by Service Director Assets & Infrastructure.  (Copy attached).

3.1       The Chairman then welcomed Councillor McAteer, deputising for the Lead Petitioner, Greg Dalgleish, to present the petition on “Stop Scottish Borders Council Closing Play Parks”.  The petition had been accompanied by a statement which advised that bigger and better facilities should not be justified for the removal of the smaller parks that were situated in various housing estates in Hawick and the Borders.  The comments associated with the petition and on social media made it clear that these smaller parks were still well used and had been described as a safe place to play and exercise close to many homes.  Not everyone was able to access the likes of Wilton Lodge Park on a regular basis and children with additional needs also found these areas too busy and noisy.  The petitioners called into question how the Council had carefully looked at playparks that were not used as much and to explain how they arrived at that decision.  They also questioned why some parks were in a poor state of repair and if these had been neglected over the years, then this should not be justification for removal.  Priority 2 within the Borders Director of Public Health Report 2018 highlighted that investment in children’s play was one of the most important things that could be done as a community to support children’s health and wellbeing.  The statement concluded that the Council was above the national average for play park provision and that position should not change. 

3.2       Councillor McAteer advised that the principal petitioner, Mr Dalgleish, had put a power of work into the town and this was effectively closing play parks.  Residents had a right to determine how Council money should be spent and the decision on play parks should be re-considered by full Council.  The new destination play parks were a great success but there was not enough evidence to show that these local play parks were not needed by the community.  The consultation exercise carried out with Elected Members and at Area Partnerships simply gave details of the closures and did not seek representative views as the plan to remove the playparks had already been made.  Smaller parks were still well used and were a safe place to play.  By failing to maintain play parks the Council had contributed to their lack of use and account had to be taken of the health, wellbeing and safety of young people and their needs.  These smaller parks provided a starting place for play and were the bedrock for future play parks as young people were the future of the Borders.  

3.3       Members then asked about specific play parks at Sleepy Valley, Burnfoot Community School and Millersknowe.  Councillor McAteer advised that Burnfoot School play park was a central congregation point for youngsters, with Sleepy Valley a perfect place, with wide open space.  To give some context, the population of Burnfoot was similar to Jedburgh.  With the removal of play equipment from smaller parks, parents would need to make a deliberate decision to visit a park further from home.  This could make it difficult for parents with smaller children to walk to and allow their children adequate time to play.  There were 4 newer play parks – Hislop, Leeburn, Mayfield and Wilton Court. 

3.4       There had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Assets and Infrastructure on the Plays Parks Petition, Hawick which gave a response to various points in the petition.  Mr Hedley then displayed some photographs of the play equipment which was to be removed.  The Fields in Trust organisation advocated access to open space and provided tools for officers to use.  The FIT score/play value was based on set criteria, such as number of slides, whether it was fenced, access to a bin.  With regard to investment in smaller parks, there were issues with older equipment pre-1988 as often parts were not available so it would not be a case of repairing or replacing like for like as standards had changed.  Geography had been part of the assessment of the smaller play parks but not travel distance.  If a town only had one play park then that remained.  Mr Joyce confirmed that if equipment was removed then there could be investment in the remaining parks not just the destination parks.  Other facilities such as that provided through the expansion of early years, 3G pitches and new community hubs would also be available.  In terms of the size of a community, that varied across the Borders, but there had been representation on travel distance to some parks so some had already been retained in Galashiels, Innerleithen and Peebles.  Engagement had taken place with Elected Members at Area Partnership meetings.  With regard to the Members’ Reference Group, Mr Joyce advised that this had been raised at a Council meeting, and confirmed, following an email from the Convener to all Members, this was being taken forward on a more informal basis.  Mr Joyce further confirmed that Officers would be open to access any funding as there was a need to create a long term, sustainable future for play parks across the Borders.  With regard to Hawick play parks, Mr Joyce was re-considering the one at Hislop Gardens.   

3.5       The Chairman thanked both Mrs Wichary and Councillor McAteer for presenting the 2 petitions and the officers for their input.  Members then considered their next steps. Councillor Scott expressed concern about the lack of a robust consultation process prior to the decision on removing play equipment, and the lack of clarity on how savings were to be made when specific costs were not available.  Councillor Anderson suggested that the matter be referred back to full Council.  Councillor Fullarton commented on the difficulties in resourcing all play parks and balancing the investment in destination play parks against the smaller parks closer to home.  Councillor Chapman also raised the issue of the cost of removal of equipment and the spread of the smaller play parks.

3.6       A 15-minute recess was called while Committee members considered what motions to put forward.

VOTE

Councillor Anderson, seconded by Councillor Thornton-Nicol, moved that the 2 petitions be referred back to Scottish Borders and that “Scottish Borders Council re-assesses its original decision made on 31 May 2018 in relation to the capital programme 18/19 and investment in play areas and outdoor community spaces to ‘delegate authority to the Service Director Assets and Infrastructure, after consultation with local Members, the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Legal Officer, to declare play parks obsolete or those surplus to requirements and arrange for the removal of equipment and disposal, if appropriate.’  The Service Director is requested to prepare a fully costed report on options for future and existing play park provision for consideration at the next meeting of Council.”

Councillor Fullarton, seconded by Councillor Hamilton, moved as an amendment that “while we welcome the petition and the views expressed by the communities of Hawick and Kelso, the impact of retaining every play park could delay the Capital Programme and will impact on the existing Revenue Budget going forward and therefore we reluctantly propose no further action is taken”.

On a show of hands Members voted as follows:-

Motion                           -        5 Votes

Amendment                  -        3 Votes

The Motion was accordingly carried.

DECISION

DECIDED:-

(a)     to refer the petitions to Scottish Borders Council; and

*        (b)     to RECOMMEND that Scottish Borders Council re-assesses its original decision made on 31 May 2018 in relation to the capital programme 18/19 and investment in play areas and outdoor community spaces to ‘delegate authority to the Service Director Assets and Infrastructure, after consultation with local Members, the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Legal Officer, to declare play parks obsolete or those surplus to requirements and arrange for the removal of equipment and disposal, if appropriate.’  The Service Director should be requested to prepare a fully costed report on options for future and existing play park provision for consideration at the next meeting of Council.