Play Park Engagement - Update Report
Argyll and Bute Council · 6 September 2023
Back to Mid Argyll, Kintyre & the Islands Area Committee — 6 September 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL MID ARGYLL, KINTYRE AND ISLANDS AREA COMMITTEE ROAD AND INFRASTRUCTURE 6 SEPTEMBER 2023 SERVICES PLAY PARK ENGAGEMENT – UPDATE REPORT 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 In August 2022, the Scottish Government confirmed a full 5 year funding package to all Scottish Local Authorities from 2020/21 through to 2025/26. Argyll and Bute Council will receive a total of £938k for Play Park funding. 1.2 In December 2022, the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted the priority list of play parks in each area, based on inspections and feedback from Youth Forums. A copy of this can be found in the following link:- Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee 1 December 2022 1.3 The March 2023 Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee agreed a process for further engagement with other groups, including youth forums and relevant Community Councils. 1.4 This report outlines the response from the engagement exercise and seeks agreement for an Area Business Day to take forward how the funding will be spent in the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and Islands area. RECOMMENDATIONS It is recommended that the MAKI Area Committee: • Note the breakdown of engagement and consultation responses in each area with the majority of responses focussing on new/replacement equipment; • Agree that officers make arrangements for a Business Day to agree how the funding will be spent in Mid Argyll, Kintyre and Islands; and • Agree to progress Tarbert Play Park and supplement the current funding available with £20k from the Scottish Government Play Park Funding allocation.
Page 2
ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL MID ARGYLL, KINTYRE AND ISLANDS AREA COMMITTEE ROAD AND INFRASTRUCTURE 6 September 2023 SERVICES PLAY PARK ENGAGEMENT – UPDATE REPORT 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 This report provides an update to the Play Park engagement responses for the Mid Argyll Kintyre and Islands Area Committee. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 It is recommended that the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and Islands Area Committee: • Note the breakdown of engagement and consultation responses in each area with the majority of responses focussing on new/replacement equipment; • Agree that officers make arrangements for a Business Day to agree how the funding will be spent in Mid Argyll, Kintyre and Islands; and • Agree to progress Tarbert Play Park and supplement the current funding available with £20k from the Scottish Government Play Park Funding allocation. 4.0 DETAIL 4.1 In August 2022, the Scottish Government confirmed a full 5 year funding package to all Scottish Local Authorities from 2020/21 through to 2025/26. Argyll and Bute Council will receive a total of £938k for Play Park funding. 4.2 The below table highlights the funding split for each area as well as the number of play parks, as per previous Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee agreement, the funding was an indicative £33,500 per play park which, when the engagement process has been fully reviewed, this can be amended by the local Area Committee. Area Number of Play Parks Funding Total Helensburgh and Lomond 11 £368,500
Page 3
Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands 11 £368,500 Bute and Cowal 5 £167,500 Oban Lorn and the Isles 1 £33,500 TOTAL 28 £938,000 4.3 The March 2023 EDI Committee agreed a process for further engagement with other groups, including youth forums and relevant Community Councils. 4.4 Area Committee Business days with Elected members took place in 2022. A full engagement process has since taken place and the online engagement for adults and youths closed on Friday 14 July 2023 with the following update:- • 1054 Adult Responses • 408 Youth Responses This was a remarkable return for the play park engagement process and highlights the depth of feeling play parks have on our communities who are clearly keen to express their views. 4.5 The responses were broken down as follows: A Total of 1054 adult responses: Area New/Replacement Equipment Health and Safety Access for ALL Bute and Cowal 146 35 64 Helensburgh and Lomond 226 74 54 Mid Argyll, Kintyre and Islands 215 40 37 Oban Lorn and the Isles 9 3 4 Out of the 1054 adult responses there were a total of 147 which were void either due to referring to a non-council play park or being unable to assess the correct location from the comments. A Total of 408 Youth Responses: Area New/Replacement Equipment Health and Safety Access for ALL Bute and Cowal 68 7 5
Page 4
Helensburgh and Lomond 101 7 4 (Plus 2 don’t know) Mid Argyll, Kintyre and Islands 129 5 8 (plus 1 Don’t Know) Oban Lorn and the Isles 1 0 0 Out of the 408 young person responses there were a total of 70 which were void either due to referring to a non-council play park or being unable to assess the correct location from the comments. A note of the responses to the engagement priorities from the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and Islands community is attached at Appendix 1 of this report. 4.6 At the request of the Council Leader, further engagement has been carried out and South Islay Development have been identified as carrying out work to the Port Ellen Play Park, they are keen to work with the Council to improve the play park as a partnership approach to benefit the local community. 4.7 Tarbert Play Park is currently in the process of being upgraded, the equipment was previously removed for safety concerns and whilst there is funding of approximately £80k within current resources, it was the opinion of officers that this could be supplemented by the Scottish Government Play Park funding. As such officers delayed the works until the play park engagement work was completed and the returns reviewed. In light of the feedback from the public in Tarbert, it is the view of officers’ that works to this park are taken forward, on the basis that there is £80k of budget available. The new play park will have a resin based surface and it is proposed to include a net swing and wheelchair accessible roundabout, however this is likely to increase costs beyond the £80k available by approximately £20k. 4.8 The Council now requires to consider what equipment is needed for each play park. It is proposed that Area Business Days are arranged with Ward Members and officers will bring forward proposals which will be based on the feedback from the consultation. 4.9 The costings of equipment only:- • Swings - £6500 + VAT • Spring Seesaw - £2750 + VAT • Climbing Net - £11,250.00 + VAT • Wheel Chair Accessible Roundabout - £5000-£12000 +VAT The funding for the Mid Argyll Kintyre and Islands area to cover its 11 play parks is £368,500.
Page 5
4.10 The timeline for play parks is noted as follows:- ACTION TIMESCALE Engagement with Community Councils and Education Department Commenced March-May 2023 Engagement with Disability Forums Expected to commence Autumn/Winter 2023 Area Business Days to agree how funding will be spent Autumn (prior to Area Committee Meetings in December 2023) Area Committee to formally agree the funding for each play park December 2023 Procurement process (which will last 8 – 12 weeks) Expected to commence early 2024 Installations Expected to commence Spring 2024 (dependent on procurement process as above) 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 The Scottish Government has allocated a total of £938k for Play Park funding to Argyll and Bute Council for investment in play park equipment through to 2025/26 from the Capital Allocation for Renewal of Play Parks Fund. 5.2 Officers will make the necessary arrangements for a Mid Argyll, Kintyre and Islands Area Committee Business Day to take place, which will allow officers to report to the December Area Committee to formally agree the funding for each play park in the area. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy – This project will be delivered within the Procurement tendering process however, as we have had two unsuccessful processes already as well as a direct award failure members should note that this may well delay matters and officers. 6.2 Financial – funded from grant funding from Scottish Government. 6.3 Legal – None known. 6.4 HR – None known. 6.5 Fairer Scotland Duty: None known
Page 6
6.5.1 Equalities - protected characteristics – engagement will take place with appropriate groups, including the disability forum, to provide a positive impact on our young people. 6.5.2 Socio-economic Duty – None known. 6.5.3 Islands – elements of renewal on all play parks, which therefore will not adversely affect islands. 6.6. Climate Change – we will endeavour to minimise carbon footprint of this project. 6.7 Risk – Failure to deliver within the allotted Scottish Government timescales may result in losing the budget allocated. 6.8 Customer Service – the intention of this funding is to provide better facilities for our customers. Executive Director with responsibility for Road and Infrastructure Services, Kirsty Flanagan Policy Lead for Climate Change and Environment, Councillor Ross Moreland August 2023 For further information contact: Jim Smith, Head of Road and Infrastructure Services Jim.Smith@argyll-bute.gov.uk Hugh O’Neill, Network and Standards Manager Hugh.ONeill@argyll-bute.gov.uk APPENDICES: Appendix 1 – Breakdown of community responses to consultation Appendix 2 – Breakdown of indicative costs for equipment and fitting
Page 7
APPENDIX 1: BREAKDOWN OF COMMUNITY RESPONSES TO CONSULTATION Play Park Name/Location Responses for priority being Renew/Replace Responses for priority being Health and Safety Responses for priority being Access for ALL Young Adult Young Adult Young Adult Ardrishaig 13 29 1 5 0 6 Ardrishaig KGV 4 14 1 2 0 3 Bay View Port Ellen 11 10 0 5 2 4 Bengullion Skate Park 1 2 1 1 1 1 Jocks Boat, Campbeltown 8 25 0 9 0 3 Hillside 18 20 1 2 2 5 Stewarton 7 12 0 5 0 1 Kinloch Park 6 8 0 0 0 0 Lochend 13 6 1 3 1 2 Meadows 16 35 0 5 1 7 Tarbert 32 54 0 3 1 4 (Plus 1 Don’t Know) Total: 129 215 5 40 8 37
Page 8
APPENDIX 2: INDICATIVE COSTS FOR PLAY EQUIPMENT 1. CUSTOM Ship £18,800.00 plus installation £3,125.00 2. Featured Springer between £500 to £630.00 plus Installation £294.00 3. Spring Seesaw £2,250.00 plus Installation £514.00 4. Climbing Net £11,250.00 plus Installation £3,372.00 5. Frame £4,360.00 plus Installation £698.00 6. Spinner Bowl £680.00 plus Installation £231.00 7. Swing Frame, £5,040.00 plus Installation £1,452.00 8. Flexus stand up swing, £3,120.00 plus Installation £514.00 9. Ground Preparation £54,966.62 • Site Set up • Excavate area and remove spoil off site, • Supply & install kerb edging, • Supply & lay cultivated turf • Supply & sow seed • Safer Surfacing WETPOUR • Heras site security fencing • Removal of packaging and Waste 10. Equipment Delivery Charge £4,181.20 11. Total Excl. VAT £115,477.82 12. Total Inclusive of VAT = £138,573.38