FOI Request - Playpark Investment
Request 101003747720
Per the following Scottish Government information relating to the Play Parks renewal programme ( https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/questions-and-answers/question?ref=S6W-28890 )
Can you tell me
1. How much the council has received from the Scottish Government via this scheme in financial years 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 to date.
2. How much has been spent by the council of these sums in financial years 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 to date.
3. Can you provide any details of reviews into the council's playpark estate, with particular reference to engagement with "children and families" per the Minister's answer below:
"The national principles set out how local authorities should review their existing estate, prioritise renewal work and design play parks that offer improved play opportunities for children and families. At the heart of the national principles is the recommendation for local authorities to engage with children and families within the local communities to inform delivery of a renewal that meets the needs of local people."
Response 14-04-2025
1. 2021/22 - £92k
2022/23 - £94k
2023/24 - £188k
2024/25 - £282k
2025/26 - not yet received (next financial year). Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.
2. The information requested can be found published and available on the Moray Council website. This information is therefore exempt under section 25 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, information otherwise accessible. For ease of reference please find a link to the web page here: http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_153131.html
For 2025/26 - £80k carried forward from 2023/24 providing budget of £263k for 2025/26. Orders to the value of £361,516.81 have been committed to date (18.03.25) against budget available in this financial year.
3. An annual independent play area assessment is undertaken each year which is used to prioritise play area investments.
A participatory budgeting approach is used for each project to allow communities to influence the overall design and expenditure. This approach allows officers to engage with local communities, young people and schools on the development of each project. Engagement is carried out in a number of ways but typically includes pop-up sessions in the park, engagement with school pupils in class time, pop-up sessions at the end of the school day to engage with parents and carers, online and paper surveys, formation of steering groups. This process also allows communities the opportunity to fundraise to increase the investment and project scope.
The Moray Play Sufficiency Assessment - https://moray.cmis.uk.com/moray/Document.ashx?czJKcaeAi5tUFL1DTL2UE4zNRBcoShgo=Mr4%2bEusE9wOG%2fglmz67gy63CDDXpUxcTydhC0ChnGdBexWFzssZRsw%3d%3d&rUzwRPf%2bZ3zd4E7Ikn8Lyw%3d%3d=pwRE6AGJFLDNlh225F5QMaQWCtPHwdhUfCZ%2fLUQzgA2uL5jNRG4jdQ%3d%3d&mCTIbCubSFfXsDGW9IXnlg%3d%3d=hFflUdN3100%3d&kCx1AnS9%2fpWZQ40DXFvdEw%3d%3d=hFflUdN3100%3d&uJovDxwdjMPoYv%2bAJvYtyA%3d%3d=ctNJFf55vVA%3d&FgPlIEJYlotS%2bYGoBi5olA%3d%3d=NHdURQburHA%3d&d9Qjj0ag1Pd993jsyOJqFvmyB7X0CSQK=ctNJFf55vVA%3d&WGewmoAfeNR9xqBux0r1Q8Za60lavYmz=ctNJFf55vVA%3d&WGewmoAfeNQ16B2MHuCpMRKZMwaG1PaO=ctNJFf55vVA%3d
- completed in 2023 considers the sufficiency of both formal and informal play opportunities across Moray. This includes both privately managed playparks and Council playparks. In preparing the Play Sufficiency Assessment Moray Council sought to engage with children and young people, parents and carers, Community Council’s and the public in general. Two online surveys were conducted one aimed at children and young people and the other aimed at adults (including parents and carers and Community Councils). Sessions were also held with pupils from Seafield Primary School and New Elgin Primary Schools. As part of a shared learning day focused on local living at Elgin Academy S1 to S3 pupils completed a Place Survey which included questions about play/hanging out.