Highland Council play park funding could be brought closer to communities under plans to be discussed this week
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Decisions on providing and improving children’s play areas – facing close to a £3.5 million funding shortfall – could be brought closer to communities under plans to be considered by Highland councillors.
Members will be asked this week to devolve budgets and decision-making on play parks to area committees.
The aim is to tap into local knowledge and cash-raising opportunities as council-managed play areas are brought back into safe use during recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The move follows discussions last month among members of the council’s communities and place committee.
They asked officials to produce detailed proposals to put before a full meeting of Highland Council.
Councillor Allan Henderson, chair of the communities and place committee, said: “I realise that all communities have different needs, so the proposal is to augment the funds and allow communities to use Covid humanitarian funds in innovative ways.
“The aim of these proposals is to help ease parents and children back into community life while still supporting the humanitarian needs of the whole of the Highlands.
“I realise communities have more opportunities to secure outside funding from different sources such as the National Lottery, community benefit schemes, ward discretionary budgets and Highland coastal communities funding.
“Some members believe it is possible, through this method, to begin to refresh play parks and go some way to closing the estimated gap of £3.46 million for maintenance and repairs.
“This I believe is a positive move towards localism, with ward members and ward managers involved in devolved decision-making and answerable to their communities.”
Councillors will be asked on Thursday to consider a report detailing proposals for covid ward funds and investing in play areas.
The report can be found on the council’s website at this link and the meeting will be available to watch via live webcast.
