- Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 13 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what reporting obligations were placed on local authorities in return for play park renewal funding, and whether any of these include the submission of completion data.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer provided in S6W-38036 on 13 June 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 13 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many play parks in each local authority area have been renewed using its £60 million national play park fund, and what metrics it is using to track the progress of play parks being renewed using the fund.
Answer
A scoping exercise undertaken by COSLA in 2022, identified that there were 969 parks in need of immediate refurbishment and that 2,542 were in need of refurbishment within 1-5 years. The £60 million capital investment would support the renewal of all play parks in need of immediate renewal and around 1,000 of the play parks identified needing renewal over the funding commitment period.
Since funding began in 2021, the Scottish Government has chaired quarterly network meetings of Local Authority play park leads. The network allows Local Authorities to provide updates on how funding is being used and to share best practice and common issues.
Figures for 2024-25 are still being finalised, but reports so far show the following number of renewals per year since funding began:
Local Authority | Play parks renewed in 2021-22 | Play parks renewed in 2022-23 | Play parks renewed in 2023-24 | Play parks renewed in 2024-25 | Total |
Aberdeen City | 11 | 46 | 28 | 43 | 128 |
Aberdeenshire Council | 15 | 13 | 20 | 27 | 75 |
Angus Council | 6 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 24 |
Argyll and Bute Council | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 |
City of Edinburgh Council | 14 | 16 | 22 | 53 | 105 |
Clackmannanshire Council | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 15 |
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Council | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
Dumfries and Galloway Council | 0 | 28 | 18 | 3 | 49 |
Dundee City Council | 0 | 4 | 18 | 9 | 31 |
East Ayrshire Council | 12 | 40 | 57 | Numbers still to be confirmed | 109 |
East Dunbartonshire Council | 1 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 16 |
East Lothian Council | 1 | 1 | 24 | 28 | 54 |
East Renfrewshire Council | 3 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 23 |
Falkirk Council | 2 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 25 |
Fife Council | 12 | 9 | 10 | 24 | 55 |
Glasgow City Council | 1 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 17 |
Highland Council | 0 | 38 | 16 | 18 | 72 |
Inverclyde Council | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 22 |
Midlothian Council | 2 | 18 | 14 | 0 | 34 |
Moray Council | 1 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 25 |
North Ayrshire Council | 0 | 29 | 19 | 15 | 63 |
North Lanarkshire Council | 7 | 4 | 12 | 12 | 35 |
Orkney Islands Council | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
Perth and Kinross Council | 3 | 10 | 11 | 20 | 44 |
Renfrewshire Council | 2 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 15 |
Scottish Borders Council | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 11 |
Shetland Islands | 0 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 13 |
South Ayrshire Council | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 17 |
South Lanarkshire Council | 0 | 0 | 12 | 22 | 34 |
Stirling Council | 9 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 30 |
West Dunbartonshire Council | 5 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 25 |
West Lothian | 42 | 6 | 22 | 35 | 105 |
TOTAL | 164 | 318 | 395 | 410 | 1,287 |
- Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 13 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what data it has on the condition of play parks, as reported by local authorities, (a) before and (b) after the £60 million renewal programme.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-38037 on xxxxxxx which provides detail on the COSLA scoping study undertaken in 2022. Local authorities have a general responsibility to maintain play parks that serve their communities and this investment provides a boost in funding to accelerate local plans and improve play experiences for all children in Scotland. The reporting by Local Authorities agreed with COSLA does not include data on the condition of play parks before or after renewals. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 13 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what data it has on how the £60 million for play park renewal has been (a) allocated and (b) spent across all 32 local authorities.
Answer
Capital funding for the play park renewal programme is distributed to all 32 Local Authorities based on population of 0-14 year olds and rurality. In the first year, the formula was:
1.95% on population 0-14
2.5% on rurality
From 2022-23, the formula was:
1.93% on population 0-14
2.7% on rurality
The full table of allocations to each local authority by year is:
Local Authority | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | Total |
Aberdeen City Council | £188,000 | £185,000 | £373,000 | £559,000 | £932,000 | £2,237,000 |
Aberdeenshire Council | £296,000 | £308,000 | £616,000 | £924,000 | £1,539,000 | £3,683,000 |
Angus Council | £108,000 | £111,000 | £220,000 | £330,000 | £550,000 | £1,319,000 |
Argyll and Bute | £76,000 | £79,000 | £157,000 | £235,000 | £391,000 | £938,000 |
City of Edinburgh Council | £414,000 | £406,000 | £811,000 | £1,216,000 | £2,027,000 | £4,874,000 |
Clackmannanshire Council | £47,000 | £46,000 | £93,000 | £139,000 | £231,000 | £556,000 |
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Council | £29,000 | £32,000 | £62,000 | £93,000 | £156,000 | £372,000 |
Dumfries and Galloway Council | £140,000 | £146,000 | £291,000 | £437,000 | £728,000 | £1,742,000 |
Dundee City Council | £125,000 | £122,000 | £243,000 | £365,000 | £609,000 | £1,464,000 |
East Ayrshire Council | £112,000 | £112,000 | £224,000 | £336,000 | £561,000 | £1,345,000 |
East Dunbartonshire Council | £102,000 | £100,000 | £202,000 | £303,000 | £505,000 | £1,212,000 |
East Lothian Council | £108,000 | £108,000 | £218,000 | £327,000 | £545,000 | £1,306,000 |
East Renfrewshire Council | £102,000 | £101,000 | £204,000 | £306,000 | £509,000 | £1,222,000 |
Falkirk Council | £147,000 | £145,000 | £289,000 | £434,000 | £723,000 | £1,738,000 |
Fife Council | £344,000 | £342,000 | £681,000 | £1,022,000 | £1,703,000 | £4,092,000 |
Glasgow City Council | £525,000 | £514,000 | £1,028,000 | £1,542,000 | £2,570,000 | £6,179,000 |
Highland Council | £234,000 | £245,000 | £488,000 | £732,000 | £1,219,000 | £2,918,000 |
Inverclyde Council | £65,000 | £63,000 | £126,000 | £189,000 | £314,000 | £757,000 |
Midlothian Council | £98,000 | £97,000 | £197,000 | £295,000 | £492,000 | £1,179,000 |
Moray Council | £92,000 | £94,000 | £188,000 | £282,000 | £469,000 | £1,125,000 |
North Ayrshire Council | £118,000 | £117,000 | £231,000 | £347,000 | £578,000 | £1,391,000 |
North Lanarkshire Council | £324,000 | £319,000 | £635,000 | £952,000 | £1,586,000 | £3,816,000 |
Orkney Islands Council | £24,000 | £26,000 | £51,000 | £77,000 | £128,000 | £306,000 |
Perth and Kinross Council | £140,000 | £144,000 | £291,000 | £437,000 | £728,000 | £1,740,000 |
Renfrewshire Council | £158,000 | £155,000 | £307,000 | £461,000 | £768,000 | £1,849,000 |
Scottish Borders Council | £113,000 | £117,000 | £234,000 | £352,000 | £586,000 | £1,402,000 |
Shetland Islands Council | £28,000 | £31,000 | £61,000 | £91,000 | £151,000 | £362,000 |
South Ayrshire Council | £94,000 | £94,000 | £189,000 | £283,000 | £472,000 | £1,132,000 |
South Lanarkshire Council | £298,000 | £296,000 | £597,000 | £896,000 | £1,493,000 | £3,580,000 |
Stirling Council | £84,000 | £85,000 | £168,000 | £253,000 | £421,000 | £1,011,000 |
West Dunbartonshire Council | £81,000 | £79,000 | £157,000 | £235,000 | £392,000 | £944,000 |
West Lothian Council | £186,000 | £184,000 | £369,000 | £553,000 | £922,000 | £2,214,000 |
Total | £5,000,000 | £5,000,000 | £10,000,000 | £15,000,000 | £25,000,000 | £60,000,000 |
The Scottish Government does not hold data on local authorities receipted spend on play park renewals. In accordance with the reporting template agreed with COSLA in 2021, local authorities are not required to provide a detailed breakdown of the play park renewal funding. It is the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage their own budgets and to allocate the total financial resources available to them based on local needs and priorities.
- Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 13 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received any data on the inclusion of accessible or inclusive equipment in play parks renewed using its renewal funding, and whether this data will be published.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not receive data from Local Authorities on the inclusion of accessible or inclusive equipment in play parks renewed using the renewal funding. As noted in the answer to S6W-38036 on
13 June 2025, Local Authorities report annually every April on their play park renewals carried out as a result of the Scottish Government’s £60m play park renewal funding.
As noted in the answer to S6W-38037 on 13 June 2025 the Scottish Government has chaired quarterly network meetings of Local Authority play park leads. The network allows Local Authorities to provide updates and how funding is being used and to share best practice and common issues.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 13 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed the (a) geographic and (b) socio-economic spread of play park renewals funded through its £60 million fund, and, if so, whether it will publish any such assessment.
Answer
The £60 million play park renewal funding is allocated to local authorities to use across their whole play estate. It is the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage their own budgets and to allocate the total financial resources available to them based on local needs and priorities. The Scottish Government recognise that the extent of renewal and refurbishment will be influenced by local plans and investment priorities and engagement with children and young people.
The Scottish Government does not hold data centrally on the geographic and socio-economic spread of play parks within local authority estates.
- Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 13 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether any local authorities have reported any challenges or delays in delivering play park renewals, and whether it has collated and currently holds data on any such delays.
Answer
The Scottish Government works closely with Local Authorities on the delivery of the renewal programme and use of the funding through the annual reporting process and the quarterly network meetings referenced in S6W-38037. As agreed with COSLA at the start of the funding programme in 2021, Local Authorities are not required to report any such issues.
- Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 13 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what baseline data was used to determine the scale of need for play park renewal prior to distributing the £60 million of funding.
Answer
I refer the member to S6W-38037.
The £60m Scottish Government funding for play park renewals was distributed among the 32 local authorities based on population of 0-14 year olds and rurality. In the first year, the formula was:
1.95% on population 0-14
2.5% on rurality
From 2022/23, the formula was:
1.93% on population 0-14
2.7% on rurality
- Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 12 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether any (a) national and (b) regional targets were set as part of the £60 million play park renewal programme, and how performance against any such targets is being (i) measured and (ii) recorded.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not set any targets for number of play parks to be renewed by each local authority with their allocated funding but have agreed a set principles with COSLA in 2021 which should be used by the Local Authorities in line with local needs and priorities and informed by the views of the local communities.
- Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 12 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether any formal evaluation of the £60 million play park renewal programme has been commissioned, and whether this will include full access to delivery data by local authorities.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not commissioned a formal evaluation of the play park renewal programme. The Scottish Government will provide a report on the play park renewal programme once all renewals have been completed by Local Authority partners.
