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Placecheck


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Placecheck

The next Placecheck

Milnathort has been chosen to host Placecheck in 2009/10. Bridge of Earn will host Placecheck in 2010/11 and Aberfeldy in 2011/12.

Background to Placecheck

Placecheck is an award winning community engagement method being used by Perth & Kinross Council. Placecheck was developed in the late 1990’s by the Urban Design Alliance (UDAL). This successful scheme has been implemented in many places across the UK from neighbourhoods wanting to improve their local streets and open spaces to whole settlements getting involved.

Placecheck is a simple way of getting communities to identify what they like and don’t like about where they live. Communities identify and work with different partners and also take action themselves, to improve their environment. 

Recently the Placecheck method has been trialled in Errol and Dunning and has been successful in effectively engaging communities on public space issues.  In view of the heavy demand on resources, it was decided to give one community per year the opportunity to participate in the Council run Placecheck process. Communities had to have around 2000 residents.

Areas that submitted a bid to host a Placecheck event were Aberfeldy, Alyth, Bridge of Earn, Comrie, Coupar Angus,  Invergowrie and Kingoodie, Milnathort, Oakbank and Stanley.  

Criteria Assessment

  • The proposal must relate to a self contained geographical community with a population of around 2000.
  • The proposal must be supported by all elected members for the area.
  • A number of public space management issues already exist which require resolution arising from customer contacts, local members, community planning partners, capital plans or asset management plans
  • Can additional funding be sought through new development or other, or has any additional funding been secured?
  • The community must be able to demonstrate how it will engage with the wider local community in the consultation and design process.
  • The community must be able to demonstrate the potential benefits of a ȁC;PlacecheckȁD; for their area by giving examples of the current issues and how these may be improved, in relation to the aims of ȁC;PlacecheckȁD;. For example, evidence of ongoing problems and customer complaints.

If the answer to either of the first two criteria is ȁC;NoȁD;, then it would not be appropriate to undertake ȁC;PlacecheckȁD;.

Resources

To take Placecheck forward on an equitable basis and to make best use of resources, criteria has been developed to ensure suitable settlements are selected in a fair and transparent way. Scoring assisted with prioritisation where several communities demonstrated a need for Placecheck. All submissions were assessed by a working panel. 

Timescale

  • Letters of invitation [pdf 31KB]  were sent out to Community Councils, Councillors and the Community Capacity Team in March 2009 asking for a brief note of interest to be expressed to Diane Cassidy by the  31st March 2009 giving their name, their position in the community and the best methods to contact them
  • Applicants were contacted in April to arrange a meeting in their community, at their convenience, so that they can find out more about Placecheck and be assisted to fill in an application for their area to apply to run a Placecheck event.
  • During May a panel meet to assess the bids and decide on Placecheck areas for the next 3 years. There will be only one Placecheck area per year. This panel was made up of representatives from The Environment Service and Education and Children’s Services.
  • After the panel meeting, applicants were contacted and informed on the decisions made.
  • Between June and August Diane will built capacity within the chosen community to host a Placecheck event
  • The first Placecheck event took place in Milnathort at the end of August 2009 and the community concerned was fully involved in the decision making and planning. The whole Placecheck process will take place over approximately an 18 month period.
  • In December 2009 it was anounced that the next Placecheck area would be Bridge of Earn in 2010/11 followed by Aberfeldy in 2011/12.

Community Process

It is important for communities who want to be involved in Placecheck to be fully committed to the Placecheck process. It is also important that there are community members available to assist with the running of the events. The process although very rewarding and beneficial to the community is also time consuming and the community needs to be committed to taking forward issues that are identified.

The process usually takes place as follows:

  • The initial Placecheck event usually takes place in a venue and at a day and time that is suitable for involving the majority of community members
  • Participants include local community members and representatives from organisations who work in the community.
  • The process starts with groups doing a walkabout, with cameras and questionnaires to record their views about the quality of the environment and areas for improvement. 
  • After the walkabout, group discussions take place to agree short, medium and long term priorities for the area.
  • After the initial Placecheck event, further meetings and workshops are held to work through the priorities and consult further on projects identified.
  • Funding is identified and improvement works carried out in the area.

 

 

Last updated | 02/06/2010

   

Contact Details

Diane Cassidy
Senior Community Capacity Building Worker
Community Engagement and Planning