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.
