We Asked, You Said, We Will

We asked

While Aberdeenshire Early Years continually seeks feedback on the provision of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC), the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 requires all Local Authorities to consult with families on their views of funded ELC. As such, parents/carers, and the wider community were asked their views on the flexibility and suitability of provision. We asked how families were accessing provision, where they were going to access their funded ELC, how much of their full entitlement was being accessed in order to understand demand and whether or not it was felt that the current provision met the needs of families.

You said

In total the survey received 842 responses from parents and carers living in Aberdeenshire council. The survey was open to parents to be, carers and extended family members, to ensure that as many perspectives were captured in the responses as possible.

Although most responses are using their full entitlement of funded hours (30 hrs/wk), a quarter of them are not. The main reason for the 43.1% who do not use their full entitlement is – either they don’t require it or their child is doing some other extra activities somewhere else. A notable number (82.7%) of respondents are happy with the provision of 1140hrs of funded EL&C in their area (i.e., Local Authority settings, Funded Providers Settings and Childminders).

A significant number (70.5%) of respondents agree that the currently funded EL&C offer meets their family needs, however, a small portion (29.5%) disagree due to their working patterns, their children being less-than-3-year-old, there being no childminders available in their vicinity, or their preferences were in “out-of-school clubs”. Similarly, around 85.9% of respondents are clear enough to understand the funded hours options. When asked, “If additional hours were made available at a cost at a Local Authority setting, is this something you would consider using?” almost two-thirds of respondents replied “Yes” or “May be”.

The high preference (42.6%) of respondents to choose the EL&C setting: a place where their children will attend school later. he second interest was the location, i.e., close to their home, and the third was the ELC-setting. The respondents are less interested in patterns of attendance that suit their needs; such as close to work, flexible hours, and so on, while choosing the EL&C setting. Similarly, a considerable number (61.2%) of respondents are interested if more outdoor provisions would be offered to them for their children. Although half of the respondents thought there is no barrier to accessing funded EL&C, fewer found “Timing” - 9:00AM to 3:00PM is a major barrier for them.

We will

The Feedback was shared with Senior Management in Aberdeenshire Council and it has resulted in more detailed consultations taking place in 5 areas across Aberdeenshire. As a result, models of delivery of early learning and childcare (ELC) have been adapted to support families in accessing more of their funded entitlement. In Ellon and Aboyne, Council ELC settings have changed from offering 8am to 6pm to offering a hybrid of 8am to 6pm and 9am to 3pm. Plans are being made to carry out similar, more detailed consultation in areas all across Aberdeenshire, to better understand the childcare needs of families. The information will be shared with elected members in each of the six administration areas across Aberdeenshire. The information from these consultations will be used to shape the Aberdeenshire Council model for ELC delivery for 2025/26.

We Asked

Following extensive consultation with all school stakeholders as part of the Aberdeenshire Additional Supports Needs Review, recommendations were developed. We asked the public for their views on these recommendations. See Public Consultation summary paper for details of these recommendations.

You Said

133 people attended the consultation events. There was general support for a greater emphasis on all children being included in their mainstream schools. However, there was a strong view that the success of this would be dependent upon the proposed ringfenced Pupil Support Assistant time, and ongoing capacity building work.

There was clear feedback that there should be more consistency of good practice across schools, and that professional learning in meeting additional support needs should not be optional for school staff. A number of suggestions were put forward for additional professional learning topics for schools, and it was suggested that the views and experiences of parents could be incorporated into learning to a greater extent than is currently the case.

There was a request for greater transparency around how levels of need are defined and assessed, and suggested that leaflets should be developed to clearly explain the Enhanced Provision model.

We Will

In response to the key themes that emerged from the public consultation the paper taken to Education and Children’s Service Committee for approval included the following recommendations:

• Ringfenced PSA funding for the early primary stages, along with a new Enhanced Provision Outreach Worker post with a specific focus on supporting children with additional support needs in the early primary stages
• The CIRCLE framework to be rolled-out across Aberdeenshire schools on a mandatory basis
• Core professional learning to be embedded within a range of education posts in the future
• A framework to support the consideration of whether Complex Needs Provision may be suitable for a child or young person, and to aid in the fair allocation of these places by local ASN Forums to be developed
• The voices of children and young people and parents/carers with lived experience to continue to be incorporated into professional learning offers being developed

We asked

To support businesses, whether new, existing, or start-ups, high street, out of town or virtual, Aberdeenshire Council’s Economic Development department invited Banff and Macduff area businesses to provide their thoughts regarding the concept of establishing a business network, forum, or group tailored to the needs of businesses in Banff and Macduff. To gather this information a survey was open on EngageHQ from 10 January to 31 January 2024.

After the dissolution of the previous business group, this intervention was identified to actively engage with the business community and support the progress of establishing a new mechanism.

Given the diversity among businesses and sectors, it was acknowledged that a one-size-fits-all approach may not be suitable. The aim was to gauge the interest and demand for a mechanism that facilitates, at the very least, the exchange of ideas, information, events, training opportunities, and potentially even the creation of a formal group.

We also asked respondents some general ‘how’s business’ questions to provide an understanding of the business environment in both towns to help influence future support and projects led by the council’s Place Economy Team, Enterprising Aberdeenshire and Business Gateway and the potential new business group.

You said

There was a total of 32 responses. The responses and comments received were wide ranging, however; the majority of responses were positive and supportive of a new ‘mechanism’ to allow businesses to engage, network and help support the economies of the two towns of Banff and Macduff.

54.8% of respondents would be keen to participate/support the new initiative. The top three areas of support required are access to funding, town centre development, and community and public events. The preference is for evening meetings and events for a business group with the focus of the group’s activity to be on:

• Advertising and Marketing Support
• Funding, grants, sponsorship, shop front grants, business start-up/pop-up business grants
• Local networking opportunities, forum, newsletter
• Prevent duplication of effort
• Get vacant properties back into use, some owners not interested in doing anything with them
• Parking, parking enforcement, 45-minute bays, new car park for Macduff
• Disconnected Community, local politics
• Reducing Footfall, other towns appear more successful i.e. Turriff and Inverurie
• Tourism: maps, Tourist Office, dog friendly status, free water tap

We will

All the feedback has been provided to the elected members for the Banff and Macduff area, shared with the business community of the two towns and internally within the council with relevant services including Place & Economy, Enterprising Aberdeenshire and the Area Management Team. The data will be used to shape future business support programmes and initiatives to benefit the economy of the local area.

The full report can be found here.

We asked

Following the budget survey last year, we published information about the costs of delivering council services and some of the areas we might need to look at for savings. During this second stage of engagement, we asked how the changes we are considering might affect communities across Aberdeenshire. An article on a particular theme was published each week in the Press and Journal, and readers were asked for their feedback. A link to the newspaper article was also promoted using social media and Engage Aberdeenshire to reach a wider audience.

You said

There was a total of 273 responses. The comments received were wide ranging, however; the majority of responses were regarding schools and education. Participants could choose to respond about more than one topic and could respond about ‘all areas’ if they wished to express an opinion about the budget in general. As a result, the percentage of responses about each topic was as follows:

• 60% included schools and education
• 26% included roads, landscaping, and winter operations
• 19% included all areas
• 16% included leisure services
• 5% included housing

Some common themes included comments about the closure of small schools, additional pupil support, out of school care, winter and road maintenance and the use of leisure facilities.

We will

All of the feedback has been provided to the leader of the council and elected members who chair policy committees, and will be considered when the budget is set on 22 February 2024.

Update - the full budget papers from the meeting on 22 February can be found here: Agenda for Aberdeenshire Council on Thursday, 22nd February, 2024, 10.15 am - Aberdeenshire Council (moderngov.co.uk)

We asked

We asked for comments and views of residents within the village of Dinnet on Primary School Catchment areas. This was a request from the Logie Coldstone Parent Council to expand the Logie Coldstone School zone to include the area of Dinnet. Two surveys took place, the second of which had input from the Logie Coldstone Parent Council with suggestions of which questions to include. The first survey took place in May/June 2022 and the second survey took place in November/December 2023.

You said

On conclusion of the first survey, the majority of Dinnet residents believed their school catchment was the correct one for their postcodes. The second survey concluded with the majority of respondents indicating they would be interested in a consultation regarding school zoning, however there was a very low response rate, conflicting responses and the only comments were requesting a dual zone.

We will

The survey was analysed and concluded and a summary report written. The report was shared with Councillors, Colleagues and the Logie Coldstone Parent Council with the recommendation that no changes take place to the zoning of Dinnet or to the catchment area of Logie Coldstone School as Aberdeenshire Council do not conduct Statutory Consultations to create dual zones. The full report can be found here.

We asked

Mill of Benholm Enterprise submitted an Asset Transfer request to take over ownership of the Mill of Benholm Site. The community was asked to give us their views on whether they supported or objected to the request.

You said

We received a total of 63 representations of support with no objections received. All the documents relating to the Asset Transfer request and public comments can be viewed on the Council’s website - Asset Transfer - Aberdeenshire Council.

We will

As a result a positive recommendation was made to the Kincardine & Mearns Area Committee on 23 January 2024 where Councillors approved the transfer. Aberdeenshire Council will now conclude the transfer of the Mill of Benholm site to Mill of Benholm Enterprise.

We asked

Within the Play Park at Hareburn Terrace, Blackdog the Multi-play Unit is deteriorating and reaching the end of its serviceable life. The Multi-play Unit needs to be replaced. We asked for your views on replacing the Multi-play Unit to help inform us on the type of new play equipment to install in the play park.

You said

The survey responses provided insight to the variety of activities people would like to see included in a new piece of play equipment. The range of activities most popular included sliding, climbing, balancing and interactive panels. The responses were in favour of equipment suitable for both the early years and junior age group. Overall, we received positive feedback to the proposal to upgrade the Multi-play Unit and making improvements to the play park.

We will

The project to replace the existing Multi-play Unit will proceed and the feedback has helped in the consideration of what type of play equipment to install at the site. We will replace the Multi-play Unit with a new updated Unit which will include a slide, provides a variety of climbing and balancing activities aimed at covering a broad age range of children.

We asked

The two deteriorating swing sets at the Play Park on Chapelhill Road in Ellon require replacing. We asked for your views on replacing the play equipment to help inform us on the type of new play equipment to install in the play park.

You said

From the survey responses we received, people were keen to see more climbing activities included in the park but maintaining swings on the site as well was a popular option. Having more equipment aimed at both the early years and junior age ranges was also identified through the survey.

We will

The project to replace both swing sets at Chapelhill Road will proceed and the feedback has helped in the consideration of what type of play equipment to install at the site. We will install new swings sets for both early years and junior age groups, with future consideration being given to installing more climbing activities for a younger age group.

We asked

The slide within the Play Park at Castlepark in Ellon was identified as reaching the end of its serviceable life and requires replacing. We asked for your views on replacing the play equipment to help inform us on the type of new play equipment to install in the play park.

You said

The survey responses helped provide insight into the age ranges and activities people were keen to see included in any new piece of play equipment. The responses were in favour of maintaining a slide at the site, but climbing activities were also popular. The junior and early years ages ranges are a priority. Comments made were keen to see upgrades to the park and suggested there should be more equipment aimed at younger children.

We will

The project to replace the existing slide will proceed and the feedback has helped in the consideration of what type of play equipment to install at the site. The slide will be replaced with a new Multi-play Unit that provides sliding and climbing activities for a younger age group.

We asked

Aberdeenshire Council asked the communities of Banff and Macduff to give their opinion on a proposed new Active Travel Bridge which will provide a safe crossing for pedestrians, cyclists, people in wheelchairs and those with buggies between the two communities. The community were asked to choose their preferred option between two designs.

You said

Following community engagement and feedback from in-person events and online, Option 1 was the preferred option. This option was preferred due to the aesthetically pleasing design which enables views of the original heritage listed bridge.

We will

We have applied for funding from Sustrans to develop a detailed and technical design for option 1. We will continue to engage with the communities of Banff and Macduff and surrounding areas to ensure that the detailed design meets the needs of the residents and visitors of the community. Please see the Options Report attached for visualisations of the design and further information.