WAVERLEY PARK COLLECTIVE
FAQs
Waverley Park Collective FAQs
1. What is the Waverley Park Collective (WPC)?
The Waverley Park Collective is a group of residents working together to improve the community. We are not an official residents association and we do not have a statutory function. There's no formal membership and nor does the organisation attempt to represent a whole community (which is the role of statutory bodies such as the Council). As a constituted group, we can apply for funding for projects such as the Liveable Streets project.
The WPC post holders currently are:
Chair - Lavan Velu
Secretary - Christine Sherwood
Treasurer - Elaine Webster
Committee Members - Graeme Crosbie and Adam Wallace
2. What is the aim of Waverley Park Collective?
The aim is to help make Waverley Park an even better place to live, work and play. It’s set up as a vehicle so that anyone can suggest an activity in line with the aim, and people will support you to run with it. Already dozens of residents have been involved in organising activities such as the Play Out, Waverley Weekend, Wicked Windows, Advent Windows, cycling training and lane clean ups.
Details of the constitution can be found here. This covers information such as what the Collective can do, who can participate, who holds notes of annual meetings, how changes can be made to the constitution, and so on.
3. How did the WPC form?
Two groups of residents based on Dinmont and Ravenswood shared similar interests in activities and traffic concerns. In 2019 we agreed to join together and adapt the constitution of the Dinmont group. Residents on every street of Waverley Park have been involved in organising the various activities over the years, including the Liveable Streets project. We retained the 'Waverley Park Collective' name as this reflected that most of the activities are of wide interest and appeal.
4. How do I get involved?
Any individual residents who live in Waverley Park can propose or get involved with initiatives, as can representatives from the schools (Shawlands Academy and Shawlands Primary), doctors surgery (Waverley Park Medical Practice) and the church (Shawlands United Reformed Church) that are in or border Waverley Park.
Just contact us. or come along to the annual meeting in the summer.
You might have an idea for a community event, or just offer to help deliver leaflets - however you want to get involved we would be delighted if you can help. We are all part of the Waverley Park Community and we support each other!
Liveable Streets Project FAQs
1. What is the involvement of the WPC in the Liveable Streets project?
The Liveable Streets project is jointly steered by Glasgow City Council (Roads authority) and Sustrans (funder) and WPC. This steering group sets up the governance and funding structure in order to ensure the project listens to the priorities of the community and acts on them. This 'bottom - up' process enjoys the support of all 4 sitting ward councillors. Additional information on this project can be found on the Liveable Streets website.
You can also read more about the background to the Liveable Streets project here
2. What is the role of the independent consultants?
After securing funding, the WPC conducted a commercial tender competition, inviting six well established consultants with a track record in community built environment projects to bid. Site visits were offered to all tender applicants and were undertaken, attended by one member of the tender assessment team. The purpose of these visits was to allow the tenderers to familiarise themselves with the study area. Four tenders were received and assessed for quality (70% weighting) and price (30% weighting).
The invitation to tender documents (advising the consultants how to bid) can be found here:
Project description, specification, and tender requirements.
The successful team, led by Civic Engineers, was commissioned. The role of the consultant is to deliver a concept design during 2021. The consultant team is responsible for:
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Developing objectives based on community priorities;
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Preparing, and producing design options in line with those objectives, for the community to comment on and to shape; and
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Prepare a concept design with a further round of community engagement to shape further detail;
The consultant is responsible for all communication to ensure full transparency. As residents ourselves we consciously set this process up to ensure that it is as transparent as possible and that everyone has their say from the word go.
3. Where has the funding for Liveable Streets come from?
Funding for this project comes from the Scottish Government/Sustrans 'Places for Everyone’ fund. Waverley Park Collective applied for funding in 2020. This application was submitted by residents following discussions in the community over several years. The award letter was received on 21st May 2020.
The purpose of this fund is to address traffic problems to help make residential streets better and to make it easier for people of all ages to walk, cycle and wheel (a reference to those with mobility issues). This is a capital budget fund, not a revenue fund. Therefore there is no relationship to the funding for local businesses, charities or other public sector revenue activities – the funding is ring-fenced for the design and construction of built environment improvements and related activities. The funding allows community groups to employ an independent consultant to run their projects.
The maximum fund that can be drawn down to cover the costs of project stages 0-2 is £100,000. This funding is held by Sustrans and the consultant bills them for fees. Costs must stay within the £100,000 ceiling. We are then required to apply for subsequent stages of funding at key points.
The Liveable Streets project is classed as a Places for Everyone ‘Category 2’ project. All the details of what this means can be found in this project pack.
4. How is the project managed?
Discussions take place with the consultant team regularly to plan activities. These discussions are not minuted. Formal meetings are minuted – these Project Board/Steering group meetings are held at, what are called ‘Stage’ gateways. The minutes from the January 2021 meeting are available below:
Local schools, GP surgeries, the Business Improvement District, Strathbungo Community Council (which includes Moss-side Road) and other organisations have been contacted at each stage of consultation. The project has been represented at meetings of the Shawlands and Strathbungo Community Council. All of the these groups were notified (in February, March and June 2021) and invited to take part in the consultation process.
5. How does WPC manage any potential conflicts of interest that may arise?
None of the office-bearers or post holders have any relationships with the funding bodies or firms involved in tendering. Many local people have volunteered their time and skills to establish the collective and progress the Liveable Streets project. As is normal on a project of this nature, care has been taken to manage conflicts of interest.