| AdminHistory | The provision of facilities embracing cultural, education, recreational and other pursuits was mainly the statutory responsibility of the local authorities. The extent to which the Corporation could contribute financial assistance to these areas was limited to a total based on the target population of the town and calculated at the creation of the Corporation. The resulting calculation was then put into a "major" and "minor" amenity fund. These funds were intended to allow the to Corporation make a financial contribution to the provision of buildings and other features when they were needed. Examples of such buildings include swimming pools, sports centres, community and youth centres and civic theatres. The Corporation's contribution was limited to initial financing costs and could not be allocated to ongoing running costs.
The Major Amenities Fund was, initially, a once only pot, calculated on the total target population of the town, from which funds for major projects could be taken. All projects financed by the Major Amenities Fund required the approval of the Secretary of State for Scotland. The Major Amenities fund was financed from money borrowed from the Scottish State Department and was repayable by the Corporation.
The Minor Amenities Fund was an annually replenished fund from which small grants could be made to fledgling community groups and sports associations for the purchase of equipment etc.
By the early 1970s it was evident that the formula used to calculate the Major Amenities fund was inadequate and in a meeting between The Scottish Office and representatives of the Scottish New Towns it was agreed that the formula would be reworked to increase the size of the Major Amenities Fund so that adequate social facilities could be built.
Although a major a sports centre fell through on the re-organisation of local government in 1975 the Corporation did contribute to the building of several community centres in Livingston, arranged for the renovation of Howden House as a community centre, using funds of the Carnegie UK Trust, built a skate park, employed a town artist to integrate public artwork into the landscape, and liaised with the regional and district council to arrange the provision of other facilities, such as playing fields and play grounds. |
| ScopeandContent | 73 files, comprising administrative, architects and planning papers, relating to the provision of social and recreational facilities, mainly from a technical point of view - such as the installation of heating and electrical systems in to renovated buildings, but also with some correspondence and minutes of meetings relating to policy and strategy.
Planning files contain maps and plans, correspondence with consultants and contractors; internal memoranda, reports and papers; architects' instructions, which comprise specifications and briefs for work to be done and materials to be used; correspondence and minutes of meetings with contractors relating to the work they have been employed for; copies of invoices, contracts, certificates of completion and other financial papers; extracts of board minutes (relating to policy and approvals); internal memoranda on the project; maps and plans relating to area of work, and any other papers as necessary.
For the building of projects overseen by the Corporation, Architects' files can include architects' instructions, which comprise specifications and briefs for work to be done and materials to be used; correspondence and minutes of meetings with contractors relating to the work they have been employed for; copies of invoices, contracts, certificates of completion and other financial papers; extracts of Board minutes (relating to policy and approvals); internal memoranda on the project; maps and plans relating to area of work and any other papers as necessary.
Administration files can include: correspondence with contractors regarding the tendering process for specific jobs, and other administrative papers such as the provision of insurance documents or communications with interested parties (such as community groups or tenants). Administration files can also include policy related material, such as papers presented to Corporation Board Meetings for approval of policy, and the recording of decisions in extracts of board minutes.
|