A sweeping review could mean big changes across Angus Council’s parklands.
The review identifies 14 play areas, parks and car parks on which the local authority pays annual rents varying from 1p a year to £1,100.
The analysis follows the public consultations on the review of children’s play areas in November and December 2012, which led to a number of parks closing.
Communities director Alan McKeown has identified two areas, both in Glamis, where he is recommending the council not renew its lease the play area east of Dundee Road and open space at the corner of Dundee Road and Main Street.
The play area, rented from Strathmore Estates at a cost of £100 a year, has not received any investment because the space at Strathmore Terrace now provides play facilities in Glamis.
The council is in discussion with Strathmore Estates about how they would like the site returned. If the landowner would like the play equipment removed, this would cost £4,190.
If Strathmore Estates is content for the equipment to remain, then this would be inspected and monitored by the council and removed when it was no longer in serviceable condition.
The open space at the corner of Dundee Road and Main Street was originally intended to be used for a bus shelter. This will save the council £20 a year in rent and £1,092 in maintenance costs.
Mr McKeown is recommending the council investigate whether community groups will also take over the leases for car parks and play areas at Kirkton of Glenisla and Easthaven.
The council pays £200 to lease Kirriemuir Tennis Courts, a sum it then charges Kirriemuir Lawn Tennis Club.
The communities director also suggests investigating whether the tennis club will take over the lease from Church of Scotland.
He recommends renewing the leases for two sites at Milton of Clova the car park and picnic site at Cullow Market and three sites at Gella Bridge for a total cost of £250 a year.
In his report, which will be discussed by councillors at the communities committee on Tuesday, Mr McKeown recommends the council continues its leases for the car park and play areas at Tarfside, Lunan Bay, Reekie Linn and Invermark, as well as its parks at Newbigging, Edzell Muir and Hillside.
“Several of these facilities are going back to 1977, when the planning department of Angus District Council undertook a survey of the levels and type of countryside access at the time,” the report says.
“The study investigated the patterns of use and numbers of visitors in the Angus Glens and seaside locations, where often demand for visitor amenities was high but few facilities available.
“The aim was to identify the areas where most people wanted to visit and provide the facilities needed, so problems like parking on public roads could be prevented.
“The findings of this study resulted in a rolling programme of improvement projects in the late 1970s and early 1980s, which were funded by the district council and the Countryside Commission for Scotland.
“These projects were predominantly providing car parking and picnic facilities at various sites in the Angus Glens and at the seaside. In some locations play areas were added at a later date.”
Play areas at Wellbank and Tannadice are both owned and managed by local communities, with the council just providing inspections of the equipment.