EIR Request - Cooper Park Works

Request 101003995097

I'd like to make a FOI request regarding the works at Cooper Park, please. I'd like to know the following:

1. What was the original planned completion date for the current park works, and what were the reasons for this being extended?

2. The project has been funded by the award of £18 million to the council from the UK government's levelling up fund - how much money has this project cost so far, what is the total budget for the project, and how much of this funding is projected to be left for other uses upon completion?

3. Did the ecological consultants appointed by the council advise of a risk to the health of the wildlife (particularly swans) in the pond resulting from the works on their habitat? If so, what was the advice given to mitigate this risk and were these measures implemented?

4. Was the incident where a swan died following removal from its habitat reported to a police wildlife crime officer or a relevant statutory body (e.g. NatureScot)?

5. Did any councillors or members of committees relevant to this project declare conflicts of interest where this project was being discussed and implemented? If so, what were they?

6. Has the council initiated an internal investigation into a potential breach of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 resulting from the emptying of Cooper Pond, which was a habitat for at least one protected species?

Response 05-06-2026

1. Searches undertaken to date identified that the operational timetable for the Cooper Park Pond works has been subject to ongoing review through project delivery. At the time of responding, Moray Council has not identified a single confirmed recorded completion date within the scope of this request. Programme sequencing and timescales are regularly reviewed in response to operational, environmental and project delivery considerations associated with the works. Further searches are continuing in relation to recorded programme information held by the Council.

2. As of 30/04/2026 Levelling Up Fund Cooper Park Projects had a budget of £2,100,000 with a spend to date of £207,922.

3. The Species Protection Plan can be found in a previous EIR response  (link to the web page where it is published here: http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_166894.html )

This document identifies potential impacts to Mute Swans associated the proposed works, including risks relating to nesting behaviour, habitat disturbance and restricted movement within the drained pond area. It also sets out proposed mitigation, monitoring and enhancement measures intended to minimise impacts during the works. The Council holds the attached document as the recorded information within the scope of this part of the question

4. No. As Cooper Park is not located within a designated or non designated site for Swans (or other features), the incident was not intentional, and there was no conclusion that the swan died as a result of disturbance to its habitats, there was no requirement  identified to report the incident to the Police Wildlife Crime Officer or to NatureScot.

5. No recorded declarations were identified. Information that is not held falls under Section 10(4)(a) of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 - Information Not Held.

6. As Cooper Park is not located within a designated or non designated site for Swans (or other features), an internal investigation concerning an alleged breach of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 associated with the Cooper Park Pond works is not considered a requirement.