Agenda item

(A report by Phil Perry, Head of Town Centre, Leisure, Events & Culture)

The Committee considered report by the Head of Town Centre, Leisure, Events & Culture, which set out the details of routine maintenance undertaken on public open spaces within the BTAC area during 2017/18; options and costs for new play equipment and facilities; and potential further naturalised planting development.

BTAC Members had attended a tour on 27 September 2017 to discuss current maintenance arrangements and to identify if any improvement opportunities might be available and subsequently requested that this report be brought to the Committee. 

The Council was currently seeking quotes to address the findings highlighted within the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) inspection reports.  A number of routine maintenance needs were also highlighted during the latest tour and were set out as Project One in Appendix 1 to the report.  These would be funded from existing budgets. 

The tour also discussed the addition of new playground equipment and prospective playground development projects, set out as Project Two in Appendix 2, and in total would equate to an estimated £91,286capital cost to BTAC, as yet unbudgeted.  In addition to this, external funds already approved would add £93,000 to the total spend.

Naturalised planting developments had been well received by Members during the tour and it was determined that the remaining open spaces should also benefit from such planting.  Based on a combination of trees, wild flower/perennial plantings and labour across six sites, officers had priced the work at a total of £8,910.  A breakdown was set out as Project Three in Appendix 3.

The St John’s Park & Burgess Pit Fitness Zone project, agreed at the 31 May 2017 BTAC meeting, had undergone a procurement exercise.  The Sub Group was to meet the preferred bidder to finalise the project details, aiming to complete the project by the end of March 2018, funded from the £41,000 previously approved.

Further reports would be submitted to the Open Spaces Working Group at the earliest opportunity with respect to taking forward the new sports/recreation multi use games facility, funded through a local Section 106 Agreement, on the Garfits Lane Playing Field; the additional maintenance costs of new equipment; updating and replacing signage; the County Council’s budget decisions, when finalised, in terms of the Council’s delivery of grass cutting and weed control; and the County Council’s weed treatment programme, which might revert back to two treatments per year. 

It was proposed that officers should proceed with the work, subject to consultation and investigations, with priority given to work outside of Central Park during the current financial year, with the work inside Central Park to be carried out in 2018/19.  In addition, three elements of proposed work inside Central Park – the goal posts, bins and fitness equipment – also be carried out in the current year. 

The majority of Members agreed that the proposed investment in the open spaces was essential. 

[Councillor Rush left the meeting at 7.15 pm]

Members discussed the impact of delaying elements of work inside Central Park in view of a potential development nearby.  Officers assured Members that the indications were that this matter would not cause delay and they would be kept informed of progress. 

A further proposal was put forward that all elements of work in Central Park should be undertaken in the current year except for the multi-use games area, but this was not seconded. 

It was then proposed and seconded that all elements of work in Central Park should be undertaken in the current year except for the extension to the path and roundabout area, but when put to the vote this proposal fell.

In response to a question, the Chief Executive advised Members that it was quite in order for a Member who was also a Member of the Planning Committee to take part in the discussion and vote as a planning application was not being considered and they could take part in consideration of planning applications in the proximity of Central Park as long as they retained an open mind. 

A vote was then taken on the original proposal as amended and this was carried and put to the vote as the substantive motion.