Agenda item

(A report by Phil Perry, Head of Place and Space)

The Head of Place and Space presented a report from BTAC’s Play Area Working Group, which outlined the outcomes of the Open Spaces Working Group’s proposals for the use of £40,000 allocated to support Open Spaces improvements.

Following the 2018 play site tour, BTAC Members requested details of potential future play area improvements to BTAC play areas to enable the Committee to continue its investment in outdoor play areas.

At its meeting on 30 January 2019, the Committee proposed that £40,000 be allocated to support open space improvements and that the Open Spaces Working Group be tasked with preparing detailed proposals for the expenditure and reporting back to the Committee as soon as practicable.

The Working Group agreed to prioritise St John’s Park and Shelton’s Field and asked the Play & Physical ActivityOfficer to obtain quotes in line with Boston Borough Council’s Procurement Regulations, from Play Equipment supplierson behalf the Working Group, as follows.

The Working Group met to evaluate the quotes and agreed that a spend of £23,105 would provide the new equipment needed on both St John’s Park and Shelton’s Field.  A breakdown of the preferred quote is appended for reference at Appendix A.  The Group also proposed that £1,800 of the budget be set aside to support the cost of a replacement gate.

The Group had previously discussed a bid to Boston Big Local (BBL) for a grant of £19,000 towards a Pirate Ship to be located at the Woodville Road Play Area.  BBL had since provisionally approved a grant, subject to Board approval, which would be known in April 2019.  The Working Group proposed the matching of the remaining £15,095 against the BBL grant for provision of a Pirate Ship subject to further quotes being soughtfrom Play Equipment Providers.

Future budgets would include increased costs associated to the maintenance of any new play equipment, once any warranty periods ended.  Additional inspection costs would be incorporated in future year’s budgets from the 2019/20 financial year onwards.

Any improvements agreed by BTAC would be subject to Contract Procurement Regulations and any expenditure over £10,000 would be subject to Cabinet approval. Once approval was granted, works would be issued to a relevant supplier so they could be delivered as soon as practicable.

The Chairman commended the hard work of the Play & Physical Activity Officer, who had secured various grants of around £70,000. 

During debate, it was remarked that the Committee’s annual coach trip showed that improvements had been much needed, that much had been achieved already, and that the current proposals would result if further significant improvements.  The Play & Physical Activity Officer and Chairman of the Working Group were commended.  The Play & Physical Activity Officer had obtained good discounts and secured a considerable amount of funding.  The match-funding with Big Boston Local (BBL) was particularly pleasing.  The provision of play and fitness equipment would certainly help those on low incomes in particular and they improved the appearance of the town.  

Members welcomed the investment at all the play areas.  However, the question of maintenance was raised and the timescales involved, as improvements would be needed before the summer holidays. 

The Head of Place and Space referred the Committee to the increase in revenue costs of £2,000 and advised Members that, should they wish to use the £40,000 funding as set out in the report, then this would be subject to Cabinet approval in the new Municipal Year.  The aim was for the equipment to be in place as soon as possible; if the recommendation was put to Cabinet in June then it would be ready to be put in place within the summer programme.  The Pirate Ship would be subject to another procurement process to ensure value for money was achieved. 

The Chairman of the Open Spaces Working Group gave credit to the Play & Physical Activity Officer for going “above and beyond” in her work. 

There was discussion regarding older children littering in the Burgess Pitt play area and a report that equipment had been installed and in use at Broadfield Lane play area under a Section 106 Agreement. 

In conclusion, following consideration of the potential improvements identified in the report and inspection and ongoing maintenance costs it was:

RESOLVED that it be recommended to Cabinet to use the £40,000 funding allocated to support open space improvements as follows:

1.    £24,950 for play area equipment in Shelton’s Field, St John’s Park and Central Park;

2.    £15,050 to match a Boston Big Local grant for provision of a Pirate Ship on Woodville Road Play Area subject to quotes.