Agenda item

Members gave consideration to a report which sought approval to make a submission to the Levelling-Up Parks Fund to deliver new and improved green space in Gainsborough.

Members were aware, the District Council had been successfully awarded Levelling-Up Funding for project activity which was now taking place in Gainsborough.  An additional top-up fund had been awarded to selected local authorities that met certain criteria, which included West Lindsey, the Fund was known as the Levelling-Up Parks Fund.

Members were advised the primary purpose of the Fund was to provide a one-off grant to local authorities to support them in creating a new or to significantly refurbish an existing urban park space.

Section two of the report detailed the “eligible places” criteria and outlined the measures, data, and indicators the Government had used to identify priority categories, these were detailed in Section 2.3 of the report and all were within Gainsborough.

As a result, the report proposed that the primary location to target the funding allocation should be the site known commonly as the Scouts Hill site.

In presenting the report, it was stressed that the funding was not intended to replicate the facilities previously on the Site, which were outlined to Members. It was fully acknowledged that the location had a number of challenges, in terms of the levels of anti-social behaviour, crime and one’s sense of safety and security. The Funding provided an opportunity to try and address some of the local issues and concerns and improve the feel and security of the site.

A total of £85k was available to spend prior to 5 April 2023, resulting in an extremely tight turnaround, with the bidding deadline being 3 October 2022.   The Authority, by this date, was required to submit at least a high-level outline plan of how and where it intended to spend the grant allocation.  As such, seeking Committee approval to submit a bid and increase the capital budget for delivery was time sensitive.

Officers advised how they were then committed to undertaking retrospective work around engagement, both with the community and with Elected Members, Colleagues and Partners to ensure that whatever actions the Council sought to undertake with the grant allocation, they would meet local needs and have longevity.

It was again stressed spend needed to be completed by the end of the financial year and as such Officers considered the proposal to be realistic.

Discussion ensued and a number of Members welcomed the opportunity to improve the site and create a much-needed local facility that people felt safe to use, indicating their support for the Bid to be submitted.

In responding to Members’ comments, Officers advised that the high-level business case had not yet been developed so could not be shared with Members, as a number of workshops which supported the bid submission had yet to be undertaken/ completed.

Assurance was offered that an element of the Bid would focus on improved security, examples being the inclusion of CCTV and designing out crime measures, engagement would be undertaken with Lincolnshire Police and their design officers to ensure all activities were subject to appropriate advice and guidance.   Full environmental and equality impact assessments would form part of any final Bid.

In responding to a Member’s challenge regarding the lack of a “climate impact wheel” having been included in the report, the Director of Corporate Services indicated Officers had only recently received their training and guidance regarding this new requirement. The report had likely been prepared prior to such, but reassurance was offered, that the impact wheel would be included, as standard, as agreed, on reports going forward.

The Local Ward Member addressed the Committee and whilst welcoming the investment to the Town, did initially express reservations in respect of the proposal. The site access was limited, personal safety was a massive concern, local families would not wish to use play facilities in the area, and any investment in play equipment would be lost to vandalism.  He expressed extreme frustration at the timescales and the lack of opportunity to invite community feedback.  The site needed to be brought back into use, and there was a strong belief that there would be local support for re-instating the site’s footballing facilities. Such facilities were much needed in the Town and he considered, given the Sites’ restrictions, this would be a much better use of the site.

He considered there to be a number of more appropriate pocket of lands within the Ward, naming several, where play facilities were needed, could be sited and would more likely be used.

The Chairman offered total reassurance that the funding Bid was not intended to establish play equipment.  Officers outlined the definition of Parks under the Scheme, which had not been available when the report had been published. This was broad-ranging and could be community growing space, or just planted space, for example. Officers shared the Member’s views on current site safety, both for users and for any investment, and as such the installation of play equipment would not be considered. It was hoped, however, some measures could be put in place which would at least start to make improvements to the site.

Having heard further explanation, the Ward Member fully supported the Bid, but did strongly encourage further consideration be given to re-establishing the land for football use.   This suggestion was supported by a number of other Members who considered there was a real opportunity to work with partners such as the Football Foundation, to establish much needed football and changing facilities, many of which had been lost in recent years.   Whilst welcoming improvements, local Members did not want to see future potential uses restricted and urged the Council to think bigger for the Site.  The consultation and engagement going forward was much welcomed and considered vital.

There were still concerns regarding access, and appropriate vehicle use of the access route.  Considerations would be given where they could and Members and Officers were encouraged to raise these concerns with Highways.

Some suggested given the issues raised in respect of the site, wilding areas, bulbing and possible labyrinths may be suitable and feasible options. 

Having been proposed and seconded it was unanimously

RESOLVED that: -

(a)    the submission of a project proposal to the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC), in line with the details set out in section 3 of the report, be approved; and

(b)    the expenditure of the Levelling-Up Parks Fund and associated project resources, as set out in section 4 of the report, be approved.