Agenda item

The Executive RECOMMEND to Council that

    (i)          £100,000 be made available to draw down from the Deanside Section 106 to refurbish the Old Dean playground; and

   (ii)          the implementation of the works be delegated to the Executive Head of Business in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Places & Strategy.

The Executive was informed that Deanside had been built by Accent Housing Association in 2003. The maintenance of the park and woodland areas had been transferred to the Council in 2008.

Members were advised that the Council held £210,000 of Section 106 money from Accent Housing for the upkeep, maintenance and replacement of Deanside play area. Accent Housing had agreed to increase the scope of where these funds could be spent to include Old Dean Recreation Ground and Deanside. 

An annual inspection by RoSPA had advised that the play area and BMX track at Old Dean Recreation Ground needed to be completely refurbished, which was expected to cost about £200,000. 

It was proposed to use £100,000 from the Deanside Section 106 Agreement on the playground at Old Dean Recreation Ground; this would be in addition to the funding allocated by the Executive from Community Infrastructure Contributions in March 2017.  Accent Housing was in agreement to support the refurbishment of this playground and a new deed of variation had been granted and agreed with all legal parties. Consultation had also been undertaken with local community groups. 

Members noted that the proposed investment project would still ensure sufficient funds for on-going maintenance were retained for both Deanside and Old Dean Recreation Ground. 

RECOMMENDED to Council that

                               (i)          £100,000 be made available to draw down from the Deanside Section 106 to refurbish the Old Dean playground; and

                              (ii)          the implementation of the works be delegated to the Executive Head of Business in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Places & Strategy.

Note: Councillor Rodney Bates declared a non-pecuniary interest as he was Chairman of the Old Dean Community Group, which had raised money for the playground.