Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Services

Presented by the Community Services Portfolio Holder

The Community Services Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

She thanked the Members of the Working Party for the continuing work that they had done. She stated that she was pleased with the progress on the Coalville Park Peace Garden and that the wheeled sport facility at Cropston Drive had been completed, with further improvements being looked into. She added that whilst investment and improvement to the outdoor spaces and play provision was continuing, the Council needed to ensure that there was enough warden resource available.

She advised Members that plans were in place for the Christmas lights switch on and was pleased that the Working Party was already planning ahead for the next year. She highlighted the proposal for Proms in the Park.

She informed Members that she would be recommending items a, b and c detailed at 3.1.1 of the report however item d would be removed as the grass cutting offer was no longer available to District Councils.

It was moved by Councillor A V Smith, seconded by Councillor T J Pendleton and

RESOLVED THAT:

Cabinet notes the recommendations made by the Coalville Special Expenses Working Party as detailed within the minutes and approves the recommendations as summarised at 3.0 as amended by the Portfolio Holder.

Reason for decision: To progress Coalville Special Expenses projects and programmes.

Report of the Director of Services

Presented by the Community Services Portfolio Holder

The Community Services Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

She began by thanking the working party for their continued work and informed Members that a representative from Coalville Town FC had attended the last meeting of the working party to update Members on the progress of the club following the significant financial support that was currently being provided by the Council.

Councillor A V Smith then went on to highlight the recommendations that had been put forward by the working party. She advised Members that it was proposed to start the free Saturday town centre car parking from Saturday, 22 November 2014 until Saturday, 20 December 2014 to include both Christmas events and support the town centre businesses. She confirmed that due to the timing of the meeting and the event, she had agreed to return to the name of Picnic in the Park. She stated that in relation to the balances, she supported the recommendations in the report, but wanted to request that the working party considered allocating a sum of approximately £10,000 to further improve the Christmas Lights in Coalville. She also advised Members that the working party had rejected a request to rename Coalville Park, which she supported along with a commemorative peace garden or an area of reflection within Coalville Park, but felt that a further memorial stone in Coalville may not be the best solution as there were now a number of memorials in the town. She requested that a letter be sent back to Michael Kendrick thanking him for the relaying the suggestion and informing him of their views going forward.

It was moved by Councillor A V Smith, seconded by Councillor T J Pendleton and

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    Town centre car parking will be free on Saturdays between and including 22 November 2014 until 20 December 2014;

2.    The name Picnic in the Park be returned;

3.    That the reallocated funds from the Remembrance Day Service be held in a contingency fund to be added to the events budget if needed;

4.    That the Working Party considers allocating a sum of approximately £10,000 from the current balances for further investment in Christmas Lights and in particular outside the market;

5.    The remaining current balances be held in reserve until appropriate projects arrive and

6.    Coalville Park retain its name, but an area of reflection/peace garden be considered by the Working Party with the involvement of our veterans.

Reason for decision: To progress Coalville Special Expenses projects and programmes.