Issue - meetings

Report of the Leisure Services Manager

The Leisure Services Team Manager presented the report.

A Member asked about the wall of the cemetery on London Road, which could cost around £50,000 to be repaired. They could not foresee there being the necessary budgetary latitude to enable that potential expenditure.

The Head of Economic Regeneration said that they were monitoring and would continue to monitor the situation. He detailed the specific processes of both deterioration and the monitoring in place. Only a significant sudden movement would alter medium term plans with regards to the wall.

A Member asked if after the meeting they could be informed what specific contingencies were in place for such an event.

The Chair confirmed this would happen.

The Chair said that he would explore the possibility of external funding with regards to the wall, and he hoped to bring it back to Members at a later point.

A Member discussed six dead trees mentioned in item 1.4 of the report.

The Chair discussed poor and diseased tree stock which had recently been planted in local areas. The stock this year was, he felt, much better.

A Member inquired about item 1.2 in the report. They said they had constituent complaints about the state of the flower troughs across the town, particularly around the war memorial.

The Chair said they would pass this on to the administration.

A Member inquired whether plans to alter the Scotland Playing Fields Pavilion had been put on hold.

The Leisure Services Team Manager advised that this was not an agreed plan, but a prospect which was being explored.

The Head of Economic Regeneration said that the feasibility study into this matter had not been completed yet. It would be presented to the Working Party when it was ready.

A Member asked about the play areas noted in the report, particularly Claremont Drive. They said it was underutilised and replacing it would not prove good value for money.

The Chair concurred.

The Leisure Services Team Manager explained the procedural history behind this planned expenditure: Cabinet had approved the spending of the money originally proposed by the Working Party. They added that no money had actually been spent yet, and thus the decision could be reversed if the will was there.

It was moved by Councillor J Legrys, seconded by Councillor J Geary and

RESOLVED THAT:

1. The Working Party notes the progress update on the 2023/24 capital projects.

Work on Claremont Drive play area discussed by Members be administratively suspended pending further consideration and be brought back to the next meeting.