Agenda item

Report of the Leisure Services Team Manager

The Leisure Services Team Manager presented the report to Members.

 

He provided the Working Party with an update on each of the ongoing projects.

 

Coalville Park Improvements

 

It was confirmed that work was continuing on the Peace Garden and that it was anticipated that the project would be finalised shortly before an official opening on 3 November to which Members of the Working Party would be invited.

 

Councillor M Specht suggested that Members that represented wards outside of the Coalville Special Expenses area also be invited to the official opening. The consensus of Members was to do this.

 

Councillors N Clarke and J Geary stated that they would not be able to attend the official opening.

 

Owen Street Recreation Ground

 

Electricity Upgrade

 

It was confirmed that a contractor had visited the site and presented costed proposals to update the floodlighting lux levels to satisfy the Football Association’s ground grading requirements should the club be promoted to a higher level. It was stated that the current floodlighting would be sufficient should the club be promoted one division, but no further. As such, it was stated that it was anticipated that the work would not take place until it became necessary to do so.

 

Councillor P Purver asked how long the works would take to complete should they become necessary. It was stated that the first stage of work would improve the lux levels by installing new light bulbs and would therefore be relatively quick to complete.

 

Councillor M Specht stated that he was uncertain as to why differing lux levels were required depending on the level of football that was being played. It was explained by Councillor J Geary that, at a higher level of football, there was a greater media presence that required brighter lighting for their equipment. Additionally, the current lighting was now 19 years old and had already failed twice previously. Consequently, as the lighting needed to be replaced, it would be logical to upgrade it at the same time.

 

Changing Room Development

 

It was stated that the building works had commenced and that it was anticipated that works would be completed in April 2016. As part of the funding agreement, the District Council would act as the Clerk of Works for the project and would be responsible for monitoring the build.

 

Entrance Trees

 

It was confirmed that this piece of work had now been completed.

 

Thringstone Miners Social Centre

 

It was stated that potential sources of funding were still being identified and that the project had been split into three phases with the outstanding money funds being earmarked for the first stage.

 

It was confirmed that a public consultation had been conducted via the distribution of flyers to households in the local vicinity. Only one response had been received and it had objected to the proposal. Given the very limited response, the planning and footpath diversion applications had now been submitted.

 

Additionally, work was continuing in order to secure further funding for the second and third phases. It was possible that a funding application could be submitted to the BIFFA Main Grants Scheme which accepts application up to £50,000, although they also require a third party contribution of 10% of the cost.

 

Councillor M Specht asked for clarification as to what proportion of the allocated funds would be used for planning application fees. It was confirmed that these would cost in the region of £1,500 to £2,000.

 

Cropston Drive BMX Track and Wheeled Sports Facility

 

It was confirmed that further work was being undertaken on some elements of the design after the proposed gateway entrance was considered unfeasible. Final proposals and costs for these elements would be presented to the Working Party at its next meeting, with works anticipated to start during spring 2016.

 

Urban Forest Park

 

It was stated that work had now commenced on site with the installation of the boardwalk. However, despite the order for the footpath and drainage work being placed in early summer, the contractor had since cancelled an agreed start date in September. An alternative start date of 26 October had now been agreed.

 

Highway Verge Improvements

 

It was confirmed that all one off improvement works to the areas around Phoenix Green, Bardon Road and Ashby Road had now been completed. An application to the District Council’s Environmental Improvement Grant had been submitted and, if successful, works will be undertaken to include the barking and mulching of flower beds that will suppress future weed growth.

 

The £4,000 that had been allocated for ad-hoc improvements had been spent on 10 additional cuts over the summer period to Phoenix Green, as well as the cutting back and maintenance of all shrubs within that area. Additionally, winter prunes would take place prior to Christmas at Phoenix Green and along both Bardon Road and Ashby Road. These works had been arranged so as to complement the works conducted by the County Council.

 

Councillor P Purver stated that she had seen that other local authorities had planted wild flowers as a replacement to grass that required less maintenance. She enquired whether this would be something that the Working Party could look at doing.

 

The Head of Community Services confirmed that this would be feasible if desired by Members but that full costs and locations would need to be identified. The consensus of Members was for such research to be undertaken by Officers.

 

Councillor J Legrys thanked Officers for the work that had been undertaken at Phoenix Green. He stated that the area was looking far better than it did previously.

 

Councillor M Specht stated that, in his view, the only areas that needed to be cut were those where there were issues regarding highway safety. He stated that other areas should be left uncut to encourage wildlife.

 

Councillor M B Wyatt stated that he disagreed with Councillor M Specht’s view. He stated that certain areas must be maintained irrespective of whether they impacted upon highway safety as otherwise the District would look untidy. He stated that even if more wildlife areas were identified, that these would still require maintenance and that there would therefore still be a cost involved.

 

Warden Presence

 

It was confirmed that a new parks warden had been appointed for 16 hours a week until October. The role predominantly covered the after school period from Monday to Friday and focused on the areas around the play areas at Cropston Drive, Staples Drive and Scotlands Recreation Ground. The position had been successful in that levels of litter were reduced and no anti-social behaviour issues had been reported.

 

Thringstone Bowls Club Toilet Block

 

It was confirmed that formal quotes for the project had been sourced and submitted to BIFFA as part of the funding application. A decision as to whether the bid had been successful was expected by mid November. If successful, building works would commence immediately with a view to having the toilet block operational by April 2016. The total costs of the work would be £25,422 of which 10% would be funded from the Special Expenses fund.

 

Councillor J Geary queried why the 10% funding was being provided by the Special Expenses fund and not the bowls club themselves. It was confirmed that the funding stipulated that the 10% must be provided by a third party and that the bowls club could not therefore contribute themselves.

 

Memorial Trees

 

It was confirmed that a request had been received from Members to consider planting trees in various locations in Coalville in run up to 100^th anniversary of the end of the First World War in 2018. The project would be funded through a combination of the Special Expenses fund and external sources.

 

2016/2017 Proposed Capital Projects

 

The Head of Community Services outlined projects that had been proposed for the next financial year.

 

Melrose Road Green Gym (£15,000 cost)

 

A proposal had been put forward to install a green gym for older children and adults. It was anticipated that a budget of £15,000 would be sufficient to install five pieces of equipment.

 

Benches in Thringstone (costs to be confirmed)

 

A request had been received to install benches at various locations within Thringstone in order to assist residents that have difficulty in walking and to enable them to rest on the way to bus stops in the east of the village.

 

Scotlands Playing Field (costs to be confirmed)

 

It was stated that, subject to the transfer of the Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) from Lillehammer Drive to Scotlands Playing Field being completed, Members may wish to consider funding the creation of a play hub within the vicinity.

 

Thringstone Miners Social Centre Training Pitch (£5,000 cost)

 

It was stated that the Special Expenses fund could cover the 10% of the costs that must be provided by a third party. This would then allow the trustees to submit a funding application for the outstanding amount.

 

The Head of Community Services stated that he had also received several supplementary proposals since the papers for the meeting had been circulated. He updated Members on each of these proposals.

 

Variable Message Signs

 

A proposal had been received to install signage to warn motorists of their speed. It was stated that such signage was no longer funded by the County Council and that the Working Party may wish to do so instead.

 

Phoenix Green

 

A proposal had been received to refresh the area. It was stated that this was currently the responsibility of the County Council but that the Working Party could look to take on the work instead.

 

Councillor M B Wyatt stated that, as a minimum, the County Council should be approached to contribute to such a project, before it was decided whether to proceed.

 

Signage for Places of Interest

 

A proposal had been received to install signage directing residents to places of interest within the Coalville area. It was suggested that some residents were still unaware of the location of some attractions and would benefit from some additional signage.

 

Mantle Lane Bridge

 

A proposal had been received to regenerate the area surrounding Mantle Lane Bridge. It was confirmed however that Network Rail maintained the bridge and that they had been uncooperative when approached previously.

 

Town Guide for Coalville

 

A proposal had been received to create a town guide for Coalville that would include details regarding attractions, projects and initiatives that would be of interest to local residents.

 

Flag Pole at the Council Offices

 

A proposal had been received to install a flag pole at the front of the Council Offices on London Road.

 

Councillor J Geary stated that he was loath to proceed with any of the projects until full costings were available for every proposal. He stated that once these were available the Working Party would be in a better position to analyse which projects should proceed.

 

The Head of Community Services stated that costings would be feasible for all of the projects that had been put forward, with the exception of Mantle Lane Bridge due to it being managed by Network Rail. Additionally, he added that the relocation of the MUGA to Scotlands Playing Field was outside of the council’s control.

 

The consensus of Members was for Officers to develop full costings for all of the projects that had been suggested which could then be discussed by Members at the next meeting of the Working Party.

 

RESOLVED THAT:

 

the Working Party notes the progress update on 2015/16 capital projects.