Agenda item

Pilot - Alternative Parks Management Model Pilot - Highfield Recreation Ground

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Ashworth)

 

Report of the Corporate Director (Regeneration)

 

Minutes:

 

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Ashworth)

 

The Corporate Director (Regeneration) submitted a report seeking Cabinet’s approval for a “Community Partnership Management Model” between Lancaster City Council and the Gregson Community Association in respect of Highfield Recreation Ground.

 

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

 

Options

Approach

Advantages

Disadvantages

Risks

Option 1

Do not enter into a lease agreement or Service Level Agreement with the Gregson Community Association.

No additional work required.

Park remains in very poor condition and continues to decline.

 

Council on its own are unable to access external funding to improve the park.

 

Park is under utilised by the local and wider community and the area continues to suffer from issues around anti social behaviour and vandalism.

 

Still requires staff time to manage the existing park and to maintain it.

 

Option 2

Enter into a lease agreement and service level agreement with the Gregson Community Association.

Potential funding opportunities accesses to improve the park.

 

Use of the park increase at no additional cost to the Council.

 

More opportunity for young people to participate in positive activities resulting in a potential reduction in anti social behaviour and vandalism.

Some additional work required to manage the lease agreement and service level agreements, although partly offset by reduced operational management of grounds itself.

External funding can not be secured to improve the park.

 

Gregson Community Association terminate the agreement which might result in an issue of claw back for themselves in terms of external funding if any funding is secured and the potential for additional maintenance costs falling upon the Council.

 

Option 2 is preferred as it will allow much needed improvements to the park to be achieved, subject to successful funding applications and will lead to an increase in the use of the park by local residents and the wider community. In turn this should contribute to addressing issues around anti-social behaviour and vandalism.

 

It was moved by Councillor Ashworth and seconded by Councillor Archer:-

 

“(1)      That the granting of a lease of Highfield Recreation Ground to the Gregson Community Association on terms to be agreed by the Head of Property Services, the Head of Financial Services, and the Head of Cultural Services be approved.

 

(2)        That the Head of Cultural Services be authorised to enter into a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the Gregson Community Association to deliver services at Highfield Recreation Ground for the benefit of the local and wider community,  subject to the approval of the terms by the Head of Legal and HR and Head of Financial Services.

 

(3)        That the General Fund Revenue Budget be updated during the current budget process.”

 

Members then voted:-

 

Resolved unanimously:

 

(1)        That the granting of a lease of Highfield Recreation Ground to the Gregson Community Association, on terms to be agreed by the Head of Property Services, the Head of Financial Services, and the Head of Cultural Services, be approved.

 

(2)        That the Head of Cultural Services be authorised to enter into a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the Gregson Community Association to deliver services at Highfield Recreation Ground for the benefit of the local and wider community,  subject to the approval of the terms by the Head of Legal and HR and Head of Financial Services.

 

(3)        That the General Fund Revenue Budget be updated during the current budget process.

 

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

 

Corporate Director (Regeneration)

Head of Cultural Services

Head of Financial Services

 

Reasons for making the decision:

 

This project provides a first model of a park managed via a Community Partnership Model, as set out in the Parks & Open Spaces Strategy. If successful, subject to monitoring of the SLA, this may be a prelude to further similar projects that have benefits to the local community and the City Council.

 

Supporting documents: