Agenda item - Capital budget expenditure for Cityparks

Report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture

That Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee:

1)           Agrees that  £700,000 from the revised capital investment programme budget will be used to support investment in Cityparks as follows:

(i)            £200,000 on new children’s play equipment

(ii)          £500,000 on woodland management and tree planting

2)           Approves the submission of an application to DEFRAs Urban Tree Challenge Fund for £200,000 of the government’s recently announced Urban Tree Fund.

13.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture that sought approval for use of the £700,000 revised capital investment programme budget for Cityparks to install new children’s play equipment and for woodland management and tree planting. Furthermore, the report sought approval to apply to DEFRA’s Urban Tree Challenge Fund for a sum of £200,000.

13.2      Councillor West welcomed funding for playground equipment that would help replace the current equipment that was coming to or at the end of its life. Councillor West noted that the cost of £4,000 to remove stumps appeared very expensive and asked if where street trees were replaced, whether there would be a reconfiguration of the highway space to ensure better space for cycle lanes and walking environment.

13.3      The Head of Operations, Cityparks clarified that the cost to remove stumps also included putting reconfiguring the highway that could be expensive, particularly for larger trees.

13.4      Councillor Brown stated that whilst she welcomed the report proposals, she was disappointed that no new trees had been identified for Hove Park that was a large park and well used. Councillor Brown noted that Hove Park also had a small amount of the overall funding identified for the programme of work for playgrounds and stated that she hoped this was not because the Friends of Hove Park group hoped to raise funds as this was for additional equipment and not for the maintenance or refurbishment of existing equipment.

13.5      The Head of Operations, Cityparks replied that officers had identified S106 funding that was available to use in Hove Park and the report proposal prioritised funding for those playgrounds where there was no prospect for external funding.

13.6      Councillor Hamilton stated that whilst he welcomed the report and was pleased additional funding had been identified in the budget, many of the recommendations identified repair or replacement and many parks and playgrounds needed additional equipment.

13.7      Councillor Wares noted that the committee had received a report to a previous meeting that stated the tree replacement programme was undertaken from the west of the city toward the east. Councillor Wares asked if that programme was still in place and how the works proposed within the report being discussed would be spread across the city as it was important the budget was shared fairly.

13.8      The Head of Operations, Cityparks explained that the council did have an annual tree planting budget of £15,000 and work had started in the west of the city toward the east. The reason that approach was taken was because the major part of the cost was tree watering therefore, much of the planting was clustered to make cost efficiencies. The Head of Operations, Cityparks clarified that the current proposal would share the resource across the city rather than a clustering approach.

13.9      RESOLVED- That Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee:

1)           Agrees that £700,000 from the revised capital investment programme budget will be used to support investment in Cityparks as follows:

(i)            £200,000 on new children’s play equipment

(ii)          £500,000 on woodland management and tree planting

2)           Approves the submission of an application to DEFRAs Urban Tree Challenge Fund for £200,000 of the government’s recently announced Urban Tree Fund.