Issue - meetings

The report highlights issues with the renovation of Rosebery Park Pond and requests authority to use additional funds to remove accumulated silt.

The Committee received and considered an item not included in the original Agenda pack but which required consideration as a matter of urgency.  The report highlighted issues with the renovation of Rosebery Park Pond and sought authority to use additional funds to remove accumulated silt.  An urgent decision was required as the contractor was now on site.

An urgent decision had already been taken in consultation with the Chairman to spend additional funds on the perimeter detail of the pond.  The cost of these unforeseen but necessary works had increased the cost of the project by £33,000.

Draining the pond had subsequently also revealed the extent of the silt build up and the Committee was asked to consider whether to proceed with its removal, the recommended option costing up to £82,000, or whether to delay the works for possible inclusion in a future capital programme.

The report proposed that, should the Committee be minded to agree to the silt removal, the works could be funded from S106 monies.  The report highlighted that the Council held a balance of uncommitted S106 funds for “Environmental Improvements” of £131,000 and identified 14 agreements from which the funds could be sourced.  The report further highlighted that this would deplete the resources available for other environmental improvement priorities within the Borough.

An amendment was proposed and seconded but not carried (there being 2 members in favour and a majority against) to delay the works.

Having balanced the risks, in particular public perception that works were not carried out properly if further works proved necessary in a very short period of time and the possibility- that to delay the silt removal would cost more in the long run, the Committee:

(1)          Noted the urgent decision taken under delegated authority in consultation with the Chairman to allocate additional funds to the project for the perimeter detail of the pond;

(2)          Agreed to proceed with the silt removal at an extra cost of up to £82,000;

(3)          Approved the use of S106 from the agreements listed in paragraph 5.3 of the report to fund the works.