Issue - meetings

Report of the Strategic Director - Children, Schools and Families

Further to Minute No. 13 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Children's Services held on 22 June 2010, the Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director - Children, Schools and Families seeking approval to the implementation of schemes to be funded from the Fair Play Playbuilder Grant Allocation 2010/11.

RESOLVED:

That consideration of the issues raised in the report be deferred to enable officers to review the revenue and capital implications of the proposals and submit a further meeting to the next meeting.

Report of the Strategic Director - Children, Schools and Families

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Strategic Director - Children, Schools and Families seeking approval for proposed schemes to be funded from the Playbuilder Capital Grant (the Grant); and indicating that a decision on this matter was required as the Cabinet Member had delegated powers to approve the proposed schemes and to refer them to Cabinet for inclusion in the Children, Schools and Families Capital Programme 2010/11.

The report indicated that following evaluation of thirteen expressions of interest for the Grant, schemes at the following eight locations were considered to best meet the criteria and were therefore recommended for approval:

Maghull Town Council - Glenn Park

Maghull Town Council - Dodds Park

Aintree Village Parish Council - Harrow Drive

Lydiate Parish Council - Sandy Lane

Netherton Park Neighbourhood Centre

Sefton Leisure Services - Moorside Park, Crosby

Sefton Leisure Services - Deansgate Lane Park, Formby

Sefton Leisure Services - Crossens Community Park, Southport

Each new proposal would receive £55,201 as Grant funding.

The report also indicated that for the Council to progress the Year 3 Play Builder schemes on its own land, it would have to take responsibility for their repair and maintenance.  This was likely to be in the region of £11,500 for the three proposed sites; this sum could not be found from existing budgets within Children, Schools and Families or Leisure Services.

It was suggested that the Cabinet Member may wish to refer the £11,500 required for repair and maintenance of the three proposed Council-owned sites, to Cabinet with a request for this amount to be referred to the budget setting process for 2011/12.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the five external schemes for Playbuilder Capital Grant 2010/11 as detailed in the report be approved;

(2)       the three schemes to be managed by the Leisure and Tourism Director be only progressed if the Cabinet refers the revenue allocation of £11,500 for repairs and maintenance to the budget setting process for 2011/12;

(3)            Cabinet be requested to:

            (a)       include the Playbuilder Grant funding in the Children, Schools and Families Capital Programme 2010/11; and

            (b)       refer and include the revenue allocation of £11,500 for the repairs and maintenance of the three play areas on Council owned land to the budget setting process 2011/12; and

(4)       the Leisure and Tourism Director be requested to progress the schemes on Council owned land as detailed in the report.