Agenda and minutes

None received.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the above meeting, having been circulated, be approved as a correct record.

None received.

Portfolio Holder, Peter Barnes, will attend and take questions from Members on the maintenance and development of the Public Realms area of the Environment Portfolio.

SCRUTINY WORK PROGRAMME REPORT 2013/14

1.            Rolling Programme of Portfolio Holder Holding to Account

The chair welcomed Councillor Barnes, Portfolio Holder, Environment, and David Wakelin, Corporate Director, who had been invited to respond to questions on the following areas of the Environment Portfolio:

Maintenance and Development of the public realm, including parks, open spaces, cemeteries and allotments, with specific reference to the Gedling Country Park.

Advance questions received from Members:

1.    An overview and update on the Gedling Country Park.

2.  What protection/bye laws are to be established to curb such things as: Scrambles and Quad Bikes?

3.    Environmentally, what plans are in place to foster and protect the future development of wild life?

4.    Re: Ley St Field in Netherfield: I understand that the land originally belonged to Notts. County Council Education Department however Gedling BC had installed a football pitch and changing facility. There has been a notice on the site stating that, under an agreement, Gedling Borough Council is taking over responsibility for the field. The area is deteriorating and the changing facility is locked and unavailable for general use – could the Portfolio Holder provide an update on future plans for this site?

5.    Re: Conway Road Pavilion, tennis courts and golf facility: The tennis courts and golf course are deteriorating and under used – could the Portfolio Holder give details of future intentions for the site?  

6.    What criteria are used to determine whether grass is cut or left to grow in parks and open spaces? There has been some concern that grass has been left to grow near to children's play areas thereby encouraging misuse by irresponsible dog owners.

7.    Is any consultation undertaken with nearby local residents before grassed areas are left to grow?

8.    Have any other options been considered by the Council with regard to saving money on maintaining small pieces of open land in residential areas such as selling of land; offering 'licences to occupy' or undertaking 'informal agreements to cultivate' (as used in recent years by the County Council's Highway Authority)?  

Response of Portfolio Holder and Corporate Director:

Before answering specific questions raised by Scrutiny the Corporate Director updated Members on the progress of the Gedling Country Park with a presentation which answered some of the questions raised by Members.

·         Stage 1 which consisted of remediation work on the drainage system and works to ensure the safety of the public were signed off on the 10 September 2014.

·         Notts. County Council has assisted in the project management and their help and expertise has been invaluable.

·         There have been some issues around public access expectations but currently this is a working site and warning notices have been erected.  Safety is less of an issue now that the paths have been completed.  All paths are DDA compliant.  There will be no perimeter fence but where access issues have been a problem drainage ditches have been re-established which stop vehicles accessing the park from non - designated entrances.

·         Stage 2 has now  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56.

Members considered the standing report detailing items referred to the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny under the Constitution or Law as follows:

1.    Items referred to the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee under Contract Standing orders and Standing orders for dealing with Land

      i.        Notifications received where it has not been possible to obtain 3 quotations for a contract estimated to be between £10,000 and £50,000.

-       Entry into a contract with Heineken UK for the provision of Bar Supplies for the supplies of Beer, Cider and Soft drinks for those Leisure Centres within the Borough that have bars, on the same terms as the previous contract, from 1^st November to 31^st January, with the option to extend for a maximum of one further month. 

    ii.        Notification of decision to dispose of land or property other than the sale of council houses to sitting tenants pursuant to the right to buy.

-       Entry into an option agreement for the future sale of land at Florence Road, Gedling (the Land) to Maximus Projects Limited without using the tender process as defined in the Standing Orders for Dealings with Land.

2.    Items referred to Scrutiny under the Budget and Policy Framework

-       Addition of an item to the Forward Plan. The item related to the “Response to the Inspector’s report on the Aligned Core Strategy” and would be tabled for discussion at an additional meeting of Cabinet on Thursday 28 August 2014. 

RESOLVED:

To note the information

None.