Issue - meetings

This report sets out the Neighbourhood Environment Services projects that are identified in the Council’s 2014/15 budget for provisional approval and are now ready for Cabinet approval to proceed

Councillor Geoff Ward in an ad hoc statement said he was delighted that £1M was to be spent on open spaces and parks.  He reminded the Cabinet of the need to consult closely with local members and not to favour the city in their allocations.  He felt that the public toilets issue had been emotive because there had been insufficient consultation.

Councillor David Dixon responded to Councillor Ward by saying that not only had the Cabinet consulted about the public toilet proposals, but had also listened to the feedback.  The proposals would be sustainable and would deliver long-term solutions.  He had held a number of conversations with local members and was delighted that it had been possible to provide clean, safe toilets at locations where people wanted them.  The £3.3M would be invested in improving, maintaining and safeguarding local toilets.

Councillor Dixon referred to the contract to replace play areas across the area.  He noted that there had been no budget for this when he had taken office.  He had visited every Council-owned and run play area and was delighted at the wide range of improvements which would be achieved.

He moved the proposals.

Councillor Caroline Roberts seconded the proposal.  She was very pleased with the plans because it was about 10 years earlier that she had been a member of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel which had recommended the automated toilets which were now beginning to be introduced.  She also welcomed the play area upgrades because she had witnessed the difference they had made by bringing the local community back together.

Councillor Katie Hall observed that the proposals would fit very well with the Health and Wellbeing Board’s Fit For Life promotion.

Councillor Paul Crossley explained that one of his constituents with a challenging illness needed clean, readily available toilets if he was to be able to leave home.  He was very pleased that local children would benefit greatly from the investment in play areas.

Councillor David Dixon summed up by reminding Cabinet that when new equipment arrived in a play park, it brought new vitality to the community as people started using the parks again.  He emphasised to Cabinet that the Monmouth Street toilets were not being closed – they were being refurbished.

On a motion from Councillor David Dixon, seconded by Councillor Caroline Roberts, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously)

(1) To APPROVE the budgets for the following capital projects and for the projects to proceed:

·  Parks and Green Spaces Capital programme (£1,010k);

·  Public WC Conversions (£100k);

(2) To DELEGATE authority to the Divisional Director for Environmental Services, in consultation with the Chief Property Officer and the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, to decide where the detailed spend on WC conversions project is targeted.