Hillingdon Council Cabinet Member and Officer Decisions
Environmental & Recreational Initiatives: Creation of Wildlife Corridor at Spider Park
Report Document
Can't see the PDF? Download Report
Decision / Minutes Document
Can't see the PDF? Download Minutes
Text extracted from PDFs
View Report Text
Democratic Services
Location: Phase II
Ext: 7655
DDI: 01895 277655
CMD No: 584
To: COUNCILLOR MARTIN GODDARD
CABINET MEMBER FOR FINANCE
COUNCILLOR EDDIE LAVERY
CABINET MEMBER FOR RESIDENTS’ SERVICE
c.c. All Members of th e Residents’ Services Select
Committee
c.c. Dragana Knezevic, Place
c.c. Perry Scott, Corporate Director of Place
Date: 9 September 2022
Non-Key Decision request Form D
CAPITAL RELEASE REPORT (June 2022)
DEPARTMENT: Resident Services
SERVICE AREA / PROGRAMME: Environmental & Recreational Initiatives: Creation of
Wildlife Corridor at Spider Park
Dear Cabinet Members
Attached is a report requesting that a decision be made by you as an individual Cabinet
Member. Democratic Services confirm that this is not a key decision, as such, the Local
Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England)
Regulations 2012 notice period does not apply.
You should take a decision on or after Monday 19 September 2022 in order to meet
Constitutional requirements about publication of decisions that are to be made. You may
wish to discuss the report with the Corporate Director before it is made. Please indicate your
decision on the duplicate memo supplied, and return it to me when you have made your
decision. I will then arrange for the formal notice of decision to be published.
Anisha Teji
Democratic Services Officer
Title of Report: Environmental & Recreational Initiatives: Creation of Wildlife Corridor at
Spider Park
Decision made:
Reasons for your decision: (e.g. as stated in report)
Alternatives considered and rejected: (e.g. as stated in report)
Signed ………………………………………………………Date……………………..
Cabinet Member for Finance / Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services
Capital Release Report – 9 September 2022
Part I - Public
CAPITAL RELEASE REPORT (June 2022)
DEPARTMENT: Resident Services
SERVICE AREA / PROGRAMME: Environmental & Recreational Initiatives: Creation of
Wildlife Corridor at Spider Park
Cabinet Member(s) Councillor Martin Goddard
Councillor Eddie Lavery
Cabinet Portfolio(s) Cabinet Member for Finance
Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services
Officer Contact(s) Dragana Knezevic, Place
Papers with report Appendix A, with capital release requests for approval
Summary
To seek release of £ 41k funds towards the creation of a wildlife
corridor in Spider Park.
Putting our Residents
First
This report supports the following Council objectives of Our Natural
Environment and Strong financial management.
Financial Cost This report seeks the release of £ 41k for the creation of wildlife
corridor at Spider Park, inclusive of £36k grant from the GLA Rewild
London Fund.
Relevant Select
Committee
Residents’ Services
Relevant Ward(s) South Ruislip
RECOMMENDATION
That the Cabinet Member for Finance and the Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services
approve the capital release request of £41k budget comprising £36k Rewild London Fund
grant and £5k revenue contribution for the creation of a wildlife corridor at Spider Park
(Appendix A).
PLEASE NOTE: Appendix A is attached to the decision request form so that the Cabinet Member
can indicate for each scheme whether project approval is granted and return it to Democratic
Services for publication.
Capital Release Report – 9 September 2022
Part I - Public
Reasons for recommendation
The project will transform over 2 hectors of monotonous, amenity grassland into a species rich
hay meadow, providing multiple benefits, not only for ov erall biodiversity, but for aesthetic value
and public enjoyment. Chosen areas of grassland will be left to grow on a hay cut regime, with
hay removed from site in late summer.
In addition, 8,000 tree whips will be planted to create woodland copses which would provide an
additional new habitat for wildlife to thrive, transforming this site into a tranquil place.
The project will include coppicing and pollarding mature crack willows, which will allow more light
to penetrate riverbanks, whilst woodchip will be used for mulching new trees.
Alternative options considered / risk management
The Cabinet Members may agree to fund the scheme and / or suggest alternative projects to
which funds could be allocated within the terms of the relevant legal agreements.
Select Committee comments
None at this stage.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
This report is seeking the allocation of funding for Spider Park wildlife corridor . The table below
outlines the project plan and timescales.
Project plan
Milestone Actions Due Date Comments
Environment agency
consent
Contractors to apply for
the consent
Apr2022 EA consent needed for
application of Glyphosate
herbicide on water. This has
now been received
Creation of wildflower
meadows
Contractors Jul -Oct
2022
Himalayan balsam
removal
Volunteers and LBH
officer
Jul 2022
Creation of swales Contractors Sep 2022
Glyphosate treatment
of invasive non-native
species in the pond
Contractors Jul- Aug
2022
Planting wetland
plants
Greenspaces team
working with volunteers
and social enterprise
Sep 2022 Organise volunteering days
Tree planting TCV charity Oct 2022-
Mar 2023
Charity, LBH officers working
with volunteers
Installation of bird/bat
boxes
Contractors and
volunteers
Mar 2023
Capital Release Report – 9 September 2022
Part I - Public
The works will be undertaken by:
● Complete Weed control - Council contracted supplier
● Red Squirrel - Council contracted supplier
● JSA - Council contracted supplier
● The Forward Trust - Council contracted supplier
● The Conservation Trust (TCV) - Community volunteering charity, worked with LBH on several
projects
The table below provides a breakdown of the costs:
Cost Plan
Description Amount
Plants £17,000
Tree planting (TCV) £6,650
Willow Pollarding £7,000
Ground preparation £3,000
Eradicating Phragmites and planting wetland
plants, creation of scrapes £3,500
Bird/bat boxes and monitoring equipment £350
Contingency £3,000
Total £40,500
Financial Implications
(Spider Park Wildlife Corridor Budget £ 41k, Previously Released Nil , Capital Release
Requested £41k) – Appendix A
In April 2022, Cabinet accepted £36k grant funding from the Rewild London Fund for the creation
of a wildlife corridor at Spider Park. Match funding of £5k is required to supplement the grant
funding and this is proposed to come from a revenue contribution from the Green Spaces budget.
The report seeks the release of £41k for the creation of the wildlife corridor at Spider Park, to be
funded from £36k Rewild London Fund grant funding and £5k revenue contribution. The release
request includes some quotations from the green spaces term contractors and the remainder are
based on estimates, where quotations will be sought at a later date.
The project will be reported as part of the Environmental and Recreation Initiatives Programme
once capital release is approved.
RESIDENT BENEFIT & CONSULTATION
The benefit or impact upon Hillingdon residents, service users and communities?
The Council and its partners are committed to making the B orough a cleaner, greener and safer
environment. Feel PROUD aims to make residents aware of how they can join forces with the
Council and have their say on improving the area they live in and boosting their pride in being a
Hillingdon resident.
Capital Release Report – 9 September 2022
Part I - Public
Improving existing habitats in this narrow Site of Interest for Nature Conservation (SINC) section
and creating a buffer zone with new habitats in the adjacent fields will increase the wildlife value
of the site and benefit the whole corridor. The project will create a more varied and positive use
of the land, increasing the site’s overall biodiversity and ecological resilience, whilst retaining a
peaceful place for people to relax and enjoy.
This project is consistent with Hillingdon’s Strategic Climate Change Action Plan:
“Responding to the climate emergency is not just about reducing or removing carbon emissions.
It is about recognising a much wider threat across all aspects of our environment. We are
responsible for large sections of open areas and waterways that are an extremely important for
wildlife and amenity for residents. We can find better ways to use green and open space to support
flora and fauna, manage flooding, integrate trees and planting schemes into urban environments
and re-establish wildlife corridors.”
C7 Carbon offsetting
C7.4 Understand and increase current carbon sequestration through increased planting and
changes to green space management.
C7.5 Increase the number of trees, particularly in urban areas to complement objectives to
improve air quality and promote urban wildlife.
C7.6 To exploit opportunities to increase carbon sequestration to maximise opportunities for
biodiversity and flood risk management.
CORPORATE CONSIDERATIONS
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance concurs with the financial implications set out above, noting that this project is
largely funded from external grant of £36k that has recently been awarded from the Rewild
London Fund administered by the GLA.
Legal
The Borough Solicitor confirms that the Council is responsible for carrying out its function pursuant
to Section 19 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976. Thus, there are no
legal impediments to the capital release being authorised, although any contract that is entered
into must comply with the Council's Procurement and Contract Standing Orders.
Infrastructure / Asset Management
There are no Infrastructure / Asset Management implications arising from the recommendation in
this report.
Capital Release Protocol
The release of all capital funds, and certain revenue funds, held by the Council is to be made by
a formal democratic decision. No expenditure can be placed or committed by officers until this
formal approval is given by Democratic Services. Release of funds must be for identified projects
only and strictly not for the general release of funds for projects to be identified at a later date. No
Capital Release Report – 9 September 2022
Part I - Public
block releases of capital or funding will be allowed, except if authorised by the Leader of the
Council in advance to Corporate Finance. The release of funds will only be made if previous
Council, Cabinet or Cabinet Member agreement has been given to the project and only if there is
an approved budget.
BACKGROUND PAPERS
NIL.
Capital Release Report – 9 September 2022
Part I - Public
CAPITAL RELEASE APPENDIX A
Creation of Wildlife Corridor at Spider Park
Location
(Ward)
Project /
Expenditure
Title
Information
Funds
Release
Sought
£000’s
Approve Hold
More
Information
Required
South
Ruislip
Spider Park
wildlife
corridor
41
Total seeking release 41
Previously released 0
Budget 41
Remaining budget 0
View Decision / Minutes Text
Executive Decision Notice – 22 September 2022 Page 1 This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk OFFICIAL EXECUTIVE DECISION NOTICE PUBLISHED BY DEMOCRATIC SERVICES Notice is hereby given that the following decision(s) have been made today by Cabinet Members at the London Borough of Hillingdon: Title of decision CAPITAL RELEASE REPORT (June 2022) DEPARTMENT: Resident Services SERVICE AREA / PROGRAMME: Environmental & Recreational Initiatives: Creation of Wildlife Corridor at Spider Park Reference No. 584 Date of decision Thursday 22 September 2022 Call-in expiry date 5pm, Thursday 29 September 2022 Relevant Select Committee Residents’ Services Select Committee Relevant Wards South Ruislip Decision made Cabinet Members making the decision Councillor Eddie Lavery - Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services Councillor Martin Goddard – Cabinet Member for Finance Approved That the Cabinet Member for Finance and the Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services approve the capital release request of £41k budget comprising £36k Rewild London Fund grant and £5k revenue contribution for the creation of a wildlife corridor at Spider Park (Appendix A). Reason for decision The project will transform over 2 hectors of monotonous, amenity grassland into a species rich hay meadow, providing multiple benefits, not only for ov erall biodiversity, but for aesthetic value and public enjoyment. Chosen areas of grassland will be left to grow on a hay cut regime, with hay removed from site in late summer. In addition, 8,000 tree whips will be planted to create woodland copses which would provide an additional new habitat for wildlife to thrive, transforming this site into a tranquil place. The project will include coppicing and pollarding mature crack willows, which will allow more light to penetrate riverbanks, whilst woodchip will be used for mulching new trees. Executive Decision Notice – 22 September 2022 Page 2 This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk Alternative options considered and rejected The Cabinet Members may agree to fund the scheme and / or suggest alternative projects to which funds could be allocated within the terms of the relevant legal agreements. Classification Part 1 – Public Link to associated report https://hillingdon.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/CabinetMemberDecision/EQv ceul_WVxAuYrHdUv1gv0BCU8vvQVvCObY9xAtBNxudg Relevant Officer contact & Directorate Dragana Knezevic, Place Directorate Any interest declared by the Cabinet Member(s) / dispensation granted N/A Implementation of decision & scrutiny call-in [Internal Use only] When can this decision be implemented by officers? Officers can implement Cabinet Member decision in this notice only from the expiry of the scrutiny call-in period which is: 5pm, Thursday 29 September 2022 However, this is subject to the decision not being called in by Councillors on the relevant Select Committee. Upon receipt of a valid call-in request, Democratic Services will immediately advise the relevant officer(s) and the decision must then be put on hold. Councillor scrutiny call-in of this decision Councillors on the relevant Select Committee shown in this notice may request to call-in this decision. The request must be before the expiry of the scrutiny call-in period above. Councillors should use the Scrutiny Call-in App (link below) on their devices to initiate any call-in request. Further advice can be sought from Democratic Services if required: Scrutiny Call-In - Power Apps (secure) Further information These decisions, where applicable, have been taken under The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012. This is the formal notice by the Council of the above executive decision, including links to the reports where applicable. Executive Decision Notice – 22 September 2022 Page 3 This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk If you would like more information on this decision, please contact Democratic Services on 01895 250636 or email: democratic@hillingdon.gov.uk. Circulation of this decision notice is to a variety of people including Members of the Council, Corporate Directors, Officers, Group Secretariats and the Public. Copies are also placed on the Council’s website. Democratic Services London Borough of Hillingdon Civic Centre High Street Uxbridge UB8 1UW