Hillingdon Council Cabinet Member and Officer Decisions
Environmental & Recreational Initiatives: Willow Tree Wander Project
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Democratic Services
Location: Phase II
Ext: 0185
DDI: 01895 250185
CMD No: 656
To: COUNCILLOR MARTIN GODDARD
CABINET MEMBER FOR FINANCE
COUNCILLOR EDDIE LAVERY
CABINET MEMBER FOR RESIDENTS’ SERVICES
c.c. All Members of th e Residents’ Services Select
Committee
c.c. Dragana Knezevic – Place Directorate
c.c. Perry Scott – Corporate Director of Place
c.c. Ward Councillors for South Ruislip
Date: 06 December 2022
Non-Key Decision request Form D
CAPITAL RELEASE REPORT (December 2022)
DEPARTMENT: Resident Services
SERVICE AREA / PROGRAMME: Environmental & Recreational Initiatives: Willow Tree
Wander Project
Dear Cabinet Member,
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 Wednesday 14 December 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.
Liz Penny
Democratic Services Officer
Title of Report: Environmental & Recreational Initiatives: Willow Tree Wander Project
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 – 6 December 2022 Page 1
Part I - Public
CAPITAL RELEASE REPORT (December 2022)
DEPARTMENT: Resident Services
SERVICE AREA / PROGRAMME: Environmental & Recreational Initiatives: Willow Tree
Wander Project
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, Residents Services
Papers with report Appendix A, with capital release requests for approval
Summary
To seek release of £43.5k funds towards Reviving Willow Tree
Wander project
Putting our Residents
First
This report supports our ambition for residents / the Council of:
Live in a Sustainable Borough that is carbon neutral.
Financial Cost This report seeks the release of £44k for Reviving Willow Tree
Wander project, fully funded by Smarter Water Catchment Grant.
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 project and capital release request of £44 k budget fully funded by Smarter
Water Catchment Grant for the Willow Tree Wander Project. (Appendix A).
Reasons for recommendation
The ‘Reviving Willow Tree Wander P roject’ aims to improve the river in Spider Park in South
Ruislip, so the Council can take practical action to let more light into the river and further
interventions to improve the biodiversity, flood storage capacity, amenity value and water quality
of the Yeading Brook West. The project contains two linked elements:
1. Willow coppicing/pollarding and light touch habitat works along the river; and,
2. A feasibility study for reprofiling the river and daylighting of the surface water sewer to create
wetland features in Spider Park.
Capital Release Report – 6 December 2022 Page 2
Part I - Public
Coppicing and pollarding mature crack willows will allow light into the river channel which will
boost biodiversity and the growth of emergent plants. In addition, it will give greater views across
the stretch of the river (1500m) allowing consultants and river morphologists to scan the river
profile and create a feasibility study for the area between Field End Road and West End Road.
The Council plans to work in partnership with Metis, Zoological Society of London and a
Cartographer in this regard.
A comprehensive feasibility study will enable experts to examine the full potential of the
watercourse and the linked surface water drainage network for prospective projects. The aim is
to reprofile/recontour riverbanks and create additional wetland features such as backwaters and
two-stage channels as well as daylight in the water sewer. The new features in the park will
provide more space for water, away from residential areas and thus reduce the likelihood of
flooding. It will also improve the aesthetic environment and encourage access and enjoyment of
the riverine environment.
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
Spider Park, as it is known locally, is a complex of several open spaces, including Bridgwater
Open Space, Jim O’Neil Walk, New Pond Open Space and West End Road Open Space. Most
of the project will happen in Spider Park, off Bridgwater Road (yellow arrow below), but willow
pollarding will take place along Yeading Brook from Field End Rd to West End Rd (green
dashed line).
Capital Release Report – 6 December 2022 Page 3
Part I - Public
This report is seeking project approval and the allocation of funding for the Reviving Willow Tree
Wander project. The table below outlines the project plan and timescales:
2022 2023
Item Oc No De Ja Fe Ma Ap Ma Jun Jul Au
Willow pollarding
Building hibernacula
Feasibility study
drainage survey
Cartographer site
design development and consultation
Elephant Park Case Study
The works will be undertaken by:
● Tree Contractor- Council contracted supplier
● The Forward Trust - Council contracted supplier
● Metis- Consultant (contracted for flood alleviation project in Hillingdon (Elephant Park, Court
Park and Bessingby Park)
Capital Release Report – 6 December 2022 Page 4
Part I - Public
● Zoological Society of London (ZSL)- charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals
and their habitats
The table below provides a breakdown of the costs:
Cost Plan
Description Supplier Amount
Habitat works
Pollarding- contractors LBH contracted supplier 14,000
Building hibernacula LBH contracted supplier 2,000
Feasibility study
consultant fees Metis 18,000
drainage survey Metis 5,000
design input and site survey ZSL/Cartographer 1,000
Project management, design input and strategic
planning ZSL 3,500
Total £43,500
Financial Implications
(Reviving Willow Tree Wander Budget £ 44k, Previously Released Nil, Capital Release
Requested £44k) – Appendix A
In November 2022, Cabinet accepted £44k grant funding from the Smarter Water Catchment for
Reviving the Willow Tree Wander scheme. No match funding is requested.
The report seeks the release of £44 k for the Willow Tree Wander project which includes tree
pollarding and feasibility study, which is fully financed from grant. The release request includes
quotations from the green spaces term contractors and consultants with the remainder 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. 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.
Capital Release Report – 6 December 2022 Page 5
Part I - Public
This project is also consistent with Hillingdon’s Strategic Climate Change Action Plan and Carbon
offsetting:
“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
funded from external grant of £ 43.5k that has recently been awarded with no impact on Council
resources.
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 (by the Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and
Business Services). 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 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 projec t and only if there is an approved
budget.
Capital Release Report – 6 December 2022 Page 6
Part I - Public
BACKGROUND PAPERS
NIL.
Capital Release Report – 6 December 2022 Page 7
Part I - Public
CAPITAL RELEASE APPENDIX A
Reviving Willow Tree Wander
Location
(Ward)
Project /
Expenditure
Title
Information
Funds
Release
Sought
£000’s
Approve Hold
More
Information
Required
South
Ruislip
Reviving
Willow Tree
Wander
44
Total seeking release 44
Previously released 0
Budget 44
Remaining budget 0
View Decision / Minutes Text
Executive Decision Notice – 14 December 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 (December 2022)
DEPARTMENT: Resident Services
SERVICE AREA / PROGRAMME: Environmental &
Recreational Initiatives: Willow Tree Wander Project
Reference No. 656
Date of decision Wednesday 14 December 2022
Call-in expiry date Wednesday 21 December 2022
Relevant Select
Committee
Residents’ Services Select Committee
Relevant Wards South Ruislip
Decision made
Cabinet Members
making the decision
Councillor Martin Goddard - Cabinet Member for Finance
Councillor Eddie Lavery - Cabinet Member for Residents’
Services
Approved
That the Cabinet Member for Finance and the Cabinet
Member for Residents’ Services approved the project and
capital release request of £44 k budget fully funded by
Smarter Water Catchment Grant for the Willow Tree Wander
Project.
Reason for decision
The ‘Reviving Willow Tree Wander Project’ aims to improve the
river in Spider Park in South Ruislip , so the Council can take
practical action to let more light into the river and further
interventions to improve the biodiversity, flood storage capacity,
amenity value and water quality of the Yeading Brook West. The
project contains two linked elements:
1. Willow coppicing/poll arding and light touch habitat works
along the river; and,
2. A feasibility study for reprofiling the river and daylighting of
the surface water sewer to create wetland features in Spider
Park.
The new features in the park will provide more space for water,
away from residential areas and thus reduce the likelihood of
flooding. It will also
improve the aesthetic environment and
encourage access and enjoyment of the riverine environment.
Executive Decision Notice – 14 December 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 could have agreed to fund the scheme
and / or suggested alternative projects to which funds could be
allocated within the terms of the relevant legal agreements.
Classification Part 1 – Public
Link to associated
report
Report.
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:
Wednesday 21 December 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.
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.
Executive Decision Notice – 14 December 2022 Page 3
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk
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