Hillingdon Council Cabinet Member and Officer Decisions
Capital Release Report Town Centre & Shopping Parades Initiative 2023-25 Release No. 2
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Democratic Services
Location: Phase II
Ext: 0185
DDI: 01895 250185
CMD No: 920
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. Catherine Flew – Place Directorate
c.c. Perry Scott – Corporate Director of Place
Date: 4 October 2023
Non-Key Decision request Form D
CAPITAL RELEASE REPORT (October 2023)
DEPARTMENT: PLACE DIRECTORATE
SERVICE AREA / PROGRAMME: Town Centre & Shopping Parades Initiative 2023-25
RELEASE NO: 2
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 Thursday 12 October 2023 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: Town Centre & Shopping Parades Initiative 2023-25 - Release No: 2
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 – 4 October 2023 Page 1
Part 1 Public
CAPITAL RELEASE REPORT (October 2023)
DEPARTMENT: PLACE DIRECTORATE
SERVICE AREA / PROGRAMME: Town Centre & Shopping Parades Initiative 2023-25
RELEASE NO: 2
Cabinet Members Councillor Martin Goddard
Councillor Eddie Lavery
Cabinet Portfolios Cabinet Member for Finance
Cabinet Member for Residents' Services
Officer Contact Catherine Flew, Place Directorate
Papers with report Appendix A with capital release requests for approval
Site Plan / Streetview
HEADLINES
Summary
To seek Cabinet Member approval for the release of capital funds.
Putting our
Residents First
Delivering on the
Council Strategy
2022-2026
This report supports our ambition for residents / the Council of:
Live in a sustainable borough that is carbon neutral.
This report supports our commitments to residents of:
A Thriving Economy
.
Financial Cost This report seeks the release of £ 405k from the 20 23/25 Town
Centre & Shopping Parades Initiative programme budget for th e
public realm im provements at Mulberry Parade. The works will
commence upon release of the funds and are due for completion by
Summer 2025.
Relevant Select
Committee
Residents' Services Select Committee
Relevant Ward(s) West Drayton
RECOMMENDATION
That the Cabinet Member for Financ e and the Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services
agree to the project and the following capital release request of £405 k from t he Town
Centre & Shopping Parades Initiative programme budget f or the funding of the public
realm improvements at Mulberry Parade.
Capital Release Report – 4 October 2023 Page 2
Part 1 Public
Reasons for recommendation
The recommendation aims to improve the quality of life for local residents by increasing
confidence in the area and boosting the local economy.
The proposed landscaping enhancements with extensive low -level planting and a new tree will
not only be aesthetically pleasing but will also contribute towards air quality and improved health
benefits for people who live, work and shop along this section of Mulberry Parade.
The project will be furthering the Council’s vision to become the greenest London Borough, to
protect and enhance the environment, and to provide a brighter prospect for future generations.
Alternative options considered
The Cabinet Members could decide not to accept the recommendation. This would mean that the
proposed works could not go ahead as planned and the regeneration of Mulberry Parade would
not be achieved.
Select Committee comments
None at this stage.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Investment in town centres and local shopping parades across the Borough supports the
Council’s commitment to residents to achieve a thriving economy.
Neighbourhood parades such as Mulberry Parade meet the day -to-day needs of the local
population, mainly focusing on convenience retail (top-up small basket shopping), hospitality and
everyday services within walking distance for many residents. During the Covid-19 pandemic,
neighbourhood parades have shown their value in terms of their unique offering and
convenience.
The recommendation will upgrade the overall look and feel of Mulberry Parade, and ‘future proof’
this valued local retail, hospitality, and community resource.
Public realm works are planned to boost footfall and enhance the environment for residents and
local families using the parade.
Stockley Recreation Ground is located opposite the parade and is benefiting from £100k Council-
funded playground refurbishments this financial year. The planned public realm upgrade will
complement the playground refurbishment through the provision of a new zebra crossing and
pathway to link the parade with the Recreation Ground. The public realm works are programmed
to commence in January 2024 and will also feature:
• New paving throughout the shopping parade
• Upgrading all street furniture, including bins and cycle stands
Capital Release Report – 4 October 2023 Page 3
Part 1 Public
• Landscaping scheme with robust, drought tolerant, low maintenance planting to support
local biodiversity and air quality with the potential for community planting
• Upgrading the LED street lighting
• Creating a turnover of parking spaces with the proposed introduction of a ‘Stop and
Shop’ parking scheme (subject to statutory consultation). A resident-led petition in support
of a ‘Stop & Shop’ parking scheme has been received.
• Unique branding for the parade including a wall mural, shutter art and footpath graphics
The extensive low-level planting supports the Council’s commitment of creating and maintaining
a green and sustainable Borough that is carbon neutral.
Table 1. Cost Plan for Mulberry Parade Improvements
Mulberry Parade Improvements
Programme Cost plan
Estimated
Cost
£000s
Previously
Released
£000s
Release
Requested
£000s
Balance
£000s
Public Realm
Civil works including kerbs, all paving,
re-surfacing, street furniture & safety
audits
176 140 36 0
Install new footpath linking parade with
park
20 20 0
Installation of a new zebra crossing
(subject to consultation)
35 35 0
Street lighting upgrades 37 37 0
“Stop & Shop" scheme (subject to
consultation)
12 12 0
New soft landscaping (to complement
Sainsbury’s planting)
60 60 0
Parade building improvement 8 8 0
Inflation allowance 75 75 0
Contingency @ 10% 42 42 0
Subtotal 465 140 325 0
Mulberry Parade Signage and Public
Art
Shutter Art design and artwork 20 6 14 0
Mulberry Parade mural installation
(subject to planning consent)
8 8 0
Subtotal 28 146 22 0
Fees
15% Highways & Town Centre Team
Fees
74 16 58 0
Grand Total 567 162 405 0
Capital Release Report – 4 October 2023 Page 4
Part 1 Public
Financial Implications
Budget £1,709k, Previously Released £654k, Capital Release Requested £405k - Appendix
A
The 2023/24 Capital Programme approved by Cabinet and Council in February 2023 included a
budget for the Town Centre and Shopping Parade Initiatives of £1,304k. In June 2023 , Cabinet
approved the rephasing of £405k from 2022/23 into 2023/2 . T his gives a revised budget for
2023/24 of £1,709k, funded from a combination of Section 106 funds, Transport for London Grant
funds and Council resources.
Previously, £654k has been released for greening and irrigation works at Hayes Parades, Sutton
Court Shopping Parade public realm, and Mulberry Parade Shopping Parade.
This report seeks release of £405k funding from the Shopping Parades Initiatives programme for
the public realm improvements a t Mulberry Parade outlined above to enhance the environment
for residents and local families using the parade and boost footfall. The release request is based
upon the Council’s Highways term contractor’s schedule rates and includes a project contingency
of 10% of the total estimated works cost and internal engineer and town centre officers’ fees of
15% of the total estimated works costs.
The remaining £650 k of the Town Centre and Shopping Parades Initiatives 2022/23 budget is
subject to the capital release process.
RESIDENT BENEFIT & CONSULTATION
The benefit or impact upon residents, service users and communities
Well-designed and quality public space is vital to the success of town centres and high streets.
The benefits to local residents and business owners include:
• Improving the look and feel of this shopping parade
• Making this stretch of Mulberry Parade more attractive for walking
• Increasing confidence in the area to help boost the local economy
• Improving air quality
Consultation carried out or required
The proposed public realm improvements have the full support of the West Drayton Ward
Councillors.
Statutory consultation/s will be undertaken as required, specifically in relation to any amendments
to current parking arrangements and the proposed zebra crossing.
Planning consent will be sought for the proposed Mulberry Parade wall mural.
Capital Release Report – 4 October 2023 Page 5
Part 1 Public
CORPORATE CONSIDERATIONS
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance has reviewed the report and concurs with the financial implications set out
above, noting that the recommended action to agree a release of £405k the public realm
improvements at Mulberry Parade outlined above to enhance the environment f or residents and
local families using the parade and boost footfall will be funded from the approved 2023/24 Town
Centre and Shopping Parade Initiatives capital budget.
Legal
The Council has powers , in its capacity as the freeholder of Mulberry Parade, to improve it. In
addition, pursuant to the Council’s leases to tenants of premises along the parade, it may also
have certain obligations in relation to upkeep. W orks carried out must not be contrary to any
restrictions in the deeds, title register, and leases with tenants.
There are a number of legal provisions that specifically empower or require the Council to carry
out the types of improvements proposed for Mulberry Parade in this report. For example:
Paving, re-surfacing, maintaining kerbs, and installing new footway:
Mulberry Parade is a publicly maintainable highway, therefore the Council has a duty to
maintain the fabric of it pursuant to Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980. Pursuant to
Section 62 of the Highways Act 1980, the Council also has a general power of improvement
in relation to Mulberry Parade as a highway ; this power extends to improvements not
otherwise covered in Part 5 of the Highways Act 1980.
Street lighting upgrades:
Section 97 empowers the Council to provide lighting on Mulberry Parade as a highway.
Upgrading street furniture such as bins:
Section 89 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 imposes on the Council a duty t o
ensure that the land and highways under its control are, so far as is practicably possible,
kept clear of litter and refuse.
Installing a new zebra crossing:
Section 23 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 empowers the Council to establish
crossings for pedestrians on roads for which it is the traffic authority subject to carrying out
the consultation prescribed and subject to the crossing meeting any regulations created
under Section 23.
‘Stop and Shop’ car parking scheme:
Part 3 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 provides the Council with various powers
in relation to providing and charging for car parking spaces subject to any regulations made
under the Act, such regulations being capable of imposing a statutory consultation duty .
Variation to charging schemes requires public notice.
Planting:
Capital Release Report – 4 October 2023 Page 6
Part 1 Public
Section 96 of the Highways Act 1980 empowers the Council to plant trees and shrubs and
lay out grass verges in Mulberry Parade provided that the plants do not hinder the
reasonable use of the highway or cause nuisance or injury to owners and occupiers of
adjacent land.
With regards to the mural on the Parade, this can be erected on property belonging to the Council.
The mural is likely to constitute ‘development’ for the purposes of the Town and Country Planning
Act 1990. If the mural is to be painting work on the exterior of a building, there may be scope for
it to be considered a permitted development within Class C of Part 2 of Schedule 2 to the General
Permitted Development Order 2015 unless the mural serves advertisement, announcement or
direction purposes. It would be prudent to seek planning permission if the mural does not fall
within this permitted class. The report highlights the intention to seek planning permission in any
event. The terms of any granted permission must be complied with.
Any consultations carried out for the proposed improvements must meet any statutory rules for
the consultation and must be fair and adequate in order to fulfil the lawful standard.
Provided that the improvements to Mulberry Parade comply with the above -cited rules and
regulations, there are no legal impediments to authorising the capital release sought by this report.
Any contract that is entered into, or existing term contract used, as part of the improvements
programme must comply with the Council’s Procurement and Contract Standing Orders.
Infrastructure / Asset Management
Not applicable.
Planning
The project expenditure in this report is ineligible for financing from planning obligations, i.e.
balances received from Section 106 agreements.
The reason for ineligibility is because the project does not fit the criteria of any S106 agreements
with existing unallocated balances.
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
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.
Capital Release Report – 4 October 2023 Page 7
Part 1 Public
BACKGROUND PAPERS
NIL.
Capital Release Report – 4 October 2023 Page 8
Part 1 Public
APPENDIX A
Town Centre & Shopping Parades Initiative 2023-24:
Capital Release 2
Location
Project /
Expenditure
Title
Information
Funds
Release
Sought
£000s
Approve Hold
More
Information
Required
West
Drayton
Mulberry
Parade,
West
Drayton
Public realm
improvements 405
Total seeking release 405
Previously released 654
Budget 1,709
Remaining budget 650
Capital Release Report – 4 October 2023 Page 1
Part 1 Public
Capital Release Report – 4 October 2023 Page 2
Part 1 Public
Current street view
View Decision / Minutes Text
Executive Decision Notice – 12 October 2023 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 (October 2023)
DEPARTMENT: PLACE DIRECTORATE
SERVICE AREA / PROGRAMME: Town Centre & Shopping
Parades Initiative 2023-25
RELEASE NO: 2
Reference No. 920
Date of decision Thursday 12 October 2023
Call-in expiry date Thursday 19 October 2023
Relevant Select
Committee
Residents’ Services Select Committee
Relevant Wards West Drayton
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 Financ e and the Cabinet Member for
Residents’ Services agreed to the project and the capital release
request of £405k from the Town Centre & Shopping Parades Initiative
programme budget for the funding of the public realm improvements
at Mulberry Parade.
Reason for
decision
The proposed landscaping enhancements with extensive low-level planting
and a new tree will not only be aesthetically pleasing but will also contribute
towards air quality and improved health benefits for people who live, work
and shop along this section of Mulberry Parade.
The project will be furthering the Council’s vision to become the greenest
London Borough, to protect and enhance the environment, and to provide a
brighter prospect for future generations.
Alternative
options
considered
and rejected
The Cabinet Member s could have decided not to accept the
recommendation. This would have meant that the proposed works could not
go ahead as planned and the regeneration of Mulberry Parade would not be
achieved.
Classification Part I
Executive Decision Notice – 12 October 2023 Page 2
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk
Link to
associated
report
Link to report here
Relevant
Officer
contact &
Directorate
Catherine Flew – 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:
This decision comes into effect at 5pm on Thursday 19
October 2023.
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,
Executive Decision Notice – 12 October 2023 Page 3
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk
Group Secretariats and the Public. Copies are also placed on
the Council’s website.
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