Hillingdon Council Cabinet Member and Officer Decisions
Housing Revenue Account Works to Stock Programme 2022/23: Playground Refurbishment Workstream – Coteford Close and Gilbert Road Children’s Playground Safety Compliance Works. Release No 29
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Democratic Services
Location: Phase II
Ext: 0833
DDI: 01895 250833
CMD No: 991
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. Jamie Bell – Place Directorate
c.c. Perry Scott – Corporate Director of Place
c.c. All Ward Councillors for Harefield Village and
Eastcote
Date: 12 December 2023
Non-Key Decision request Form D
CAPITAL RELEASE REPORT (April 2023)
DEPARTMENT: Place
SERVICE AREA / PROGRAMME: Green Spaces – Housing Revenue Account Works to Stock 2023/24
Programme: Playground Refurbishment Workstream: Coteford Close and Gilbert Road Children’s
Playground refurbishment work
RELEASE NO: 29
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 Wednesday 20 December 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.
Rebecca Reid
Democratic Services Apprentice
Title of Report: CAPITAL RELEASE REPORT (April 2023)
DEPARTMENT: Place
SERVICE AREA / PROGRAMME: Green Spaces – Housing Revenue Account Works to Stock 2023/24
Programme: Playground Refurbishment Workstream: Coteford Close and Gilbert Road Children’s
Playground refurbishment work
RELEASE NO: 29
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 12 December 2023
Part I – Public
CAPITAL RELEASE REPORT (April 2023)
DEPARTMENT: Place
SERVICE AREA / PROGRAMME: Green Spaces – Housing Revenue Account Works to
Stock 2023/24 Programme: Playground Refurbishment Workstream: Coteford Close and
Gilbert Road Children’s Playground refurbishment work
RELEASE NO: 29
Cabinet Members Councillor Martin Goddard
Councillor Eddie Lavery
Cabinet Portfolios Cabinet Member for Finance
Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services
Officer Contact Jamie Bell – Place Directorate
Papers with report Appendix A – Capital release requests for approval
HEADLINES
Summary
To seek Cabinet Member approval for the release of capital funds
to carry out refurbishment works to Coteford Close and Gilbert Road
Playgrounds. The Current playgrounds are now beyond economical
repair; many pieces of equipment no longer meet safety standards
and require replacing.
Putting our
Residents First
This report supports our ambition for residents / the Council of:
Enjoy access to green spaces, leisure activities, culture, and arts.
This report supports our commitments to residents of:
A Green and Sustainable Borough.
Financial Cost This report seeks the release of £101k from the Playground
Refurbishment Workstream within the Housing Revenue Account
Works to Stock Programme 2023 /24 capital budget for the
Refurbishment works to Coteford Close and Gilbert Road children’s
playgrounds. The works will commence upon release of the funds
and are due for completion by April 2024.
Relevant Select
Committee
Residents’ Services Select Committee.
Ward(s) affected Harefield Village and Eastcote.
Capital Release Report 12 December 2023
Part I – Public
RECOMMENDATION
That the Cabinet Member for Financ e and the Cabinet Member for Resident s’ Services
agree to the following capital release requests of £101k from the Playground
Refurbishment Workstream within the Housing Revenue Account Works to Stock
Programme 2023/24 capital budget for the Refurbishment of Coteford Close and Gilbert
Road Childrens Playgrounds. (Appendix A)
Reasons for recommendation
The refurbishment of th ese playgrounds is necessary due to it now reaching the end of its
economic life. This has been identified by the safety inspections undertaken by RoSPA qualified
Inspectors and engineers from our insurance company Zurich. This approach is supported by
local residents and families using the site. This has also been identified by Ward Councillors who
have submitted a Members Enquiry relating to their condition.
This funding release is part of the Council’s Playground refurbishment programme approved by
Cabinet in November 2022 with a contract award to Kompan Ltd for the provision of the design,
replacement, and installation of playground equipment over a 4- year period. The programme
approved by Cabinet included these two playground sites.
Alternative options considered
The Cabinet Members could decide not to accept the recommendations. This would mean that
the refurbishment of these playgrounds would not be undertaken, risking th e playgrounds being
closed due to them not meeting compliance and no longer being in a safe condition.
Select Committee comments
None at this stage.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
The Report is seeking the release of funds to remove existing equipment, surfacing, and fencing
and replace with new at Coteford Close, Northwood and Gilbert Road, Harefield to comply with
Safety Standards. This work will be carried out by the Council’s approved contracted supplier,
Kompan, who were recently awarded the tender for playground refurbishments across all Parks
and Housing Playgrounds, within the Borough.
Table 1: Cost Plan Coteford Close Playground Refurbishment Works
Project / Programme Cost plan Amount £
Works 44,000
Internal fees 10% 4,400
Total 48,400
Capital Release Report 12 December 2023
Part I – Public
Table 2: Cost Plan Gilbert Road Playground Refurbishment Works.
Project / Programme Cost plan Amount £
Works 48,000
Internal fees 10% 4,800
Total 52,800
Financial Implications
Budget £270k, Previously Released / Pending Release £148k , Capital Release Requested
£101k.
The 2023/24 HRA Capital Programme, approved by Cabinet and Council in February 202 3,
includes a capital budget for the Works to Stock programme of £22,437k. Within this, the
Playground Refurbishment workstream budget is £270k.
Previously £148k has been released from the HRA Playground Refurbishment workstream for
the refurbishment of Albion Road and St Peters Road Childrens Playgrounds.
This report is seeking the release of £101k for the refurbishment of Coteford Close and Gilbert
Road Childrens Playgrounds. The release request is based on the quoted costs received from
the Council’s approved contracted supplier, Kompan , who carry out all Playground
Refurbishments across the green spaces within the Borough and includes internal fees of 10% of
the quoted costs.
The remaining £21k for the Playground Refurbishment workstream will be subject to the capital
release procedure.
RESIDENT BENEFIT & CONSULTATION
The benefit or impact upon residents, service users and communities
The Council and its partners are committed to making the Borough a cleaner, greener, and safer
environment. The recommendations within this report will ensure that the identified works to this
playground can progress to create a safer and fun play experience for local children as well as a
meeting/social space for parents and carers of young children to enjoy.
Consultation carried out or required
None.
Capital Release Report 12 December 2023
Part I – 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 £101k for the refurbishment of
Coteford Close and Gilbert Road Childrens Playgrounds will be funded from the approved
2023/24 HRA Works to Stock Playground Refurbishment capital budget.
.
Legal
Legal Services confirm that the Council is responsible for carrying out this 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 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
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.
TITLE OF APPENDICES
Appendix A – Capital release requests for approval
Capital Release Report 12 December 2023
Part I – Public
APPENDIX A – Capital release requests for approval
Housing Revenue Account Works to Stock Programme 2023/24: Playground
Refurbishment workstream – Coteford Close and Gilbert Road Children’s Playground
Refurbishments Works. Release No29
Location
Project /
Expenditure
Title
Information
Funds
Release
Sought
£000’s
Approve Hold
More
Information
Required
Coteford
Close
(Eastcote)
and Gilbert
Road
(Harefield
Village)
Children’s
Playground’s
Refurbishment
Works
Refurbishment of
Both Playgrounds
as they are now
beyond
economical repair
101
Total seeking release 101
Previously released 148
Budget 270
Remaining budget 21
View Decision / Minutes Text
Executive Decision Notice – 17 January 2024 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 (April 2023)
DEPARTMENT: Place
SERVICE AREA / PROGRAMME: Green Spaces – Housing
Revenue Account Works to Stock 2023/24 Programme:
Playground Refurbishment Workstream: Coteford Close
and Gilbert Road Children’s Playground refurbishment
work
RELEASE NO: 29
Reference No. 991
Date of decision Wednesday 17 January 2024
Call-in expiry date Wednesday 24 January 2024
Relevant Select
Committee
Residents’ Services Select Committee
Relevant Wards Harefield Village and Eastcote
Decision made
Cabinet Members
making the decision
Councillor Martin Goddard – Cabinet Member for Finance
Councillor Eddie Lavery – Cabinet Member for Residents’
Services
Decision Approved
That the Cabinet Member for Finance and the Cabinet
Member for Residents’ Services agreed to the following
capital release requests of £101k from the Playground
Refurbishment Workstream within the Housing Revenue
Account Works to Stock Programme 2023/24 capital budget
for the Refurbishment of Coteford Close and Gilbert Road
Childrens Playgrounds (Appendix A).
Reason for decision The refurbishment of these playgrounds is necessary due to it
now reaching the end of its economic life. This has been
identified by the safety inspections undertaken by RoSPA
qualified Inspectors and engineers from our insurance company
Zurich. This appro
ach is supported by local residents and
families using the site. This has also been identified by Ward
Councillors who have submitted a Members Enquiry relating to
their condition.
This funding release is part of the Council’s Playground
refurbishment programme approved by Cabinet in November
2022 with a contract award to Kompan Ltd for the provision of
the design, replacement, and installation of playground
Executive Decision Notice – 17 January 2024 Page 2
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk
equipment over a 4 -year period. The programme approved by
Cabinet included these two playground sites.
Alternative options
considered and
rejected
The Cabinet Members could decide not to accept the
recommendations. This would mean that the refurbishment of
these playgrounds would not be undertaken, risking the
playgrounds being closed due to them not meeting compliance
and no longer being in a safe condition.
Classification Part I – Public
Link to associated
report
Report Link
Relevant Officer
contact & Directorate
Jamie Bell – 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 on Wednesday 24 January 2024
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.
Executive Decision Notice – 17 January 2024 Page 3
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.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.
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