Hillingdon Council Cabinet Member and Officer Decisions
Environmental & Recreational Initiatives: Spider Park / Bridgwater Open Space River & Wetland Enhancement Project
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Democratic Services
Location: Phase II
Ext: 0636
DDI: 01895 250636
CMD No:1032
To: COUNCILLOR MARTIN GODDARD
CABINET MEMBER FOR FINANCE
COUNCILLOR EDDIE LAVERY
CABINET MEMBER FOR RESIDENTS’ SERVICES
c.c. All M embers of th e Residents’ Services Select
Committee
c.c. Dragana Knezevic - Place Directorate
c.c. Ward Councillors for South Ruislip
Date: 09 February 2024
Non-Key Decision request Form D
CAPITAL RELEASE REPORT
DEPARTMENT: Resident Services
SERVICE AREA / PROGRAMME: Environmental & Recreational Initiatives: Spider Park
/ Bridgwater Open Space River & Wetland Enhancement Scheme
Dear
Cabinet Member,
At
tached 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 February 2024 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.
Am
y Helps
Senior Technical Support Officer
Title of Report: CAPITAL RELEASE REPORT
DEPARTMENT: Resident Services
SERVICE AREA / PROGRAMME: E nvironmental & R ecreational Initiatives: Spider Park /
Bridgwater Open Space River & Wetland Enhancement Scheme
Decision made:
Reasons for your decision: (e.g. as stated in report)
Alternatives considered and rejected: (e.g. as stated in report)
Si
gned ……………………………………………………… Date…………………….
Cabi
net Member for Finance / Cabinet Member for Residents’ Sercvices
Ca
pital Release Report – 09 February 2024 Page 1
Part I - Public
CAPITAL RELEASE REPORT
DEPARTMENT: Resident Services
SERVICE AREA / PROGRAMME: Environmental & Recreational Initiatives: Spider Park /
Bridgwater Open Space River & Wetland Enhancement Scheme
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 £ 159K funds towards Spider Park/Bridgwater
open space river enhancement project
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 £ 159K for Bridgwater open space
river enhancement project, £100K funded by Crane Valley Grant
and £59K funded by HS2 The Community and Environment Fund.
Relevant Select
Committee
Residents’ Services
Relevant Ward(s) South Ruislip
RECOMMENDATION
T
hat the Cabinet Member for Finance and the Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services
approve the capital release request of £159K for Bridgwater Open Space, river
enhancement scheme, £100K funded by Crane Valley Grant and £59K funded by HS2
Community and Environment Fund (Appendix A).
R
easons for recommendation
Lon
don Borough of Hillingdon and the Zoological Society of London are working with Smarter
Water Catchment project partners Cartographer and Metis Consultants to develop a river
enhancement project to improve the section of the Yeading Brook West that flows through Spider
Park (Bridgwater Open Space).
Y
eading Brook has unnaturally steep banks with little habitat diversity. The river enhancement
project will reprofile / recontour riverbanks to create key habitats and improve the diversity of the
environment and its species. Yeading Brook water levels respond very quickly to rainfall due to
its urban catchment. This project will contribute to reducing the peak levels and in turn, reduce
Capital Release Report – 09 February 2024 Page 2
Part I - Public
the flood risk to local residents. Proposed improvement works will increase the ability of the river
to adapt and cope with the likely impact of increased intense storms resulting from climate
change. The project will provide more space for water and slow the flow of water to the Yeading
Brook, further helping to protect people, species and habitats by making them less vulnerable to
the effects of climate change.
This project will create a tranquil spot for observing nature, such as dragonflies, butterflies and
birds and amphibians, attracted to these new and enhanced habitats.
Development of the site will attract more volunteers who want to help shape and transform their
local landscape and work with others as a community on a regular basis. This will provide not
only social wellbeing benefits but also improve nature connectedness of participants and promote
pro-nature conservation behaviours.
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 Bridgwater Open Space River Enhancement
Project.
The works will be undertaken as follows:
● Design - Specialist Contractor
● Construction - Specialist Contractor
● Project Consultation - Zoological Society of London (ZSL), a charity devoted to the worldwide
conservation of animals and their habitats
The table below provides a breakdown of the costs:
Cost Plan
Item Lead Cost
Design Specialist Contractor £18,000
Construction Specialist Contractor £120,000
Management Fees Green Spaces, LBH £14,000
Project Consultation ZSL £7,000
Total £159,000
Timeline
Capital Release Report – 09 February 2024 Page 3
Part I - Public
Financial Implications
(Bridgwater Open Space river & wetland e nhancement project Budget £159k, Previously
Released Nil, Capital Release Requested £159k) – Appendix A
In February 2024, a recommendation is being presented to Cabinet to accept two grants. The
first grant is for £100k from the Smarter Water Crane Valley Fund and the second grant is for
£59k from HS2; both grants are to be used towards the Spider Park and Bridgwater Open Space,
river and wetland enhancement scheme. No match funding is requested.
The report seeks the release of £159 k for the Spider Park and Bridgwater Open Space, river &
wetland enhancement project. The release request includes quotations from Green Spaces term
contractors and consultants and includes internal fees at 10%.
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.
Improving existing habitats in this narrow Site of Interest for Nature Conservation (SINC) section
and restoring Yeading Brook 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
Capital Release Report – 09 February 2024 Page 4
Part I - Public
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 £159K that has recently been awarded from the Smarter
Water Crane Valley Fund Grant and HS2 Grant, with no impact on Council resources, and that
grant acceptance is pending Cabinet approval in the next monthly budget monitoring report.
Legal
Legal Services confirms that the Council is responsible for carrying out this function pursuant to
section 164 of the Public Health Act 1875, section 10 of the Open Spaces Act 1906, and section
40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.
Thus, there are no legal impediments to the requested capital release being authorised, although
any contract that is entered into must comply with the Council's Procurement & 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
Capital Release Report – 09 February 2024 Page 5
Part I - Public
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
Community and Environment Fund (Appendix A).
CAPITAL RELEASE APPENDIX A
Bridgwater Open Space River Enhancement Project
Location
(Ward)
Project /
Expenditure
Title
Information
Funds
Release
Sought
£000s
Approve Hold
More
Information
Required
South
Ruislip
Spider
Park/Bridgwater
Open Space
River
Enhancement
Project
Spider
Park/Bridgwater
Open Space River
Enhancement
Project
159
Total seeking release 159
Previously released 0
Budget 159
Remaining budget 0
View Decision / Minutes Text
Executive Decision Notice – 22 February 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
DEPARTMENT: Resident Services
SERVICE AREA / PROGRAMME: Environmental &
Recreational Initiatives: Spider Park / Bridgwater Open
Space River & Wetland Enhancement Scheme
Reference No. 1032
Date of decision Thursday 22 February 2024
Call-in expiry date Thursday 29 February 2024
Relevant Select
Committee
Residents’ Services Select Committee
Relevant Wards South Ruislip Ward
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 approved the capital
release request of £159K for Bridgwater Open Space, river
enhancement scheme, £100K funded by Crane Valley Grant
and £59K funded by HS2 Community and Environment
Fund (Appendix A).
Reason for decision London Borough of Hillingdon and the Zoological Society of
London are working with Smarter Water Catchment project
partners Cartographer and Metis Consultants to develop a river
enhancement project to improve the section of the Yeading
Brook West that flow s through Spider Park (Bridgwater Open
Space).
Yeading Brook has unnaturally steep banks with little habitat
diversity. The river enhancement project will reprofile / recontour
riverbanks to create key habitats and improve the diversity of the
environment and its species. Yeading Brook water levels
respond very quickly to rainfall due to its urban catchment. This
project will contribute to reducing the peak levels and in turn,
reduce the flood risk to local residents. Proposed improvement
works will increase the ability of the river to adapt and cope with
the likely impact of increased intense storms resulting from
climate change. The project will provide more space for water
Executive Decision Notice – 22 February 2024 Page 2
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk
and slow the flow of water to the Yeading Brook, further helping
to protect people, species and habitats by making them less
vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
This project will create a tranquil spot for observing nature, such
as dragonflies, butterflies and birds and amphibians, attracted to
these new and enhanced habitats.
Development of the site will attract more volunteers who want to
help shape and transform their local landscape and work with
others as a community on a regular basis. This will provide not
only social wellbeing benefits but also improve nature
connectedness of participants and promote pro- nature
conservation behaviours.
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 I – Public
Link to associated
report
Report Link
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 on Thursday 29 February 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.
Executive Decision Notice – 22 February 2024 Page 3
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk
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.
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