Agenda and minutes

Councillor Thulani Molife is appointed Vice-Chair.

None

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Last meeting held on 28 March 2014 (for confirmation)

Subject to including Councillor Carole Jones as in attendance, the minutes of the last meeting held on 28 March 2014 are confirmed and signed by the Chair.

Report of Deputy Chief Executive, Corporate Director and Chief Finance Officer

Barry Dryden, Senior Finance Manager, presented the report which reviews the Bridge Estate’s current and future banking arrangements in the light of the City Council’s decision to change bankers and the increased risk to cash deposited within the Co-op Bank.

The committee’s questions were responded to as follows:

(a)  Weekends and bank holiday are high risk periods in banking as this is usually when announcements made by banks;

(b)  the transfer of Bridge Estate funds can be completed by the end of June 2014;

(c)  historically Bridge Estate funds were held within the Nottingham City Council account and benefited from the banking terms available to the City Council, but it is now more appropriate for the Bridge Estate to operate it’s own independent bank account and bring the charity into line with Charity Commission guidelines.

RESOLVED

(1)  to confirm the short-term arrangements for transferring cash balances to a Lloyds Bank account over weekends and bank holidays;

(2)  to approve that the Bridge Estate transfer its banking facility to Lloyds Bank.

Report of Director of Strategic Asset and Property Management

Richard Cox, Senior Surveyor, presented the report and highlighted that as of 2014, the Bridge Estate has an asset value of £28 million but it is difficult to compare this value to last years as there have been acquisitions and disposals.

The report updated to the committee on the following sites:

·  Glaisdale Drive industrial estate;

·  Woolsthorpe Close Depot;

·  former depot at 140 Vernon Road;

·  14 - 16 Wheeler Gate;

·  Whitemoor Court;

·  Castle Bridge Office Village;

·  49 Hungerhill Road.

The committee’s questions were responded to as follows;

(a)  while land belonging to the High School was required to widen the ring road, there would be no impact on the former depot site on Vernon Road;

(b)  the rating use for the Wheeler Gate property has been expanded to A2 use to make it more attractive to a broader potential market.

RESOLVED to note the report.

Eddy Curry, Head of Parks and Open Spaces, presented a report which sought the approval for partnership arrangements between the University of Nottingham, Beeston Hockey Club and the Highfields Park Leisure Trust, to provide an international standard water-based hockey pitch on the Highfields site including creating a 99 year lease.

It is noted that the Beeston Hockey Club is very successfully internationally and this development will result in the Highfields Park becoming the best facility in the country and better able to host national and international hockey events.

The partnership arrangements apply purely for the provision of the pitch as the Beeston Hockey Club and the University will be responsible for its maintenance.

Completion of this project will fulfil the Highfields Trust objectives with 70% of pitch time available for Beeston Hockey Club to develop and provide a wide range of community outreach/coaching programs with schools and community groups.

In the remote possibility that the Hockey Club goes into administration, the land will revert to the Highfields Trust. There are no long-term risks in the management of the facility.

The questions of the committee were responded to as follows:

(a)  Beeston Hockey Club will be responsible for administration of the site, including community bookings;

(b)  the University of Nottingham is contributing £1 million to the cost of this project;

(c)  the current annual rents for the sports site is currently between and £12 - 15,000 but is under review as the moment. If agreed, the single pitch site will command a rent of £2-5,000 per year but this is yet to be confirmed;

(d)  Beeston Hockey Club is very inclusive and as part of its user agreement,  it must engage City residents;

(e)  this is one of the most productive spaces for users in the City and also includes football, lacrosse and baseball pitches. In addition, there are four football pitches which are currently being used by Notts County football club, but it is due to relocate soon and these pitches will revert to community use;

(f)  the Lawn Tennis Association will be approached to part fund transforming a football pitch into tennis grass courts;

(g)  the Wilford Bowman generally use the walled garden at Wollaton Hall and only use Highfields Park for specific events. However the European Archery Championship heats in 2016 are to be held at Highfields with promotional events in Market Square.

RESOLVED

(1)  to approve the partnership with the University of Nottingham (UoN) and the creation of the New Water Based Hockey Pitch as detailed in the report;

(2)  to approve the principal of the creation of a 99 year lease to the UoN, subject to the acquisition of any necessary planning consent or consent of other regulatory bodies;

(3)  to approve and delegate authority to the Director of Sport, Culture and Parks, to continue the preparation of the detailed community use agreements;

(4)  to approve delegate authority to the Director of Sport, Culture and Parks, in conjunction with the Director of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Eddy Curry, Head of Parks and Open Spaces, presented a report which updated the Committee on the integrated landscape and park plan which is the subject of a Heritage lottery bid.

(a)  approximately 12,000 m2 of silt are to be removed from the lake and  treated before used elsewhere in the park. The most sustainable option to deal with the silt is to build a gentle mound beside the play park and use the remainder of it on site as much as possible;

(b)  new signage is to be created throughout the park in a 1930s type face with City Council branding;

(c)  consideration will be given to rebuilding the boathouse which will then be used for lifeguards;

(d)  it is planned that the main entrance to the park, including railings to the lake,  balustrades and bridges will be restored;

(e)  there will be a new entrance created at the tram stop;

(f)  there is a holistic tree management program which will result in some trees being removed and some new planting to ensure the historic views in the park are re-established;

(g)  the Rhododendron Walk will be restored with species mapped and specialist advice on how to progress, including training of site gardeners;

(h)  a new park ranger and head gardener posts are to be established specifically for the park;

(i)  training and development will be built into the procurement framework and will include opportunities for young people to train;

(j)  funds are not available to replace the paddling pool, so the space will be used to encourage bio-diversity in an area where the park ranger can work with children;

(k)  at a cost of £120,000 it is not yet possible to restore the Maid Marion boat, but restoring it remains an aspiration for a future programme;

(l)  the bluebell wood on the steep embankment will have some trees removed and consideration given to incorporating bulb planting;

(m)  there is a statutory duty to have regard to wildlife during all the works so nothing will happen during the nesting season and biodiversity is a top priority.

Some Councillors requested that a replacement paddling pool be considered in future plans and indicated that a contribution to funding may be available for individual Ward Councillor Budgets.

The committee welcomed the report and the extensive work of the parks and open spaces team to improve the park of its facilities, noting that the new tram line will also attract further use.

RESOLVED

(1)  to approve the Highfield Park Landscape Restoration Project, including the maintenance and management plan, activity plan and stage 2 of the bid as detailed in the report;

(2)  to delegate authority to the Director of Sport Culture And Parks, to continue the preparation and submission of the stage 2 bid in August 2014 on behalf the Highfields Leisure Trust;

(3)  that subject to the receipt of the stage 2 pass from the Heritage Lottery Fund - Parks for People Restoration and Improvement projects stage to application, to approve  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To consider meeting on the following Fridays at 2pm, aligning where possible with Audit Committee:

2014        2015

25 July*      27 February*

5 September    24 April*

28 November

* aligned with Audit Committee dates

(Note: meetings in 2015 originally scheduled on 30 January and 28 March)

RESOLVED to meet on the following Fridays at 2pm, aligning where possible with Audit Committee:

2014  2015

25 July  27 February

5 September    24 April

28 November