Issue - items at meetings - The Level – Heritage Lottery Bid and Master Plan

Report of the Strategic Director, Place (copy circulated separately).

(1)         That the Cabinet Member for Environment & Sustainability endorses the Masterplan for The Level and notes the extensive consultation undertaken.

(2)         That the Cabinet Member for Environment & Sustainability endorses the match funding requirements for the HLF bid from existing budgets to a maximum value of £200,000. 

(3)         That the Cabinet Member for Environment & Sustainability endorses the allocation of funding for the skatepark from existing budgets to a maximum of £53,000.

(4)         That the Cabinet Member for Environment & Sustainability delegates authority to the Strategic Director, Place to oversee the completion of the final details of the bid, in consultation with the Cabinet Member, ready for submission by 31^st August 2011.

(5)         That the Cabinet Member for Environment & Sustainability agrees that, in the event of the bid being unsuccessful, the Masterplan be used to inform the long term development of the park, and notes that delivery would be dependent on funding.

11.1         The Cabinet Member for Environment & Sustainability considered a report of the Strategic Director, Place concerning the Heritage Lottery Bid and Masterplan for The Level, which would steer improvements to the park and any longer term development.

11.2         Councillor West advised that The Level was a very popular park, but that it was in bad condition, suffered from anti-social behaviour, and was in desperate need of investment. A funding bid was being prepared for submission to the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund ‘Parks for People’ grant to try to obtain investment to make significant physical improvements, as well as increasing use, and improving management and maintenance of the park. Proposals had also been developed to replace the existing skate park,  and funding for this was being pursued separately.

Two extensive consultation exercises had taken place, with ward councillors taking on a key community leadership role to ensure the transparency and integrity of the process, and the final consultation document had been delivered to 28,000 households within a 15 minute walk of the Level. Responses were received from 3,300 respondents, representing an excellent level of feedback, with 34% preferring to keep the skate park in its current location, and 55% preferring to move it to the north. Popular features were a café with indoor seating, water fountains, a sensory garden and new toilets, as well as the prospect of events, markets and arts in the park.

Councillor West recognised that many people were concerned about the prospect of extending the built environment into the area north of the Rose Walk and stated that his own preference was the option with the skate park in its current location. However, he believed that the process had been thorough, fair, and engaging, and that everyone had been afforded a good opportunity to express their views and shape the outcomes, and therefore, it was recommended that the design with the skate park relocated to the northern area be submitted.

Councillor West paid tribute to the diligence and flexibility of officers and designers, and to the time, effort and interest invested by many members of the public. He stated that he hoped that, despite individual reservations and preferences, all members of public, community groups and civic associations would join together to show support for the bid in order to secure the much needed bright new future for the Level and the thousands of people it should be better serving.

11.3         Councillor Theobald welcomed the extensive nature of the consultation and stated that differing views were to be expected.

11.4         In response to questions from opposition councillors the Head of Strategy & Projects for CityClean and City Parks made the following comments:

§         there were no covenants over the green area in the north of The Level

§         Both the council’s Events Manager and the manager of the fair that visited to The Level had been consulted and neither were concerned that the Masterplan would have a negative impact on events. He noted that respondents to the consultation were keen to see more events at The Level.

§         The detailed view showing the skate park in the northern sectionof The Level was circulated as part of the original consultation document that was sent to 28,000 people.

§         The report was seeking approval of the Masterplan; more detailed design on some elements had not been worked out yet, but would be done with the involvement of local community groups.

11.5         Councillor Janio queried whether the final detail of the scheme would be brought back to a future Cabinet Members Meeting or whether, if approved, the Masterplan as it stood would be submitted as part of the bid.

11.6         Councillor West confirmed that the bid had to be submitted in August and as such, there would no further opportunity to consider the Masterplan at a Cabinet Members Meeting. However, he had requested that the recommendations in the report be amended to require the Strategic Director, Place to work closely with him to develop the final details of the bid so that he could ensure that the many good ideas that had come out of the public engagement exercise continued to be incorporated. He explained that a decision on the location of the skate park was required for the submission of the bid, but that as it was to be funded separately from the rest of the scheme, the final design would be worked up later.

11.7         The Head of City Infrastructure explained that the Masterplan contained a lot of detail and that this was required to submit the bid, a long with the location of the skate park. Details such as fencing and planting would not ordinarily be brought back for formal decision, however, officers would be working closely with the Cabinet Member and community groups on those details.

11.8         Councillor Mitchell stated that the Masterplan and bid presented an exciting opportunity and that the polarisation of views should not completely distract from the positives, such as the possibility of significant investment and how well the concept fitted with the historical setting.

She advised, however, that she understood why consulting on two options had confused some residents and that they still did not have a clear idea of what the skate park would look like. She stated that her preference was to redevelop the skate park in its current location to prevent setting a precedent for encroaching on the green space in the northern part of The Level, which was used primarily by those looking to relax in the park; moving the skate park would encourage people to stay away from the northern area and would create another barrier within the park, which was intended to be an open space.

She noted that the Cabinet Member’s own preference was to keep the skate park in its current location and stated that agreeing for it to be moved did not demonstrate good leadership.

11.9         Councillor Theobald advised that he agreed with Councillor Mitchell’s comments.

11.10    Councillor West stated that he had not taken the decision to go against his own preference for the location of the skate park lightly, but that it would be wrong to disregard the views of the majority in an extensive and thorough consultation process.

11.11    RESOLVED - That, having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet accepted the following recommendations:

(1)         That the Masterplan for The Level be endorsed and the extensive consultation undertaken be noted.

(2)         That the match funding requirements for the HLF bid from existing budgets to a maximum value of £200,000 be endorsed. 

(3)         That the allocation of funding for the skatepark from existing budgets to a maximum of £53,000 be endorsed.

(4)         That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director, Place to oversee the completion of the final details of the bid, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment & Sustainability,  ready for submission by 31^st August 2011.

(5)         That it be agreed that, in the event of the bid being unsuccessful, the Masterplan be used to inform the long term development of the park, and that it be noted that delivery would be dependent on funding.