Agenda item

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces regarding the proposed plans for the West Ham Park Playground Refurbishment. The Director of Open Spaces explained that, further to advice received from the Chamberlain, the potential total estimated costs of the project had increased to £1,234,775 which represented a shortfall cost of £773,200. Further to this it was highlighted that the different options listed within the report had different funding implications on the amount required to be sourced outside of the City of London Corporation.

A Member noted that they were thankful for the work by Officers to bring the report to Committee but suggested it would be helpful to view the project plans in a colour printed copy or projected on a screen. The Director of Open Spaces agreed with this point and apologised for the oversight.

It was questioned by a Member of the Committee if the proposed improvements to the toilets at West Ham Park would have an impact on the refurbishment of the playground and consequently effect the cost of the project. The Director of Open Spaces replied by explaining that the City Surveyor had allocated differing amounts within the proposed plans for the toilet improvements but that these had all been accounted for. A Member queried the reasoning for the legal implications of the project being considered a high risk. The Director of Open Spaces clarified the reason why the legal implications were considered a high risk was that, while it was not expected to be rejected, the playground refurbishment was subject to planning approval by the London Borough of Newham.

A Member asked whether any consideration had been given within the procurement methodology to reusing existing playground equipment within the refurbished playground and natural play. Further to this point the Member suggested the use of tree trunks converted to playground equipment by local people. The Chairman commented that the use of natural play equipment may have implications on health and safety issues for the playground. The Director of Open Spaces explained that six pieces of equipment, which were in good condition, had been reused within the plans for the refurbished playground. In addition, it was clarified that natural play features, such as logs and boulders, were included in the equipment list for the new playground.

A Member raised concerns on the allocation of space within the designs, in ‘Option 3’, for children of different ages to play without causing conflict and overcrowding. The Director of Open Spaces clarified while some space segmentation for different ages was incorporated in the playground design it was also important to allow children to play together. It was also highlighted that the designs had speed reduction mechanisms in place which mitigated overcrowding issue.

RESOLVED-That: - 

1. It is agreed that Play Option 3 (Enlarging the footprint of the playground) with Water Play Option A (installing a new water play facility with hand operated water fountains) is progressed at a total estimated cost of £1234,775 (noting risk against the project); and
2. Members noted that progression of this scheme is subject to the identification of external funding of up to £350,000 and a request to the Resource Allocation Sub and Policy and Resources Committees for an allocation of funding to meet the remaining shortfall estimated at £773,200 from the 2018/19 City’s Cash provision for new schemes; and
3. That a budget of £50,500 for fees and staff costs to reach the next gateway, funded via a further allocation of £10,775 from local risk, along with the reallocation of unspent funds of £39,725 from Gateway 2 to enable the project to reach the next gateway is approved; and
4. The new project budget of £65,775 is noted.