Decision of:

Executive Councillor for Public Places: Councillor Andrea Reiner

Reference:

13/URGENCY/ENV/7

Date of decision:              

31/12/13

Recorded on:

31/12/13

Decision Type: 

Non Key

Matter for Decision:

The Executive Councillor is recommended to:

       i.          Withdraw £50,000 of public art contributions from each of the budgets for the delivery of splash pads at Abbey, Coleridge and Kings Hedges, and reduce the capital plan allocations accordingly.

     ii.          Reassign the withdrawn public art contributions (£150,000 in total) to the relevant area and city-wide funds for future public art projects.

   iii.          Note the re-profiling of developer contributions across the three splash pad projects within the remaining £350,000 overall agreed budget.

Why the decision had to be made (and any alternative options):

The delivery of three approved splash pad projects (inter-active water play zones) at Abbey, Coleridge and King’s Hedges paddling pools, funded from developer contributions, is being taken forward. The new splash pads are due to open, along with the other outdoor paddling pools around the city, for the Bank Holiday in late May 2014.

The reason for this report is to notify the Executive Councillor that it has not proved possible (as previously envisaged) to incorporate public art into the splash pad projects because this has not been reflected sufficiently in the proposed designs submitted by prospective contractors. To make sure that public art funding from S106 agreements is used appropriately, officers need to recommend that the projects proceed without the use of public art contributions: this funding can be allocated to other future public art projects in due course and this does not raise any particular expiry date issues. The splash pads will still provide improved and attractive facilities likely to be popular with children & families from across the city.

The Executive Councillor’s decision(s):

The Executive Councillor is agreed to:

       i.          Withdraw £50,000 of public art contributions from each of the budgets for the delivery of splash pads at Abbey, Coleridge and Kings Hedges, and reduce the capital plan allocations accordingly.

     ii.          Reassign the withdrawn public art contributions (£150,000 in total) to the relevant area and city-wide funds for future public art projects.

   iii.          Note the re-profiling of developer contributions across the three splash pad projects within the remaining £350,000 overall agreed budget.

Reasons for the decision:

As set out in the Officers Report.

Scrutiny consideration:

The Executive Councillor and Spokesperson were consulted prior to the decision being made.

Report:

See attached memo.   

Conflicts of interest:

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive

Councillor.

Comments:

None.