The Coalville Special Expenses Working Party was scheduled to consider an update on capital projects for the 2026/27 financial year. This included a review of various planned works across parks, recreation grounds, cemeteries, and play areas within the Coalville Special Expenses area. The working party was also scheduled to consider a recommendation regarding the provision of litter bins at Western Avenue Recreation Ground.

Capital Projects Update 2026/27

The report pack indicated that the Leisure and Communities Team Manager, Jason Knight, was scheduled to present an update on capital projects for the 2026/27 financial year. The report detailed planned works for various Coalville Special Expenses assets, including:

• Coalville Park Public Toilets: Scheduled for external painting at a cost of £3,000.
• Greenhill Recreation Ground Pavilion: Scheduled for graffiti removal at a cost of £1,816.
• London Road Cemetery Tree Works: Scheduled for winter 2026/27 at a cost of £1,080.
• Broom Leys Cemetery Tree Works: Scheduled for winter 2026/27 at a cost of £1,990.
• Broom Leys Cemetery Path Sealing: Scheduled for completion before the end of March 2027, with a budget of £4,600 for the 2026/27 financial year, and a carried forward amount of £13,105. This work was subject to contractor procurement due to its specialist nature.
• Play Area Painting: Scheduled for completion before the end of March 2027, with a budget of £5,400.
• Play Area Works: Scheduled for completion before the end of March 2027, with a significant budget of £73,710. This included replacement equipment at Adam Morris Way (£10,030), Sunningdale (£11,470), The Oval (£23,650), and Western Avenue (£10,560), as well as fencing works at Western Avenue (£15,000) and a safer surface at Sunningdale (£3,000).

The report also mentioned the Coalville in Bloom initiative, with flower towers and hanging baskets scheduled for removal at the end of September 2026. Plans for Coalville in Bloom 2027 were scheduled to be developed in conjunction with the Chair of the Working Party.

Regarding Scotlands Recreation Ground, the report indicated that Severn Trent works involving boreholes were underway to determine the location for an underground tank, with no current impact on the recreation ground. Work had also been undertaken on the changing pavilion to make it accessible for the current football season, and options for refurbishment or replacement using section 106 funding were being assessed.

Litter Bins at Western Avenue Recreation Ground

A key item scheduled for consideration was the provision of litter bins at Western Avenue Recreation Ground. The report pack stated that while bins could be provided using section 106 funding, the ongoing cost of emptying them would need to be met by the Coalville Special Expenses budget. The estimated annual cost for emptying bins twice weekly was between £416 for one bin and £1,477 for two bins. The Working Party was scheduled to consider whether to make a recommendation to Cabinet to fund this service.

Play Area Improvement Fund

The report pack also noted that Cabinet had approved an allocation of £1 million to improve play areas across the district. Details of the allocation were still being determined, but it was anticipated that some funding would be directed towards play areas managed directly by the Council, including those within the Coalville Special Expenses area. Officers were scheduled to liaise with the Chair of the Working Party regarding potential improvements before recommendations were made to Cabinet.

The report pack also included the minutes of the previous meeting held on 18 August 2026, which were scheduled for confirmation. The previous minutes indicated discussions regarding the need for bins at Western Avenue play area and a wider review of the area. They also referenced a discussion about planned expenditure relating to Western Avenue Recreation Ground and a query about the decrease in burials at Broom Leys Cemetery. The report pack also contained details of the Coalville Special Expenses - 26/27 Asset Protection Budgets & Previous Years C/FWDS.