Purpose

The sum of
£50,669.37 was received from Persimmon Homes on 08/12/2013 as
part of a Section 106 (developer contribution) agreement relating
to a residential development off Durranhill Road, Carlisle, for the maintenance of
off-site open space and play areas in the surrounding area. A total
of £43,050.00 remains available following some limited
expenditure in the ten years since the funds were
received.
A separate Section
106 agreement, formalised on 24/03/2024, included a payment of
£15,000 from Top Notch Contractors, relating to a residential
development off Holywell Crescent, Carlisle, for the improvement of
playgrounds in the area. A total of £2300.00 remains
available for use following completion of a project at Melbourne
Park Play Area.
An online and paper
based public consultation was held between 09/03/2022 and
31/03/2022 to determine the views of residents as to their
preferred types of play equipment and surfacing for the site. The
consultation was advertised via press release, social media posts,
email to local primary schools and on-site posters, with paper
copies available in Botcherby Community Centre. 27 responses were
received, of which 16 were online.
The Healthy City Team
used the data collected from the consultation to draw together a
specification for new play equipment and surfacing which best met
the needs of the community. This was tendered via an existing
framework agreement during April 2023.
Three tenders were
received for the project, with the highest scoring being
Kompan Scotland Ltd, for a total cost
of £44,989.00.
An additional cost of
£300.00 will be incurred for the disposal of existing play
equipment following removal by Cumberland Council
staff.
Therefore, the sum of
£43,000.00 from S106 agreement reference 11043 and
£2300.00 from S106 agreement reference 11073 requires
releasing to the capital programme for the 2023/24 financial year
to allow purchase orders to be placed with suppliers, with works to
commence in late summer 2023.

 

Reasons for the decision

To proactively utilise S106 developer
contributions to re-equip and significantly improve an existing,
well used, play area, which is reaching the ed of its serviceable
life.
 

Alternative options considered

No action – the existing play equipment
on the site would be monitored for deterioration and revenue
budgets would be utilised for ongoing repairs and maintenance, the
Section 106 funds would be returned to the relevant developers.