Purpose

There is of S106 money left to be used towards the cost of provision or improvement of public open space as part of the project known as the Askern Lake Improvement Project.
During a site visit earlier in the year with the council’s Head of Health & Safety and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue officers it was noted that the existing gabion baskets along a section of the lake had become eroded and sunken, leaving the bank exposed to further erosion by the lake water.
Along the west side of the lake the grass banking meets the water’s edge, lake water can now erode the banking and undermine the edging unless the gabions are replaced and refilled.
A capital bid has for has been submitted for the work. This S106 money would gontowards the cost of the work and would mean that the amount of borrowing for capital money could be reduced.
The revenue budget for parks and open spaces is constantly under pressure from the number and cost of ongoing repairs required in all parks and open spaces around the borough. The budget is often overspent through having to carry out repairs which are a health and safety issue. The existing revenue budget for parks and open spaces would not cover the cost of the gabion work.

Decision

To use the remaining S106 money from 17/00185/FULM towards the cost of repairing and replacing the gabion baskets at Askern Lake.

Alternative options considered

Use revenue budget to finance the repairs
The revenue budget (EV047) is identified as a budget pressure year upon year, (budget 2026/27
. The money is used to pay for essential health & safety repairs across all Street Scene managed parks and open spaces. To use revenue money for the work would result in a larger overspend/budget pressure, along with having no budget to carry out repairs to any other parks and open spaces.
This S106 money has already been earmarked for use at Askern Lake for improvement work, but no specific work identified.
Capital bid to fund the full cost
A capital bid has been submitted for this work.
As part of the capital bid process existing S106 monies should be examined to see if they can be used instead of capital money. To use S106 money for this project would mean that the full cost of work does not need to be funded through capital money.
Do nothing
The work will require carrying out at some point whether now or in the future. The longer the time before the work is carried out will mean that there is more work to do, as the gabions will continue to erode. The eventual repair work will be longer and more expensive. It could also result in part or all of the section along the lake side being closed off from public access if the edge became dangerous, whilst any work was being arranged. This would be costly in terms of hiring or buying fencing, and also officer time to inspect the fencing to ensure it remains in place.