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ECS Information Briefing, Information Briefings - Tuesday 10 June 2025 7.00 pm
June 10, 2025 View on council websiteSummary
The Environment and Community Services Portfolio Briefing included an update on the Platinum Jubilee Parks Fund, which was launched in July 2022. The report pack provided an overview of the fund's progress, including the final round of funding that closed in March 2025. It also offered a summary of completed projects and their impact on the community.
Platinum Jubilee Parks Fund Update
The report pack included an update on the £1 million Platinum Jubilee Parks Fund, which was established to support the objectives of the Open Space Strategy 2021-2031. The fund was open to local stakeholder groups, such as park friends, resident associations and allotment associations, allowing them to apply for community-led projects.
The funding aimed to accelerate the achievement of the objectives outlined in the Open Space Strategy 2021-2031, while also contributing to the renewal of assets in parks and open spaces. These included:
Improvements to play and recreation areas, including playgrounds, hard court play areas, green gyms and surfacing.
Installation or improvement to park infrastructure such as footways, embankments, waterbodies and signage.
Conservation and enhancement of natural beauty and biodiversity.
Restoration of assets to support local community and grassroots sports groups.
The Platinum Jubilee Parks Fund opened for applications on 18 July 2022, with biannual deadlines for applications over £3,000 in October and April each year, while applications under £3,000 could be submitted at any time.
Following seven rounds of applications, 65 out of 76 applications had been approved at a cumulative value of £913,000. 44 of the approved applications were projects that have been fully delivered, and another two have had a first phase completed with the second phase to be completed by mid-summer 2025. A further 11 projects are programmed for delivery by December 2025, however this is subject to some external factors such as community groups securing any additional funds that were identified as part of their bid. The remaining 8 projects that were approved within the final round of applications will be completed by May 2026.
The report pack noted that communities had raised an additional £524,338.91 in match funding for the projects delivered by the fund, through crowdfunding, grants and philanthropic donations.
Examples of projects that had been applied for included:
- Playground improvements at Wharton Road Playground, Shaftesbury Park, Poverest Recreation Ground, Biggin Hill Recreation Ground, Glentrammon Recreation Ground and Widmore Road Recreation Ground.
- Biodiversity improvements to Southlands Road Allotments, where a community allotment plot pioneered by Greener & Cleaner Bromley, was developed to include the growing of vegetables and flowers.
- Access improvements to green spaces through the installation/reinstatement of pathways in Darrick Wood and also Covet Wood.
The report pack stated that there had been good interest in the fund from all wards, but funds were fully allocated in all wards except for Beckenham Town & Copers Cope and Chelsfield. The final round in March 2025 allowed all wards to apply for the remaining funds available which included underspends on a small number of projects.
The report pack included a summary of project status' for projects that were awarded funds up to December 2024:
| Status | Number of applications | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Complete | 44 | The project has been fully delivered. |
| Approved | 8 | The proposal has been approved by the Portfolio Holder and: - The applicant is to be awarded the money directly, OR - Idverde are quoting to provide items, OR - Awaiting the return of a signed grant agreement before Idverde can start to quote, OR - The proposal is a longer strategic project for development by Idverde's fundraising team, of which the Jubilee fund forms only part of. |
| Recommended | 0 | The proposal has been recommended to the Portfolio Holder for either approval or rejection and is awaiting a decision. |
| In delivery | 1 | Projects are in the process of being delivered. |
| Scoping | 4 | The proposal is being scoped with idverde and the council. |
| Rejected or | 8 | The Council is not proceeding with the proposal at the present time. |
| withdrawn | ||
| Total | 65 |
The report pack also included a breakdown of the amount awarded by ward up to December 2024.
| Ward | Total Available | Total Awarded | Total – decision pending |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beckenham Town & | £40,000 | £20,000 | £0 |
| Copers Cope | |||
| Bickley & Sundridge | £40,000 | £39,729.37 | £0 |
| Biggin Hill | £40,000 | £40,000 | £0 |
| Bromley Common & | £40,000 | £40,000 | £0 |
| Holwood | |||
| Bromley Town | £40,000 | £40,000 | £0 |
| Chelsfield | £40,000 | £33,248.00 | £0 |
| Chislehurst | £40,000 | £40,000 | £0 |
| Clock House | £40,000 | £40,000 | £0 |
| Crystal Palace & Anerley | £40,000 | £40,000 | £0 |
| Darwin | £40,000 | £40,000 | £0 |
| Farnborough & Crofton | £40,000 | £40,000 | £0 |
| Hayes & Coney Hall | £40,000 | £40,000 | £0 |
| Kelsey & Eden Park | £40,000 | £40,000 | £0 |
| Mottingham | £40,000 | £40,000 | £0 |
| Orpington | £40,000 | £40,000 | £0 |
| Penge & Cator | £40,000 | £40,000 | £0 |
| Petts Wood & Knoll | £40,000 | £40,000 | £0 |
| Plaistow | £40,000 | £40,000 | £0 |
| Shortlands & Park Langley | £40,000 | £40,000 | £0 |
| St Mary Cray | £40,000 | £40,000 | £0 |
| St Paul's Cray | £40,000 | £40,000 | £0 |
| West Wickham | £40,000 | £40,000 | £0 |
| Total | £852,977.32 | £0,000 |
The report pack also included a breakdown of the amount awarded in the final round, March 2025
| Project | Ward | Amount applied for | Amount awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goddington Park | Orpington | £2,684 | £2,684 |
| Penge Recreation Ground | Penge & Cator | £10,000 | £0 |
| Well Wood | West Wickham | £1,983.34 | £1,983.34 |
| Kings Road Recreation Ground | Biggin Hill | £20,000 | £20,000 |
| Shaftesbury Park | Plaistow | £3,000 | £3,000 |
| Mottingham Sports Ground | Mottingham | £7,535 | £7,535 |
| Pratts Bottom Play Area | Darwin | £12,000 | £12,000 |
| Hoblingwell Wood Recreation Ground | St Paul's Cray | £8,500 | £0 |
| Widmore Recreation Ground | Bickley & Sundridge | £3,000 | £3,000 |
| Husseywell Playground | Hayes & Coney Hall | £10,000 | £10,000 |
| £78,702 | £60,202.34 |
The report pack stated that the fund is now closed and it is recommended that the unallocated funds (£4,100) are released to the General Fund Reserves.
Impacts and Implications
The report pack also considered the impacts and implications of the Platinum Jubilee Parks Fund.
- Vulnerable Adults and Children: The Open Space Strategy 2021 – 2031 aims to ensure that those who were not traditional users of Open Space were represented to ensure social cohesion and equality of opportunity. Applicants have been encouraged to bring forward projects that will help to tackle loneliness and meet the objective of the Council's Tackling Loneliness Strategy 2022 - 2026.
- Transformation/Policy Implications: The Fund supports the aims of the Council's Corporate Strategy: Making Bromley Even Better, contributing specifically to ambition 4: For residents to live responsibly and prosper in a safe, clean and green environment great for today and a sustainable future.
- Financial Implications: Projects agreed under the Platinum Jubilee Parks Fund are funded from the £1m earmarked reserve agreed by the Council on 22 February 2022. A total of £996k has been spent or committed against the £1m fund, leaving £4.3k unspent which can be returned to the General Fund Reserves.
- Legal Implications: The Council's Constitution, at Part 4 Rules of Procedure, provides the terms of reference for the Environment & Community Services PDS Committee as it relates to that Portfolio. Under these terms of reference, this Committee is responsible for receiving reports and making recommendations on performance monitoring of services and activities falling within the remit of this portfolio.
- Procurement Implications: The report pack refers to a grants application process set up to disseminate the Platinum Jubilee Parks Fund, stating that this process sits outside of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and the Council's Contract Procedure Rules.
- Property Implications: The property division are consulted on any proposed projects that have a direct impact on built assets or infrastructure so that advice can be given on any potential consequences impacting the council's ownership interest, and to identify any impact on or resulting maintenance liabilities.
- Carbon Reductions/Social Value Implications: The Open Space Strategy 2021 – 2031 incorporated a number of sustainability features, which are considered when assessing applications and determining whether it will contribute towards protecting or enhancing the borough's diverse natural habitats, through processes such as nature friendly regime management or the natural regeneration of open space, thus supporting the ambitions of the Council's Net Zero Carbon Action Plan.
- Impact on the Local Economy: Applications received from this fund have contributed towards Strategic Objective 4 (Local Economy) of the Council's Open Space Strategy 2021-2031 such as those to improve playground and/or sporting facilities will help to enhance the amenity, leisure, and recreation provision of the Open Space portfolio through the participation of the local economy.
- Impact on Health and Wellbeing: A number of applications have contributed towards Strategic Objective 3 (Health, Wellbeing and Community) of the Open Space Strategy 2021-2031 either through encouraging physical activity in a way that is accessible and open to those who may not wish to take part in organised sports (such as trim trails), or through initiatives to facilitate social networking through creation of groups with a shared purpose or interest such as community gardening club.
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