The Finance, Policy and Resources Committee met to discuss a range of issues, including granting a lease for Pensford Field to Dose of Nature, and updates on the Twickenham Riverside development. Councillors also reviewed the council's financial performance and considered its approach to procurement.

Pensford Field Lease Decision

The committee approved a recommendation to grant a 10-year lease of Pensford Field to Dose of Nature, a local mental health charity, after hearing from several public speakers both for and against the proposal. As part of the approval, the committee added a condition to the lease ensuring that schools are excluded from any fees for using the field and have free access to toilet facilities.

During the discussion, several concerns were raised:

• Impact on biodiversity: Some speakers worried about the effect of increased footfall on the field's wildlife, with one speaker, Katrina Roche, a trustee of the Pennsford Field Environmental Trust, arguing that the field could not support an increase in human footprint.
• Loss of volunteer efforts: Martin Baker, a local resident, highlighted the potential loss of unpaid volunteers who have maintained the field for decades.
• Financial viability of Dose of Nature: Some speakers questioned whether Dose of Nature, as a non-conservation charity, would be able to adequately manage the field's biodiversity.
• Public access: Concerns were raised that the lease did not explicitly guarantee public access to the field.

Officers responded to these concerns by clarifying that the lease would require Dose of Nature to submit an annual management plan, that the planning designation of the field would not change, and that Dose of Nature did not intend to charge organisations for using the field. Rachel Soney, Director of Commissioning and Adult Social Care, also stated that an updated quality impact assessment had been conducted to ensure that the needs of all groups were considered.

Sarah Atkins, speaking as a member of the public, raised concerns about the legality of the decision, arguing that the council had already made up its mind to award the lease to Dose of Nature. She urged the committee to defer the decision until it had properly responded to a pre-action protocol letter. A council officer, however, advised that the committee could lawfully make a decision, provided it was satisfied that it had sufficient information to do so.

Twickenham Riverside Development

The committee approved an additional £16.8 million in council net investment for the Twickenham Riverside development, bringing the total to £37 million. The decision was made after a discussion of the project's progress, financial business case, and benefits.

Paul Chadwick, the executive director of environment, explained that the increased investment was due to delays caused by a compulsory purchase order (CPO) inquiry, as well as changes to building safety regulations.

Celia Holman, speaking on behalf of the Twickenham Riverside Trust, questioned the council's handling of the CPO process and the accuracy of the benefits assessment. She also highlighted the trust's plans to activate the riverside with public boat trips.

Councillor bennett expressed concerns about the project's costs and the credibility of the benefits assessment.

Councillor roche, however, emphasised the qualitative benefits of the development, including the creation of a high-quality public realm, affordable housing, and a boost to the local economy.

Despite the increased costs, the committee ultimately agreed to move forward with the project, citing its potential to deliver significant benefits to the community.

Cost of Living Support

The committee noted the council's continued response to the cost of living crisis, including the allocation of £3.9 million from the Emergency Funding Reserve. They also agreed to updated proposals for the Household Support Fund Tranche 7 and proposals for the future of the Cost of Living Programme.

The committee heard that the council's Insight and Analytics team continues to provide analysis on the impact of the cost of living crisis in Richmond, and that the council is using the Low Income Family Tracker (LIFT) data platform to develop targeted campaigns to increase people's awareness and take-up of benefits and other support.

End of Year Performance and Corporate Plan

The committee noted progress on Richmond Corporate Plan (RCP) actions and performance against key performance indicators (KPIs) related to the committee's corporate priorities for 2024/25. They also agreed to proposed RCP key actions and key indicators for 2025/26.

Responsible Procurement Strategy

The committee approved the Responsible Procurement Strategy and the Contractor Charter, delegating authority for the implementation of the charter to the Procurement Board. The strategy outlines the council's approach to procurement, with a focus on delivering value for money, strengthening the local economy, and securing additional public benefit.

Other Business

The committee also approved additional budget requests and noted the contents of the Committee Work Programme. Councillor Giesler requested that a review of the Richmond Growth Plan be added to the September work programme.