Decision details

To consider the report of the Head of Infrastructure and Capital Projects seeking approval for expenditure of £422,899 on the rebuilding of Newtown Adventure Playground (Northumberland Road) to be funded from Extended Schools £372,899 and Modernisation £50,000.  Newtown Adventure Playground comprises of a small area of open land with play equipment and a building where children’s play activities are provided after school and during school holidays.  The project will re-provide the building, which will also be used to deliver community learning in association with Maytree Infant School.  The bulk of the funding comes from Government grant for extended school activities.

(i)  To vire in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules a sum of £422,900 within the Children’s Services and Learning Capital programme for the Newtown Adventure Playground, funded from Extended Schools and Modernisation Grant.

(ii)  To approve in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules capital expenditure in the sum of £422,900 including fees from the Children’s Services and Learning Capital Programme for the rebuilding of the play building at Newtown Adventure Playground (Northumberland Road)

1. The Play Strategy seeks to provide facilities for supervised play in each locality.
2. The facility at Newtown Adventure Playground is in accommodation which is at the end of its design life and has been identified as being in urgent need of replacement.
3. The project has been prioritised for funding from the Extended Schools and Modernisation Capital allocations 2008-11.

1. To combine the funding with Primary Review scheme funding to provide a larger facility to enable dedicated use by the school for a crèche/parents room.  This has been rejected due to the unavailability of Primary Review funding for this scheme.
2. To provide a replacement modular building.  This has been rejected due to the vulnerability of such a building to vandalism and the marginal cost saving to be achieved.
3. To not replace the building would mean closing down the play facility.