Decision details

To accept the award of grant funding from the FCC Communities Foundation Limited, and the commencement of a procurement process to deliver replacement of the equipment.

That approval is granted to delegate authority to the s151 Officer to accept the offer of grant funding from the FCC Communities Foundation Limited together with the third-party funding sourced by the Gonerby Hill Foot Park Action Group, to replace the play equipment at Gonerby Hill Foot play park.

The play park equipment, whilst regularly inspected and maintained, is of an age that it is not meeting the needs of the local community.

The grant funding available to fully fund new play equipment at Gonerby Hill Foot play park and will provide much needed investment at the play park and increase usage within the local community.

The Council’s Corporate Plan 2020 to 2023 contains the key priorities of investing in the health of local communities and improving parks and open spaces. The GHF Park Action Group has identified the need for improved facilities at their local play park, an asset which is owned by the Council. Rejuvenation of the play equipment would provide the local residents with more opportunities to enjoy being in the open air and taking part in informal activity.

The GHF Park Action Group has worked closely with the local community to recognise the need for improved play park equipment by undertaking a survey (which attracted 294 responses) and a questionnaire with a neighbouring Nursery in the village of Great Gonerby.

As a result of the work undertaken by the GHF Park Action Group, a funding application was submitted to FCC Communities Foundation Limited to support the project costs of improving the play equipment within the park.

On 20 October 2022, confirmation was received from FCC Communities Foundation Limited the grant application for £100,000.00 had been successful and allocated towards the eligible costs of the project, subject to payment of £10,750.00 third party match funding.

In addition to the grant award mentioned above, the GHF Park Action Group also contacted local businesses to seek further funding towards the costs of the overall project to maximise the opportunity for play equipment improvements within the park. An additional £29,931.60 has been secured from local business and organisations to support the project.

The additional funding secured will be used to cover the £10,750.00 third party funding required to be paid to FCC Recycling (UK) Ltd as per the grant conditions. This results in an overall combined funding amount of £119,181.60 towards the project.

As a result of the successful funding amount, officers from the Council have met with the Chairman of the GHF Park Action Group to discuss how best to proceed with the project.  As part of discussions, the FCC Communities Foundation Limited has confirmed the grant funding will be paid to the Council as the owner of the play park.

To ensure compliance with the Council’s financial procedures, advice has been received from procurement colleagues that it would be appropriate to access the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO) framework for the procurement of the works, undertaking a mini competition to ensure best value from the £119,181.60 funding available.

To ensure there is no financial risk to the Council, the procurement process will not begin until all funding has been received from the third-party funding sources. Funding has already been confirmed by FCC Communities Foundation Limited. Funding from FCC would then be drawn down following the payment of invoices.