Council chiefs are being asked to give the go-ahead to the next stage of an ambitious £1.87 million scheme to revamp Middleton Park in south Leeds.
Councillors on Leeds City Council's executive board will meet next Wednesday - and are being recommended to approve plans to revamp the park, which is just four miles from Leeds city centre.
In July this year The Friends of Middleton Park group, supported by Leeds City Council, celebrated news that that the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) had accepted their bid for a £1.46 million grant under the Parks for People programme. In December the council had agreed to invest a further £125,000, supported by a further grant of £287,000 from the Wades Charity.
At a meeting of the council's executive board councillors will be asked to give final approval to the grant, agree the detailed improvement work and enter into a contract for the scheme with the HLF.
Labour Middleton Park councillor Judith Blake said:
"This is a wonderful project so I am delighted that it is set to go-ahead. Middleton Park is an amazing area but we simply do not make enough of it.
"Although the park gets over two million visitors a year, it is not held in the same esteem as other parks in Leeds such as Roundhay and Golden Acre, but it should be.
"Hopefully the extensive improvements such as those to the footpaths and seating, the new bandstand and the new visitor centre and café will encourage more people to make the most of this great resource on our doorstep."
The scheme will restore many of the original Victorian features of the park and help attract more visitors through a new visitor centre, education centre and café facilities. New park entrances will be built with visitor information, signs, gates and art works. A new bandstand and performance area and seating will also be created.
'The Design and Cost Report – The Development of Middleton Park through a Heritage Lottery Fund Parks for People Grant' will be presented to members of Leeds Council's executive board at a meeting starting at 1pm at the Leeds Civic Hall next Wednesday. The full report can be downloaded here.
Council £3.6 million overspend
Councillors will consider a report detailing the financial health of the authority after three months of the financial year in respect of the revenue budget and the housing revenue account.
The report identifies a number of pressures, particularly affecting income and demand-led budgets. It says:
"Directorates have already developed and implemented action plans but nevertheless an overall overspend of £3.6m is projected at this stage. It is imperative that these action plans are kept under review, are robust, and will deliver a balanced budget by the year end."Councillors are asked to note the projected financial position of the authority after three months of the financial year together with the impact on reserves should directorate spending not be maintained within approved estimates."
Members are also requested to approve budget adjustments.
The report can be found here. I'll cover this issue in full following next week's meeting.
New-build schools on the agenda
A report seeks approval to proceed with new-build schools at Richmond Hill, Swillington and SS Peter & Paul Primary Schools, and extension and refurbishment works at Greenhill, Gildersome and Oulton Primary Schools, and seeks authority to incur expenditure of £33,125,500.
Funding would come from The Primary Capital Programme (PCP) - a Government initiative to transform primary schools across the country. Education Leeds intends to join up funding from other sources.
Councillors recommended to back MS support plans
Leeds councillors are set to support city residents who receive respite care from a centre in York which has been earmarked for closure by the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Councillors will be asked to approve plans to support the Leeds residents in finding suitable alternative care arrangements. Woodlands Respite Care Centre faces an uncertain future following an 18-month review by the MS Society.
Unless a new care provider steps in to take over the lease, Woodlands will be closed by the end of 2011. If this happens, Leeds council has said it will continue to support people in finding appropriate alternative respite services.
A deputation to Leeds council by the Access Committee for Leeds in July raised concerns about the effect the potential closure of Woodlands would have on the people and families in Leeds.
Council recommended to reduce mercury at Leeds crematoria
Plans to reduce the level of mercury emissions from crematoria in Leeds will go before the executive board.
The plans aim to reduce the level of mercury emissions produced by the city's three crematoria by 50% by 2012 to meet Government and European Union targets.
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