The Strategic Director Place will submit a report (Document “J”) which sets out the annual report for the devolved Parks & Green Spaces Service, reviews activity during thepast year and also considers the significant issues that will have an effect over the coming 12 months with optionswhere available for future service delivery, investment and savings.

Recommended –

That Bradford South Area Committee:

(1)       Note the content of this report.

(2)       Consider  option 2 as detailed in 9.1.1 to Document “J” with        regard to permanently closing the gates to stop vehicle access        into the car park of Horton Bank Country Park.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Area: Environment and Waste Management

            (Ian Wood – 01274 432648)

The Strategic Director Place submitted a report (Document “J”) which set out the annual report for the devolved Parks & Green Spaces Service, reviewed activity during thepast year and also outlined the significant issues that would have an effect over the coming 12 months with optionswhere available for future service delivery, investment and savings.

The report revealed that the work of the Parks and Green Spaces Service (PGS) included woodland management; tree works; play area maintenance and development and maintenance of the district’s parks and other green spaces.

The Operational Depot Review of 2017 was discussed and new works planned for the coming year were reported.

The report included issues around the use of Horton Bank Country Park.  It was explained this was a well used facility by members of the local community and visitors from outside of the District, however, problems were being experienced with the car park being subject to numerous cases of fly-tipping and anti social behaviour.  The budget pressures arising from the subsequent clean up costs and the unsightly mess greeting visitors upon arrival at the park were discussed.

Options to address the issues at the park were presented and included:-

·         Do nothing and continue to clean up the tipping until the budgets were exhausted.

·         Permanently lock the gates for vehicular access leaving pedestrian access only.

·         Open and secure the access gates on a daily basis.

·         Install CCTV

Members were advised that currently there were no resources or budget available to carry out the latter two options.  It was explained that locking the gates for vehicular access was currently the preferred option but that on going discussions were required to confirm the optimum action to alleviate the issues being faced.  The use of bollards was suggested to retain access but restrict vehicles to the park.  It was explained that the site had initially been supplied by Yorkshire Water but had now been transferred to the Council so no third party needed to be consulted.

The consultation undertaken with Ward Councillors and residents about the options was queried.  In response it was explained that options had been suggested following a number of complaints about the site although consultation had not yet commenced.  A recent poll had been undertaken by the local press and had resulted in a 75/25 split in favour of restricting vehicular access.  Consultation with Ward Members would now be conducted.

A Ward Member reported consultation she had undertaken with Ward colleagues and that it was felt that no option other than to restrict access could be imagined.  Whilst not wishing to upset visitors to the park it was felt that the area would become spoilt if the tipping was allowed to continue.

A Member expressed his disappointment that the option of CCTV had been suggested but that no costs or details of where the budget could be obtained were included in Document “J”.  The report had revealed an indicative underspend in the budget in the region of £33,000 and it was questioned if that underspend could be used for CCTV.  Surveillance of fly tipping hot spots through the use of mobile CCTV was reported in an item to be discussed later in the meeting and it was suggested that, if cameras could be located elsewhere, they should be considered at Horton Bank Country Park.  It was felt that this would prevent restricting use of the area to residents who enjoyed driving into the area and enjoying the views.  It was suggested that a decision on the options being considered be deferred until consultation with users and calculations of the cost of CCTV were undertaken.  A number of Members held the same view and it was agreed that the options be explored further.

The volume of vehicles being driven into the park in the evening was questioned but that information was not available.  The park was located close to Brackenhill Park and it was explained that the measures were being proposed to prevent anti social behaviour in the area. 

The cost of clearing the fly tipping was questioned and, whilst not available at the meeting, it was agreed to provide that information to Members.

Grass cutting and maintenance in the District’s parks and green spaces was commended and it was reported that the number of complaints received had reduced from previous years.

Document “J” detailed a number of events held throughout the year and the cost of reinstating the parks and recreation grounds after such events was questioned.  It was explained that the hire charges applied included reinstatement costs.  Inclement weather could sometimes prevent an immediate response but any areas requiring reinstatement were addressed as soon as practicable. 

Assets of Community Value, located in the Bradford East constituency, were discussed and it was agreed that the issues could be discussed outside of the meeting. 

Problems previously experienced in the Southmere Drive area were raised and it was agreed that the area would be maintained and cut regularly to prevent a recurrence of those issues.

The capacity of the Parks and Green Spaces Service to deal with projects funded through Section 106 Agreements or Community Infrastructure Levy was questioned and it was stressed that the service must be in a position to bid for that funding to be utilised in the Bradford South area.  It was explained that Planning Officers would be dealing with those issues and reports would be presented to the Regulatory and Appeals Committee.   The mechanism to propose schemes for funding was not known at this stage.

The recurrence of weeds following weed killing treatment was raised as a matter of concern.  It was explained that the treatment used could not prevent germination but did clear and control weeds at the time of treatment which was applied three times per year.  The contract for weed killing was to be renewed next year although no decisions on the new contract had yet been taken. 

The costs of clearing overgrown snickets in the area were questioned and it was explained that this function was the responsibility of the Highways Department.  Despite previous requests no developments had been forthcoming and Members suggested that the Committee could write to the department regarding the lack of progress. 

Resolved –

(1)       That the contents of the report be noted.

(2)       That the Strategic Director, Place, be requested to provide a further report outlining consultation work undertaken and work with Environmental Enforcement to consider the use of CCTV to reduce fly tipping, littering and other acts of anti social behaviour at Horton Bank Country Park and to include possible ideas for the use of the indicative underspend in the 2016/17 budget.

(3)       That the Area Co-ordinator be requested to write to the Strategic Director, Place, on behalf of the Committee, to ascertain progress on the establishment of a fund to clear and maintain snickets.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place

Environment and Waste Overview and Scrutiny Committee