Issue - meetings

Received a report seeking approval for a Stage 1 application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the Barking Park Restoration and Improvement Project. 

Agreed, in order to secure external funding to support the restoration and improvement of Barking Park and assist the Council in achieving its Community Priorities of “Making Barking and Dagenham Cleaner, Greener and Safer”, “Raising General Pride in the Borough” and “Regenerating the Local Economy”, to:

1. A £3.5 Million Stage 1 grant application to the HLF, as set out in paragraph 4.2 and 5.1 of the report;

2. Give consideration to submitting a new capital bid for £2,123,550, for the financial year 2006 / 2007, as part of the Council’s match funding contribution and subject to the project receiving a  positive appraisal through the Capital Programme Management Office; This bid is to be considered in the context of the full review of the Capital Programme;

3. Create a four year grant aided Project Manager Post for Barking Park from 2006 at a match funding cost of £28,000 from 2006 / 2007, subject to the growth bidding process;

4. Note the projected revenue increase of £172,000 from 2007 / 2008 subject to a further detailed report to the Executive on how this revenue is to be funded, as a part of the revenue budget process for 2007 / 2008 and any revisions to the Medium Term Financial Strategy;

5. Allow officers to investigate a preferred management structure for Barking Park post completion, subject to a further detailed report to the Executive as to how this will be funded; and

6. Authorise the Director of Regeneration and Environment to submit the application and to ensure that any subsequent requirements of the HeritageLottery Fund are met.