Issue - meetings

That Cabinet:

a)       note the findings and lessons learned from the pilot initiative to green entrances and exits to towns and villages in Newark & Sherwood in line with the aspiration set out within the Community Plan;

b)       agree that officers try to identify a further five towns and parishes for inclusion in the initiative in 2025/26 and in subsequent years through to Local Government Reorganisation in 2028;

c)       agree that Newark & Sherwood District Council will absorb the labour costs for the planting initiatives within existing resources, but costs associated with the purchase of plants, seed and bulbs is met by the Town and Parishes, as well as the cost of their future maintenance either via the Town and Parish or VIA; and

d)       give approval for one-off costs of £8,606 to fund a rotavator and bowser be agreed, as well as an annual cost of £1,034 for access to a water rental, with both to be from within the Environmental Services budget, to enable future delivery of the project.

The Director - Communities & Environment presented a report which updated the Cabinet on the ‘Green Gateways’ pilots undertaken in 2025 and made a proposal to successfully deliver more sites in the District.

Options to explore green gateways were part of the Community Plan and aimed to enhance the natural environment at entrances into towns and villages to increase biodiversity and improve residential and visitor wellbeing. The report gave an overview and key learning from the three pilot schemes undertaken in Bilsthorpe, Blidworth and Boughton and set out proposals for progressing the initiative into other parts of the District.

AGREED      (unanimously) that Cabinet:

a)            note the findings and lessons learned from the pilot initiative to green entrances and exits to towns and villages in Newark & Sherwood in line with the aspiration set out within the Community Plan;

b)            agree that officers try to identify a further five towns and parishes for inclusion in the initiative in 2025/26 and in subsequent years through to Local Government Reorganisation in 2028;

c)             agree that Newark & Sherwood District Council will absorb the labour costs for the planting initiatives within existing resources, but costs associated with the purchase of plants, seed and bulbs is met by the Town and Parishes, as well as the cost of their future maintenance either via the Town and Parish or VIA; and

d)            give approval for one-off costs of £8,606 to fund a rotavator and bowser be agreed, as well as an annual cost of £1,034 for access to a water rental, with both to be from within the Environmental Services budget, to enable future delivery of the project.

Reasons for Decision

The pilot scheme demonstrated that green gateways with wildflowers will enhance biodiversity in towns and villages in line with the Community Plan, but ongoing success depends on having appropriate resources and a commitment to a future maintenance plan.

Options Considered

Not to proceed with the full scale roll out of the Green Gateways Project.