Issue - meetings

That Cabinet:

a)      endorse the allocation of £100,000 in 2026/27 for parks and open spaces legacy fund for Town and Parish Councils to bid into on a match-funded basis, to drive improvement in parks and open spaces across the district, and delegate authority for the implementation and administration of the fund to the Director - Communities & Environment in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Climate and the Environment;

b)      agree that £30,000 is committed within the budget for 2026/27, to enable investment in a number of Council-owned sites which have the potential for future development, including some for future Green Flag status;

c)       agree that three strategic sites are identified for potentially significant investment in new facilities, with consultation due to take place about those developments within 2026/27; and

d)      once c) above is complete, to bring a report back to Cabinet in 2026/27 about detailed development at those sites, together with a funding package, for delivery in 27/28 – the last operating year of NSDC ahead of Local Government Reorganisation.

The Director - Communities & Environment presented a report which put forward a programme which would further improve parks and open spaces across the district. The Parks and Open Spaces Development Plan included the creation of a fund specifically for town and parish councils with the aim of improving facilities. The proposal was to create a £100,000 fund for town and parish councils to submit matched funding bids of up to £10,000 for investment in parks, play equipment and open spaces within their area. A formal grant application process would need to be established for this grant funding as well as award criteria.

In addition, there were a number of sites within the Councils ownership that presented opportunities for new planting and features as well as future development into Green Flag parks. The outline proposals for the various sites identified were detailed in the report.

AGREED (unanimously) that Cabinet:

a)       endorse the allocation of £100,000 in 2026/27 for parks and open spaces legacy fund for Town and Parish Councils to bid into on a match-funded basis, to drive improvement in parks and open spaces across the district, and delegate authority for the implementation and administration of the fund to the Director - Communities & Environment in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Climate and the Environment;

b)       agree that £30,000 is committed within the budget for 2026/27, to enable investment in a number of Council-owned sites which have the potential for future development, including some for future Green Flag status;

c)        agree that three strategic sites are identified for potentially significant investment in new facilities, with consultation due to take place about those developments within 2026/27; and

d)       once c) above is complete, to bring a report back to Cabinet in 2026/27 about detailed development at those sites, together with a funding package, for delivery in 27/28 – the last operating year of NSDC ahead of Local Government Reorganisation.

Reasons for Decision:

The recommendations align with the Community Plan objectives in relation to health and wellbeing, protecting and enhancing the environment and promoting community spirit. The proposals are also in line with resident feedback as evidenced through the latest resident survey and the increasing importance being placed on parks and open spaces.

Options Considered:

Given the growing importance residents attach to parks and open spaces, doing nothing was not deemed a viable option. In the context of LGR, future decisions about investment in parks and open spaces in Newark and Sherwood will be taken by a new entity with a much broader geographical footprint and set of delivery responsibilities. Cabinet could choose to press on with developments at the three strategic sites in 2026/27 but given the potential costs it is deemed prudent to understand community support and explore sources of funding that may be available. There is no requirement to create a Town and Parish Council Park Legacy Fund, but this would fail to address the reality that many parks and open spaces across the district are not owned by NSDC  ...  view the full minutes text for item 347