Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Neighbourhoods and Development attached.

Decision made (unanimously):

That Cabinet agrees:

1.    That tender no.2 in Table 1 is accepted for the construction works at the overflow car park in Worden Park and the contract awarded to this bidder accordingly.

2.    That permission is granted to spend the budget of £120,000 in the capital programme for these works.

The Cabinet Member for Environment presented a report of the Director of Neighbourhoods and Development requesting Cabinet approval to accept the most economically advantageous tender and to spend the allocated budget for the proposed works to the reinforced grass overflow car park at Worden Park, Leyland. The report relates only to the proposed physical works to the overflow car park.

The Cabinet Member outlined a proposed timetable for the work, i.e. it was hoped that work would take around 10 weeks, starting end Sept/early Oct and completed in mid-late January 2021. Following settlement work, it was anticipated that the car park would re-open for March/April 2021. She confirmed that the cost of £104,095.32 quoted in Table 1was a fixed price for the work.

Assurances were given that the Council would take all possible legal protections for the Council within the terms of the business contract and that all technical specifications would be subject to appropriate checks during installation.

Decision made (unanimously):

That Cabinet agrees:

1.    That tender no.2 in Table 1 is accepted for the construction works at the overflow car park in Worden Park and the contract awarded to this bidder accordingly.

2.    That permission is granted to spend the budget of £120,000 in the capital programme for these works.

Reasons for Decision

1.    Council approved the current corporate plan 2018/2023 in February 2019. The Corporate plan identifies a series of key programmes under a number of headings including Health and Wellbeing.  The capital improvement programme for green links, parks and open spaces approved in February 2019 includes £120,000 for works to the overflow car park at Worden Park and the scheme was included in the Green Links Cabinet report of June 2019. 

2.    Areas of the car park’s surface require attention following 24 months of heavy usage and the layout of the car park requires amendments to deter excess speed and antisocial behaviour by some drivers using the car park. 

Alternative options considered and rejected

1.    Two alternative options were considered, firstly, the option of doing nothing and continuing with the car park in its current layout and condition.  This was rejected as the current roadways have become uneven in places and therefore require relaying.  The open nature of the car park has also encouraged excess speeds and antisocial behaviour by some drivers which requires addressing to maintain a safe environment for visitors. 

2.      Secondly, the option of replacing the reinforced grass surface with a macadam surface was considered.  Whilst this would provide a surface suitable for constant high use, it would not be in-keeping with planning requirements and constructing a surface for continuous high usage would only be required for usage beyond that required for the park.