Purpose

To seek approval to accept a National Lottery
Heritage Fund Grant of £879,390 to support the restoration of
Broadfield Park Slopes, and also approval of our procurement
strategy for the project.

Content

The Cabinet considered a report of the
Director of Economy and Place / Cabinet Member for Regeneration and
Housing which sought approval to accept a grant from the National
Lottery Heritage Fund that had been secured as of March 2024.
 
Rochdale Development Agency’s Project
Officers were in attendance to present the information and to
answer the questions of the Cabinet Members.
 
Rochdale Development Agency had been
successful in securing £879,390 on behalf of the Council from
the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the restoration of
Broadfield Slopes. As the grant
recipient and accountable body, the Council would be liable for
performance against the project’s outcomes, for all payments
and for potential clawback.
 
The Council match funding requirement was in
the sum of £801,082 which had been secured through the
capital programme.
 
Resolved:

1.   
It be agreed to accept and spend the National Lottery Heritage
Fund’s grant offer of £879,390 on the agreed terms and
conditions and with Council’s match funding of
£801,082, secured through the capital programme, for the
restoration of Broadfield Slopes. It
also be agreed that details to execute the project be delegated to
the Director of Economy and Place in consultation with the Director
of Corporate Services, the Assistant Director for Legal, Governance
and Coroners and the relevant portfolio holder;

2.   
That the Assistant Director Legal, Governance and Coroners be
authorised to prepare and execute the relevant legal agreements
necessary to give effect to this decision and ensure the delivery
of this project in accordance with the Council’s
Constitution.
 
Reason for
decision:
Approval to accept the
National Lottery Heritage Fund grant funding would support the
Council in carrying out extensive restoration work to Broadfield Park Slopes, highlighting the
significance of the Borough’s heritage which would entail
conservation work to Packer Spout, a grade two listed structure.
The funding would also support two apprenticeship opportunities.
These roles would work closely with the Council, Rochdale
Development Agency and the consultant team to oversee the delivery
of the activity plan.
As the owner of the
land, the Council had an obligation to ensure that the Slopes are
adequately maintained. The funding from the National Lottery
Heritage Fund would support the creation of formalised paths,
improving access to the Slopes.
 
Alternatives
considered and rejected:
To not accept the
grant and to carry out basic ground stabilisation works with the
funding secured from RBC. This would improve the stabilisation of
the Slopes, but it would ignored the urgent need for improving the
accessibility and community safety of the area.
The Council could
terminate the project with no work going ahead.