Agenda item

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Environment providing an overview of the recently completed ERDF funded ‘Urban Greening Project’.

77.1    Councillor Cook introduced the report and explained that it sought to provide an overview of the completed ERDF funded ‘Urban Greening Project’. Councillor Cook advised that the project completion had been delayed by a year due to several factors including the Covid-19 pandemic, however practical completion had been achieved on 31^st May 2023.

77.2    Councillor Cook advised Members that the key interventions delivered under the project were outlined in Table 2, and that the project had delivered benefits including improved habitat and biodiversity, flood mitigation, physical and mental wellbeing for residents, water quality improvements and urban cooling. He further noted that the work undertaken through the project had received considerable praise and had also delivered on social value. Councillor Cook explained that the UK was not eligible for future ERFD funding having left the European Union, however alternative funding streams were available for future biodiversity improvement, flood mitigation and water quality projects.

77.3    The Chair expressed the view that both the report and the scheme were excellent and stated that he would urge the Council to apply for alternative funding streams as often as possible. He referred to the narrative at 10.1 in the report and asked whether the Council planned to maintain the areas which had seen ERDF interventions. Councillor Cook confirmed that the Council did intend to maintain the areas identified in the report, and that there had been handover meetings with the Open Spaces Team.

77.4    In relation to a query from Councillor Wilson regarding the maintenance costs associated with the project, Councillor Cook confirmed that these would need to come out of Council’s normal budget, and that it was unlikely that the Council would be able to reclaim for administrative costs.

77.5    Councillor Sawyer referred to the narrative at 3.1 in the report and asked for clarification on the issues experienced with the initial contractor and whether there were any opportunities for the Council to learn lessons. It was agreed that further details would be provided to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in due course.

77.6    In response to a further query from Councillor Sawyer as to how improvements to water quality in Gloucester were being measured and who was responsible for undertaking this work, it was agreed that follow-up enquiries would be made and that this information would be provided to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in due course.

77.7    Councillor Sawyer asked how the Council measured and quantified social value activity. The Corporate Director confirmed that the Council had made social value commitments and had to deliver on these inputs. She noted that she was in the process of reviewing the social value policy and confirmed that she would be happy to share further information to Overview and Scrutiny Members.

77.8    Referring to the narrative at 7.4 and the statement that delivering the ERDF funded project was bureaucratic, Councillor Sawyer asked whether the Council had learnt any lessons from these challenges. Councillor Cook confirmed that the Council would learn lessons if there were any to be learnt, however it was his understanding that the bureaucracy was caused by European legislation.

77.9    Councillor Castle asked when the Plock Court wetland extension work would be completed. Councillor Cook advised that the ERDF project work was complete and agreed that he would ask the relevant Officers for an update on the wetland extension.

          RESOLVED – That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee NOTE the report.