Agenda item

Summary

The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the Rickmansworth Aquadrome Programme, including funding progress and opportunities.

Recommendation

That the Climate Change and Leisure Committee:

·        Note the content of the report

·        Give delegated authority to the Director of Finance to enter into a contract or funding agreement above the value of £25,000, subject to securing external funding, or where a project is in existing/agreed budgets.

The Head of Leisure & Natural Infrastructure introduced the report. The Associate Director for Environment provided the most recent update on Ebury Play Area, informing the committee that the Council and its contractors continue to work together to agree a remediation plan, and as soon as a programme for that is agreed, it will be published to the public.

A Member raised concerns regarding the lack of communication on the continued closure of the Ebury playground and stated that the Japanese knotweed was spreading through the playground and the water due to it flowering. They emphasised the need for political leadership to resolve the issue, enquired about costs, potential litigation, and urged reopening the playground promptly to provide children with play facilities. The Associate Director for Environment responded by clarifying that the knotweed is not spreading through flowering due to the absence of male plants in the UK and as a result the Knotweed does not spread through flowering it spreads through rhizomes and it was confirmed that specialists have verified this. Furthermore, the officer stated that the playground will reopen only after successful remediation of the knotweed, with efforts focused on a quality solution minimising financial and maintenance risks. The officer also acknowledged the public’s desire for the playground but noted that alternative play areas are available in the area.

Members also expressed concerns regarding the lack of detail in the report on the woodland path’s continued closure and requested specific timelines for reopening. They also sought assurance about insurance coverage to protect officers from personal liability. The officer responded by explaining that the path is structurally unsafe due to flood damage and that the interim repairs would be costly and potentially temporary. A long-term sustainable solution is being designed as part of wider site improvement works, but the timeline is uncertain due to dependencies on flood risk assessments and environmental permits, which take six to nine months to obtain from the Environment Agency. Additionally, the officer emphasised the Council’s duty to use public funds wisely and to prioritise safety, stating that they will not reopen the path until is safe, and confirmed that the Council’s insurance is adequate but due diligence is required to ensure public safety.

Councillor Andrea Fraser spoke on the item in her capacity as a District Ward Councillor,  stating that decisions are being made behind closed doors, excluding ward councillors who represent local residents, and explained that the Aquadrome Steering Group meetings are not public, limiting transparency and participation and that she is invited as a Batchworth Community Councillor and not as a ward Councillor. The Councillor raised concerns regarding the neglected state of the Ebury play park, including the unresolved knotweed issue and ongoing closure, impacting families. The Councillor further raised concerns that improvement works would not commence until 2027 and not be complete until 2030. Additionally, the Councillor stated there has been a lack of consultation with ward councillors over signage placement and the cancellation of the Canal Festival due to an overly strict and misguided and unnecessary approach to and over cautious stance in relation to asbestos, and called for greater transparency, inclusion of elected councillors and urgent action to address these ongoing issues.

In response, the officer clarified the roles and invitations concerning the Aquadrome Steering Group meeting, emphasising that Councillor Fraser had been invited in her district capacity not as a parish councillor. The officer refuted claims that they refused to answer questions, explaining that certain topics were not listed items of the meeting agenda, but open for discussion outside the meeting. The officer highlighted ongoing investments in the Aquadrome, noting that significant funding from the lottery will only be available in 2027, but that maintenance and improvements continue with substantial expenditure made in just the past 6 months detailed in the report. The officer disputed assertions about a lack of engagement with ward councillors over signage and the Canal Festival arrangements, clarifying that the festival cancellation was due to the organisers’ decision related to asbestos concerns, not Council action and that the designs for signage had been shared in advance and for comment with ward councillors. The officer stressed the seriousness of asbestos contamination at the Aquadrome, legal obligations on the council to manage it, and the Council’s adherence to health and safety guidelines to avoid legal and personal liabilities. Furthermore, the officer emphasised that there was transparency over decisions in relation to the Aquadrome with regular reporting to committees and all actions being those contained within the Council approved Management Plan for the site.

Mr. David Holdstock spoke on the item raising concerns about the Council’s management and communication regarding the Aquadrome, specifically the play area and woodland path. The resident criticised the Council for requesting significant expenditure despite unresolved issues and accused the Council of misleading residents and dismissing their concerns. The speaker highlighted a specialist knotweed treatment report from May indicating a 12-week removal plan, contrasting with the Council’s public claim of a five-year timeline, and questioned whether councillors had reviewed or made this report public.

The officer responded by explaining that the five-year remediation timeline is for chemical treatment, and the 12-week timeline is for mechanical excavation, confirming that the mechanical extraction is the Council’s preferred method. The officer also explained the necessity of confidentiality in certain legal and contract negotiation matters to protect the Council’s interests, emphasising that this is not due to a lack of transparency or intent to mislead. The officer team is committed to resolving these issues. The funding for wider Aquadrome site improvement primarily comes from the lottery, which is fully aware of the challenges currently faced particularly with the woodland path, and is supporting various stages of work, such as hydrological studies, detailed designs and material reviews to ensure long lasting solutions. The Lottery Fund is not involved with the Ebury play area; therefore, no discussions have occurred with them regarding that.

Members also questioned inconsistencies in reported repair costs, citing figures ranging from £60,000 to £198,000, and urged clarity and a political decision on whether to patch the path for public use. The officer explained that precise cost cannot be provided without a detailed procurement process due to multiple variables such as path materials, flood resilience requirements, labour and material costs and location specific factors.

In response to an earlier question, the officer acknowledged that the Ebury play area does not look as it should, clarifying that the issue is not simply related to Japanese knotweed. The officer confirmed that a Notice had been issued to the contractor responsible in relation to (non-Japanese Knotweed) weed management , and the ongoing negotiations and legal actions are underway to address concerns.

Councillor Chris Lloyd proposed an amendment to include the word ‘external’ in front of ‘funding agreement’ in the recommendation, and another amendment to thank the officers for the detailed work that has gone into this project.

Councillor Chris Lloyd moved the recommendation with the amendment, seconded by Councillor Tankard.

On being put to the Committee, the motion was declared CARRIED by the Chair, the voting being For 5, Against 0, Abstention 2.

RESOLVED:

That the Climate Change and Leisure Committee:

1. Note the content of the report
2. Give delegated authority to the Director of Finance to enter into a contract or external funding agreement above the value of £25,000, subject to securing external funding, or where a project is in existing/agreed budgets.

     iii.          The Committee thank the officers for the detailed work that has gone into this project