GAINSBOROUGH TOWN COUNCIL

3 Year Rolling Project Plan

2024 – 2027

If you’d like to download the 3 Year Rolling Plan, please find the PDF below:

3-year-Rolling-Project-Plan-24-27

Foreword

All good organisations are prudent in planning ahead, preparing for the future and ensuring they know the direction in which they are heading.

Gainsborough Town Council is mindful of the importance of good forward planning and this document sets out the Councils medium term operational and organisational plans and visions. 

The document is produced in line with the Councils Risk Management Policy and will be subject to regular review and scrutiny.

This is a working document which will be added to.

Development of Council Assets

What we do now: 

Gainsborough Town Council is responsible for a number of public sites and assets across Gainsborough. 

They are: 

• Richmond Park & House
• Marshalls Sports Ground
• General & North Warren Cemeteries
• Allotments (Foxby Hill, Love Lane, North Warren, Showfields, Spital Hill)
• Playing Fields (Levellings and Aisby Walk)
• Play Areas (Aisby Walk, Danes Road, Levellings, Mayflower Close, St Georges)
• Christmas Illuminations and Tree
• Millennium Clock (bus station)
• Street Furniture (including some but not all benches, bus shelters and notice boards)
• War Memorials (Parnell Street & Foxby Hill)
• Grass verge cutting (Gainsborough ONLY)

…

Existing ‘Live’ Projects

These are items that already have budget allocation. The projects will be in various stages of planning and delivery.

Richmond House Windows

A 2022 building condition report identified several windows as in need of priority repair and maintenance. All windows are single glazed. Advice on how to progress has been sought from Conservation Officer. In 2023 all ground floor windows were refurbished, in 2024 the first-floor windows have been refurbished and all windows painted externally. The project will be completed once the dry rot at the front of the house is treated.

Richmond House Conservatory

Listed Building consent and planning documentation had been approved (once for a replacement conservatory and once for a patio area). Following consultation with LCC as a permanent ramp and handrail would not be approved, they advised they would not use the space. New plans for removal of the existing structure with external sash windows to replace internal doors and landscaped area have been submitted to WLDC and approved in November 2024.

Richmond Park Compound Fencing

Security of the compound is paramount. Fencing of the compound from the Rose garden is required. Delays have occurred due to the Planning Authority requiring a full planning application and listed building consent of the erection of the fence. Listed Building consent and planning application is being submitted to WLDC for approval.

Richmond House Dry Rot

Dry rot has been identified at the front entrance of the house, a contractor has confirmed it is dry rot and have carried out an invasive survey and quoted for works to be undertaken. Listed Building consent and planning application is being currently being drawn up to submit to WLDC for approval.

Levellings Dog Walk Footpath

An incident was reported to the Council in 2023 of someone falling on the footpath in the dog walk area. Following numerous site visits and full tender process a contractor is to begin works in January 2025 to remove 2 footpaths and create a new footpath through the dog walk area.

General Cemetery Waste Management

The compound has been resurfaced in November 2023, fencing to secure the compound has been erected and barrels purchased to creating compartments to segregate waste and enhance recycling. Further works are required to the compartments to contain the waste.

Marshalls Sports Ground Heating

The heating system has been an issue for many years costing the Council thousands. In April 2023 a contractor carried out a power flush of the whole system it was identified that the original commissioning fluid that had congealed. This had also frozen several of the manifolds. One of the two water circulation pumps is defective, the hardware is defunct but has been replace with a used item. Its been identified that the thermostats do not work and the system is set to on constantly in order for it to work.

West Lindsey District Council instructed Midlands Net Zero Hub of Nottinghamshire County Council to carry out an energy audit, the report was received on 25 June 2024. They are now awaiting further information/guidance on Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) Phase 4.

WLDC have put a few suggestions forward but we have requested a meeting at the site in the new year.

Play Area Remedial Works

The annual RoSPA reports have identified areas of remedial works needed on each play area, the budget set will not complete all works identified but will make a start on them prioritising works needed.

Further projects – identified in previous project plans

Marshalls Pavilion – Internal decoration of all areas.  

Marshalls Pavilion – Shutter repairs, wider wiring problem, attempts to find solutions failed.

General Cemetery – Ashes scattering area (17.29 of current regulations prohibits this).

Richmond Park – Refurb and replanting of woodland walkway along with enhanced security around the service yard.

Richmond House & Park – Outbuilding repairs and possible partial demolition, compound resurfacing and grant funding for development of house.

3 Year Project Plans

All projects identified in this section are subject to more detailed investigation and cost analysis. They do however represent that the projects which have been identified and which the Council intends to investigate and hopefully progress.

2024 / 2025

Richmond Park Security Fencing

In 2023 20m of the leylandii hedge serving the northern boundary was subject to an arson attack.

 As a result, there is now an unsightly gap that allows persons to wander behind the existing hedge and War Memorial Shelter. This gives rise to safeguarding concerns – out of site in a public park should be avoided at all times.

Planning consent is currently being sought for palisade fencing from the war memorial shelter to the hedge with a maintenance gate to create a safe and secure boundary.

Richmond Park Aviary Site

Turn the space into a nature area, comprising of raised beds with perennial bee and butterfly enhancing flowers and shrubs. Raised beds to serve as a community food sharing e.g. strawberries. Small water feature and seating area such as picnic benches. This will be subject to external funding.

2025 / 2026

General Cemetery Memorial / Reflection Garden

Creation of a memorial / reflection garden below the chapel. This will be subject to external funding.

General Cemetery Extension

GTC anticipates that the General Cemetery will run out of full burial space in 4-6 years’ time. The capacity for the interment of cremated remains is significantly higher. GTC are therefore currently in communication with WLDC at the possibility of WLDC gifting the old nursery site adjoining the Cemetery. Outcome of this will guide next steps.

There will be significant costs involved in preparing the site for burial. Early indicative costs are that there will could be a cost of £400,000 to £600,000 to prepare the land as a Cemetery. GTC has some earmarked reserves in place, but they would not cover the project cost.

General Cemetery Resurfacing 

The General Cemetery is well served by a network of access roads and footpaths. An ongoing programme of repairs and resurfacing is underway across the site. 

General Cemetery Boundary Entrance Widening

A budget is set aside for the cemetery boundary but isn’t likely to cover the full works. It has been identified that when contractors visit the cemetery for tree / road works they have to use smaller vehicles due to the width of the entrance, costs of contractors could potentially be reduced if they could fit in larger vehicles. Members of staff have also mentioned the struggle entering the cemetery when pulling the large trailer.

General Cemetery Railings

The railings around the General Cemetery need repainting. The railings adjacent to the main road are the priority area. Funding resources will need identifying.

Marshalls Sports Ground Cricket Net Training Area

A meeting has been held with a representative from Gainsborough Cricket club, to identify their needs. A further meeting has been scheduled for week commencing 9 December 2024 with a contractor to ascertain the associated costs for the training pitch. This will be subject to external funding.

Richmond Park Drainage

Richmond Park play area for a number of years has flood following continuous rainfall. There is a need to identify ways to alleviate this.

Danes Road Play Area Drainage

Danes Road play area in recent years has flood following continuous rainfall making the whole site very boggy. There is a need to identify ways to alleviate this.

Foxby Hill Allotment Gates

Due to the heavy traffic on Foxby Hill the gates in situ require to be reset further into the site by approximately three meters. This will allow for tenants driving on and off site, to park in a ‘bay’ where they can easily lock and unlock the gates. This will be subject to external funding.

Love Lane Allotment Pond

To further enhance this area for nature, raised beds to be installed along the boundaries of the fence, planted with perennial bee and butterfly enhancing flowers and shrubs. To extend this area utilising garden eight once this has been vacated by the sitting tenant. This will be subject to external funding.

Aisby Walk Play Area         

On 31 March 2021 a S106 agreement of £134k was signed for the Planning application to erect 95 no. dwellings. Land adjacent Middlefield Lane. The Section 106 agreement requires the developer to pay the Public Open Space Contribution to WLDC prior to occupation of 50% of the dwellings on the site. In August 2024 there were 20 properties occupied and the trigger for the payment is prior to occupation of the 48^th dwelling.

2026 / 2027

Christmas Illuminations

A new scheme will need to be procured for 2026.

Cemetery Chapel Refurbishment

In November 2023 a condition survey was carried out on the chapel, it highlighted a number of areas of concern. A funding bid will be required to restore the Chapel to prevent further deterioration. There is a growing earmarked reserve to aid match funding.

Levellings Skate Park

To reintroduce a skate park to the play area. This will be subject to external funding.

Neighbourhood Plan Review        

The Gainsborough Neighbourhood Plan was adopted by West Lindsey District Council on 28 June 2021. A review of the plan is required every 5 years.

Long Term Project Plans (3 years plus)

Richmond House and Outbuildings

Whilst the play area at Richmond Park has seen significant investment, the House, outbuildings and grounds are in a poor state of repair.  A condition report commissioned in early 2022 has highlighted several areas of concern.

The Council plans to seek external funding to develop the house and outbuildings in due course. This project will be dependent on public consultation and significant external grant funding. The listed status of the building is such that great care and attention will need to be taken over any development. 

The house and gardens are held in trust by West Lindsey District Council. The conditions of the trust limit the potential uses of the property.

The Council is open to ideas from the public as to how the house and outbuildings could be utilised.

Completed Projects since 2019 Plan

War Memorial – Widening of fencing and addition of memorial gardens at the existing war memorial site.

Richmond House Heating Installation – Work to reinstate heating to the upper floor and older parts of the ground floor. This was completed in early 2019.

Bus Shelters – Replacement of bus shelters on Church Street, Shakespeare Street, Gordon Street and Lea Road x2. New shelter erected in Beaumont Street. Adopted a refurbished bus shelter on Baines Road.

Mayflower Close Play Area – The entrance gate and entrance base has been replaced and repaired in June 2023.

General Cemetery

• Upgrade to water supply system.
• Fence off and improve the waste compound area to make it less visually intrusive on what is a sensitive site.
• Creation of Woodland Burial area
• Replacement of x10 litter bins throughout the cemetery in August 2024.
• The extension toilet block was brought back into use for staff use only.

Richmond Park

• The driveway into Richmond Park was resurfaced in 2018 and the around the garden to the south of the house in 2023.
• The outdoor toilets were refurbished in June 2024 following closure due to a bout of vandalism.

Aisby Walk Skate Park – Repair and replacement of skatelite sheets in June 2023.

North Warren Allotments

• CIL funds were utilised for the clearance of waste and overgrown vegetation from redundant plots in June 2023.
• Installation of a 135m long 1.8m high galvanised palisade fencing to the northern boundary to secure the site.

Levellings Play Area Upgrade – In 2023 with £100k of FCC funding the play areas were developed and the addition of outdoor gym equipment.

Showfield Allotment Wall – A structural report of the Showfields Allotment wall was carried out in 2018 by Alan Wood & Partners and areas of poor condition were identified, this has resulted five parts of the wall being demolished and rebuilt, to the rear of 5 Gainas Avenue – March 2019, to the rear of 9 Gainas Avenue – June 2019, to the rear of 13 Gainas Avenue – December 2019, to the rear of 11 Gainas Avenue – May 2022 and finally to the rear of Morton Terrace in July 2024.

Foxby Hill Allotment Clearance – CIL funds were used for the demolition of the unsafe structures and removal of asbestos in September 2024

Love Lane Allotment Pond – In January 2024 saw the removal of asbestos from the pond area, Planning permission was granted in May 2024 for the creation of a pond, a condition of the permission was to install a secure fence so a 54m long 1.8m high galvanised and ppc coated palisade fencing including 2m wide single leaf gate was installed in October 2024.

Play Area Refurbishments

• Dane Road play area roundabout had replacement bearings fitted in May 2024.
• St Georges play area has seen 4 swings replaced bringing to double bay back into use along with a new litter bin in October 2024.
• Aisby walk play area roundabout had replacement bearings fitted, it had also has seen the installation of 2 new litter bins to try and alleviate litter in September 202.
• Levellings playing field has seen the installation of 2 new litter bins to try and alleviate litter in September 2024.

Development of Council Governance

What we do now

Gainsborough Town Council has 18 seats. At time of writing 15 seats are filled. Two thirds of the Council’s seats have been filled by election rather than co-option in the May 2023 election. The Council employs a qualified Town Clerk and has declared the General Power of Competence under the Localism Act 2011.

The Council has delegated some of its functions to executive committees which are:

• Finance and Strategy Committee
• Personnel Committee
• Planning Committee
• Property and Services Committee

The Council commissioned an organisational review in 2022. The recommendations have been considered and some enacted to allow for a more efficient operation and better governance.

The Council has formulated a Vision and Mission Statement.

Governance Plans

• Local Council Award Scheme Silver Status
• Strategic Plan

Development of Council Run Events

What we do now

The Council has worked in partnership with the All Saints’ Parish Church, the Royal British Legion and other partners to facilitate a Remembrance Sunday event.

The Council has worked in partnership with West Lindsey District Council to deliver a successful family orientated two-day Christmas lights festival in 2023 & 2024.

What we plan

To build on existing community engagement and partnership working to further improve the delivery of existing events.

The Council will have a “Citizen of the Year” competition.

The Council are looking at creating a volunteer recognition scheme.

Consultation

In recognition that the Council uses public funds to carry out its functions, the Council will periodically seek public views and opinions on the projects that will form part of this plan. 

Consultation will be undertaken through a variety of methods including:

1. Annual Town Meeting
2. Social Media Engagement 
3. Local awareness of public issues and concerns.  
4. Input from Council Staff and Members.
5. Discussions with West Lindsey District Council and Lincolnshire County Council.

Further consultation and engagement may be achieved through regular surgeries, a Youth Council, engagement with the Voluntary and Charity sector, engagement with local business.