Agenda item

CABINET REPORT UPDATE - GLA BIG GREEN FUNDS & HLF LANDSCAPE PARTNERSHIP FUNDING APPLICATIONS

The Sub-Committee is to receive an update to the Cabinet Report.

 

Minutes:

In accordance with the Council’s Continuous Improvement Model, the Sub-Committee received a briefing on the GLA Big Green Fund & Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Landscape Partnerships funding applications from the Projects and Programme Manager Economic Development.

 

The Sub-Committee was informed that Cabinet gave approval for the submission of two funding bids; an application to the Greater London Authority Big Green Fund and an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a Landscape Partnership grant.  Both these applications were submitted and had been successful. 

 

The report detailed how the aim of securing funding for environmental regeneration programmes in Havering’s countryside and green spaces was being achieved through developed partnership work between the Council, the Thames Chase Trust, the Forestry Commission and other Thames Chase local authorities, i.e. London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and Thurrock Council.

 

The initiative recognised that green infrastructure had an increasingly important role to play in order to meet the challenges of sustaining economic growth and the expected changes to London’s demography and climate. 

 

The Sub-Committee noted that green infrastructure was becoming more important in urban areas because it could help to absorb flood water, cool the urban environment and clean the air. Members noted that it could also  be used for local food production, to promote sport and leisure and ensure space for London’s fauna and flora, As a network it could provide links and connections between places, encouraging walking and cycling, highlighting landscape and heritage and supporting the local economy, in particular the visitor economy.

 

The partnership had embarked upon the development stage, with funding from HLF that would pay for the appointment of a Development Manager and the commissioning of a Landscape Character Assessment and Action Plan, an Audience Development Plan, a training and skills audit and further community engagement.  This work was now underway and if successful, it was anticipated that the Lottery would be able to offer the full grant of an additional £1.3m.

 

Greater London Authority Big Green Fund

In 2011 the London Mayor published the All London Green Grid (ALGG) Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) to the London Plan which outlined a vision and framework for London’s network of green and open spaces; its green infrastructure. 

 

The report stated that the Mayor supported the identification of 11 Green Grid Areas and the establishment of area-based partnerships to promote cross boundary working. Havering was located in Area 3 of the All London Green Grid, Thames Chase, Beam, Ingrebourne. 

 

The Big Green projects were expected to result in transformative actions ‘on the ground’ and to be delivered by March 2015.

 

The Thames Chase Partnership was successful and achieved a grant of £350,000 for a project called Thames Chase Big Green Destinations. 

 

The Sub-Committee noted that the project sought to improve access to the Thames Chase area by creating improved access for people visiting from London and arriving at Dagenham East Station.  The improved connections between the station and the Ingrebourne Valley were delivered and were able to make use of the new bridge over the Beam River at Bretons.  At Ingrebourne Hill, visitors could travel north to Hornchurch Country Park and the new visitor centre. The improvement also included access to Harold Hill following the Ingrebourne Way and south to Rainham Village, the marshes and the River Thames.  The GLA grant was match funded by TfL investment in Bretons Bridge and Veolia North Thames Trust investment at Rainham Marshes and at the Thames Chase Forest Centre. 

 

Members commended the partnership working and improvements that had been implemented in the Thames Chase area.

 

The Sub-Committee noted the report

 

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