Decision details

(1)  Approval is given for officers to submit a grant application for up to £89k to the Heritage Lottery Fund Grant Programme, to contribute towards total project costs of £245k. 

(2)  The allocation of £80k from the Earmarked Reserve for Friends Group Initiatives and Community Fund, towards the cost of the project, is agreed. 

(3)  Ongoing maintenance costs of the restored structure will be met from the Building Maintenance budgets, other than a sum of £5k required for painting of the Soffit every five years as detailed at paragraph 3.13 of Report ES18072.

A specialist structural survey in 2013 identified the bandstand’s condition as deteriorating, with significant repair works needed to prevent further decline and ultimate removal of the asset. With significant local support for the restoration, the Friends Group at Croydon Road Recreation Ground and other partners, including Memory of a Free Festival, have been actively fundraising towards the cost of repair works.

Although a previous application under The Heritage Lottery Fund’s (HLF) ‘Heritage Grant’ programme was unsuccessful in 2015, a revised one-stage application is currently being prepared under the ‘Our Heritage’ programme providing grants from £10k - £100k. With the level of match-funds secured, required funding has reduced to less than £100k. As lead applicant, L B Bromley will receive all grant money with idverde and the Friends of Croydon Road Recreation Ground acting as delivery partners. Amey Ltd will procure and oversee delivery of the capital restoration works and idverde will deliver the remainder of the project. Should an application be successful, the terms and conditions of grant are also outlined in Report ES18072. The grant application is expected to be submitted in November 2018 with notification of the outcome expected in January 2019.

Amey Ltd carried out a competitive tender for the major repair works in February 2018 using their own preferred supplier list. The cost for the work based on the lowest tender and inclusive of fees, is estimated at £191k. Additionally, a number of minor works are valued at £14k (funded from the HLF grant), including the design, production and installation of an interpretation panel and staging enabling increased use of the bandstand (the current bandstand floor space being insufficient to accommodate some performance groups e.g. an orchestra).

A total project budget of £245k over a 12 month period is required, inclusive of a 10% contingency throughout the project. The budget is split between revenue costs estimated at £40k and capital works, equipment, and associated project management costs, at approximately £205k. An application is expected to be made for a grant of £89k with the balance of £156k coming from match-funding.

Should the application be successful, the project is anticipated to commence in March 2019 with three grant instalments: 50% up-front; 40% on expenditure of the first instalment; and 10% on completion of the project. Subject to grant timings, capital works could commence late spring 2019 and complete by summer 2019. Expenditure on events and activities to encourage use of the bandstand is expected to be on-going throughout 2019 into 2020.

Following notification of a successful grant application, a report will be submitted to the Executive seeking approval to spend the grant and to add the scheme to the Capital Programme.