Council takes over care of Horley parks
Horley Town Council has entered into an agency agreement with Reigate & Banstead Borough Council for the provision of grounds maintenance services in Horley until March 2015.
For the past two years, both parties have planned to devolve a number of specific services from the Borough Council to the Town Council. This is as a direct result of the Town Council achieving Quality Status and the setting up of a Partnership Agreement which was formally agreed by both the Town and Borough Councils in April 2009. The Borough Council agreed to consider any functions where devolution would offer best value (taking into account cost, quality, local preferences and practicability). This has ensured that the following strict criteria are met:
- Achieve cost savings to the Council tax payer
- Deliver an improvement in service
- Improve service resilience
- Make it simpler for the resident
- Make a more inclusive service
Commencing in April 2010, the following sites will be phased over to Horley Town Council on an agency agreement basis:
- Bay Close Open Space
- Church Meadows
- Riverside Garden Park
- Riverside Walk
- Yattendon Road Recreation Ground
In addition, the Town Council will assume immediate responsibility for all the precinct planters and hanging baskets in the town centre. The Town Council will in future deal with all operational queries from the public.
A number of other service areas for potential transfer have also been identified and these will be considered later.
Cllr Julian Ellacott, Executive Member for Environment at Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, said: "This is a very good step forward for both Councils and shows how strong the partnership between us is. The Town Council has Quality Status and now has the opportunity to show how well it can manage these sites. Assuming that this transfer of responsibility goes well I look forward to more arrangements like this in future."
Cllr Simon Marshall, Chairman & Town Mayor, commented: “I am so delighted that we have built on our partnership agreement with the Borough Council . The transfer of responsibility is very good news for the residents of Horley. I hope that we shall discuss further elements of partnership working in the future.”
The handover will be reviewed in a year’s time.
Pictured are Julian Ellacott and Simon Marshall at Riverside Garden Park, Horley.
