The Council was pre-selected and eligible to receive a Government Levelling Up Parks Fund (LUPF) Grant of £85,000 to improve quality open green spaces within deprived urban areas across the district.  Several open spaces were considered and the children’s play area at Sidley House in Bexhill was selected, as it complied with the Government’s aims, grant amount and timeframe.  A funding application was submitted and approved in October 2022.

The LUPF Grant would be broken down as follows: up to £47,500 for improvements to open space, up to £18,500 for project preparation, creation and maintenance, and up to £19,000 for tree planting and related costs.  Recipients were being encouraged to deliver projects before the end of the financial year, however there was flexibility on timescales allowing works to commence in spring with tree planting commencing in February / March.

Currently the open space/play area at Sidley House was under-used and it was hoped that the improvements would attract new users and provide environmental benefits.  All relevant stakeholders e.g. Early Help Service, All Saints CE Primary School, Heart of Sidley and the wider community would be consulted on the project’s planning and delivery and subsequent use of the facilities.  Dependant on available funding, additional improvements might be made following project delivery.

Following discussion, Cabinet was supportive of the project and agreed that the £85,000 LUPF Grant be formally accepted to deliver open space improvements to Sidley House, Bexhill. The Local Ward Members for Sidley were both delighted with the project that would bring much needed improvements to this local open space within one of the most deprived areas in the South East.  

RESOLVED: That the £85,000 Levelling Up Parks Fund Grant be formally accepted to deliver open space improvements to Sidley House, Bexhill.