Agenda item

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

The Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place), which sought approval to submit an application for Heritage Lottery Funding in relation to London Road Cemetery.

A corresponding private report detailing confidential aspects of the proposals was also submitted to the meeting for consideration.

The London Road Cemetery is a Grade 1 Listed Historic Park and Garden, designed by Sir Joseph Paxton in 1845 at the height of his career.  Paxton was commissioned by the Council to create one of the first municipal cemeteries in the country.  It was Paxton’s only Cemetery and was recognised as one of the most significant in the country.

The Council secured Heritage Lottery Funding (HLF) in 2016 to develop a proposed detailed scheme to restore the Cemetery as a visitor attraction, park for local people and education resource.  The project would be delivered in two phases to reinstate elements of the original landscape design, repair major features including the listed Anglican Chapel and Promenade and grave monuments.  The project would include community engagement alongside education and training to increase participation volunteer activities.

It was proposed that an application be made on 28^th February 2018 to the Heritage Lottery ‘Parks for People’ Stage 2 Phase 1 funding.  If successful, an award would be made in June 2018.

The Cemetery’s considerable potential was heightened further by its close proximity to the Charterhouse, which was also the subject of a Stage 2 application to secure Heritage Lottery funding for the restoration of the building and gardens.  The two schemes were designed to complement one another and provide an enhanced offer for the City.  Dependent on securing the funding for both projects, the Council were committed to funding a crossing point to link both sites.

The report indicated that, if the Cemetery bid were successful, the funds would be used to appoint an external professional team and specialist consultants to deliver the following proposals as part of a phased programme of works:-

·  Restore the Grade 1 listed landscape and where feasible reinstate Paxton’s original design to facilitate use as a public park.  This would include improvements to the path network, improved horticultural features and seating.

·  Restore the Anglican Chapel, including repairs to stonework, floors and windows, and the Chapel would also have significantly improved visitor facilities with improved lighting, heating and other facilities to support a wider range of uses.

·  Restore the elevated Promenade as a key feature of the original design, with works to open up the former mortuary chapels beneath, providing spaces for exhibitions and interpretations.

·  Initially restore 20 of the key monuments, including the Paxton Memorial, with additional external funding to be sought to restore additional monuments.

·  Works to safeguard and extend the life of the notable veteran and mature trees, including the characteristic ‘candelabra’ limes.

·  Measures to interpret and celebrate the heritage of London Road Cemetery through improved signage, interpretation panels, exhibition space using the bier store, mortuary chapel and Anglican Chapel.

·  To make a step change in education and understanding of the significance of the site with a much greater number and range of tours and information in different formats which will educate, inform and also entertain.

·  To develop and deliver a range of innovative and appropriate events and activities which attract more visitors and more diverse audiences, contributing to the wider heritage and cultural offer of Coventry (linked to City of Culture 2021).

·  To promote London Road Cemetery as a heritage and community venue for local arts and community organisations to deliver events and activities.

·  To encourage and support greater volunteer participation providing a range of opportunities for a diverse range of local people to contribute to the delivery of the project.  Target audiences include young people and children, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups, local families, day visitors and cultural tourists, and older heritage visitors.  Local schools will also be engaged through arts and theatre projects and an education programme celebrating local heritage.

·  To build the capacity of the Friends of London Road Cemetery so that that group can play a greater role in managing and maintaining the cemetery.

·  To provide opportunities for training in traditional skills, working with the local college(s) and building contractors.

·  To develop a sustainable model for ongoing management and maintenance of the cemetery, which encourages volunteer participation and capitalises on opportunities for income generation.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet:-

1.  Approve the submission of the stage 2 application to Heritage Lottery Fund “Parks for People” for the London Road Cemetery Project.

2.  If successful, authorise the Council to act as the accountable body for the Stage 2 Phase 1 grant award.

3.  Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) and Legal Services Manager, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for City Services, to finalise and enter into any necessary agreements in relation to securing the HLF funding.

4.  Approve a local contribution from the Council’s existing resources toward the delivery stage to be used in addition to HLF funding.

5.  Approve the Council to underwrite a local contribution from the Council’s own fund towards the delivery stage to be used in addition to HLF funding subject to other external grant being secured.

6.  Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) following consultation with the Cabinet Member for City Services to make applications to other funding providers to develop a funding package for delivery of phase 2 submission, subject to such applications not exceeding the Cabinet approval limits under the Constitution.