Newcastle City Council is set to take over management of the city’s parks and green spaces after a meeting of Cabinet on Monday evening.
A report recommending the handover of Newcastle’s parks and allotments back to the City Council was presented to Cabinet.
Urban Green Newcastle (UGN) has managed 33 parks, more than 60 allotment sites and around 60 buildings since it was established as a charity by the City Council in 2019.
The council had granted £1m of additional funding to UGN for the 2024/25 financial year, with a condition being a review of the management of parks and allotments was undertaken.
The review was completed while the City Council also undertook a five-week engagement exercise so residents and partners could have their say.
A report presented to Cabinet on Monday, November 25, recommended the management of parks and allotments comes back to the council.
At that meeting the decision was approved and work to transfer staff and assets to the City Council is now underway.
Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Alex Hay, said:
“The City Council, Urban Green Newcastle, and those who use our city’s green spaces all want the same thing – our parks and allotments to thrive.
“Newcastle’s parks and green spaces play a leading role in the health and wellbeing of our residents. We are committed to protecting them and working alongside our communities to make sure they are places to be proud of.
“Since 2019, we have worked closely with Urban Green Newcastle and recognise the unforeseen challenges they’ve faced. However, the Cabinet's decision does not mean the one made five years ago was a mistake. it was the right choice at that time.
“As a city council, we know we face significant challenges ahead, and it will take time to implement the improvements our communities have rightly called for.
“Now that the decision has been made, we are dedicated to working with UGN staff, our partners, and local communities to ensure that everyone has a chance to shape the future of Newcastle’s green spaces."
The City Council had worked closely with the National Trust and Social Finance to develop the model of transferring the management of parks and allotments to UGN in 2019.
The opportunity for such a trust to access grant funding not available to local authorities and to generate income from a range of other activities was seen as a real opportunity for the city’s green spaces.
Since it was set up, UGN has helped lead a string of projects to preserve the city’s nature and wildlife, while also securing funding to renovate football pitches and tennis courts across Newcastle.
But the Coronavirus pandemic significantly impacted expected income from commercial premises, such as cafes, and events held in the parks.
At the meeting of Cabinet, it was heard how staff currently employed by Urban Green Newcastle will transfer to the City Council. It is expected that will conclude in early 2025.
A link to the cabinet report can be found here: Agenda for Cabinet on Monday 25th November, 2024, 6.00 pm | Newcastle City Council.
