BOROUGH boss Brenda Harvey has agreed to pay £60,000 in fees to keep a huge improvement scheme moving forward.

As the council’s chief executive, she has allocated the cash from the capital works programme to pay fees to Groundwork Merseyside.

This will allow the £402,800 scheme to continue on schedule, with work expected to finish this year. A contribution of £300,000 has been made by the resources committee to ensure its delivery.

The scheme includes the refurbishment of football pitches, improvements to parks, play areas and allotment sites, and buying items to help grounds maintenance and street cleaning services.

A council report says: “Groundwork Merseyside have previously been appointed as our landscape consultant and will be assisting in the delivery of this complex programme of projects on time and within budget.

“Services provided will include public consultation, detailed design, preparation of tender and contract documentation and the appointment and supervision of contractors.

“The percentage fee rate will be 15%, producing a total fee of £60,000.

“The chief executive has delegated authority to allocate this funding from the £300,000 and has decided this is an appropriate use in that it will ensure delivery of the projects this year and will maximise the effective use of other funding for these projects.”