Decision details

The Committee received a report from the Urban Growth Project Manager regarding S106 priority-setting and devolved decision-making.

 

He clarified two issues.  The first was that a word had been missed from paragraph 4.4b in the officer’s report, which should read as follows: (missing word, underlined below).

 

b. the Area Committee is invited to prioritise which of the three other proposals (for formalising the BMX track on Coldham’s Common and / or improving the play areas at Ditton Fields or Dudley Road) to prioritise, using the appropriate devolved s106 contribution types.

 

The second was that an alternative approach had been suggested since the publication of the report.  Rather than prioritising improvements at Ditton Fields OR Dudley Road play area (because there was less than £50,000 s106 play area funding available for Abbey Ward), the area committee was given the option of carrying out improvements to BOTH Ditton Fields and Dudley Road play areas, but at lower levels than those suggested in the report.  This might allow Ditton Fields play area to receive about £18,000 play area funding for play equipment for small children plus around £7000 of informal open space contributions for landscaping improvements.  This would then allow Dudley Road play area to receive around £30,000 of play area funding with around £10,000 of informal open space funding for landscaping.

 

Members of the public made the following statements in support of the Dudley Road and the Ditton Fields s106 funding applications.

 

1.   Mr Smallwood spoke in favour of the Dudley Road s106 funding application and he stated that he would support both Dudley Road and Ditton Fields getting better facilities.  Several items of equipment had been removed from the play area and the wood bark needed to be replaced.  There were a lot of weeds which had grown in the play area; it was not a nice play area for children under 5 to play in.

 

2.   Ms Cox (supported by a number of local children and another local resident) spoke in favour of the Ditton Fields play area s106 funding application.  There was support for both Ditton Fields and Dudley Road play areas sharing the funding available.  Ditton Fields did not have much play equipment for small children, who needed their own space away from ball games played by older children.  There was a sense of community at Ditton Fields.  Ms Cox was happy to share ideas to get children interested and involved in the design of the park so that they would want to look after it and use it in the future.

 

The Committee discussed the following issues:

i.             Asked the Officer whether there would be sufficient s106 funding so that good facilities at both Dudley Road and Ditton Fields play areas could be provided.

 

This was confirmed by the Development Manager (Streets & Open Spaces).  The Urban Growth Project Manager also pointed out that if further devolved play area and informal open space contributions were received in Abbey ward prior to project implementation, these could be added to the budgets for the play area improvement projects. 

 

Resolved (unanimously):

 

    i.                   Noted that (a) Petersfield Area Community Trust was not in a position to take up the offer of a £48,600 grant to convert Sturton Street Chapel and Hall into a community centre and that (b) the allocation was cancelled and released back into the devolved s106 community facilities fund for other local community facility projects in East Area.

  ii.                   Contributed £25,000 of devolved s106 community facilities funds to a grant to refurbish the Memorial Hall and Church Hall on Cherry Hinton Road, subject to a project appraisal and community use agreement.

 iii.                   Agreed, subject to project appraisal and community use agreement to use funds from appropriate devolved s106 contributions from East Area to:

-      Formalise the BMX track on Coldham’s Common (around £85,000)

-      Improve Ditton Fields play area (at least £25,000)

-      Improve Dudley Road play area (at least £40,000). 

 

 

 ***See below for record of delegated Officer’s Decision –

additional information published on insert date***

 

Officer Record of Decision

 

Ditton Fields play area improvements

 

Decision of:	Alistair Wilson Asset Manager (Streets and Open Spaces)
Reference:	16/EAC/S106/06
Date of decision:	5.12.16	Recorded on: 5.12.16
Decision Type:	Non-key
Matter for Decision:	Implementation of the Ditton Fields play area improvement scheme and the increased S106 funding level, which is now available from devolved S106 funding from Abbey ward.
Why the decision had to be made (and any alternative options):	As part of the 2015/16 S106 priority-setting round, local residents and children proposed improvements to Ditton Fields play area. The East Area Committee on 29 October 2015 decided to fund two local play area improvement projects (at Ditton Fields and Dudley Road), albeit that the two schemes might have to be smaller than originally requested given limited S106 funding availability in Abbey ward.   The Area Committee agreed to allocate at least £25,000 of S106 funding for the Ditton Fields play area improvements, subject to business case approval. This was based on £18k from devolved (play) ‘provision for children and teenagers’ contributions and £7k from devolved ‘informal open space’ contributions. This was on the understanding that, if more devolved contributions became available, officers could increase the funding for, and scope of, these play area improvements.   Since then, it has been possible to increase the budget for this play area project to £38,489.
Decision(s):	Approval of the Ditton Fields play area improvement scheme and the increased funding level now £38,489 from devolved s106 funding from Abbey ward.
Reasons for the decision:	As set out in the Officers Report
Scrutiny consideration:	Chair and Vice Chair of East Committee were consulted
Conflicts of interest:	No conflicts of interest were declared
Comments:	Ward Councillors expressed support.