Decision details

1. Approve the community facilities grant awards following the assessment against the selection criteria of proposals received during the 2018 S106 funding round, subject to business case approval and signed community use / grant agreements.

2. Revise the existing allocations of S106 funding for the new Nightingale Avenue Recreation Ground Pavilion (now including up to £150k of community facilities S106 funding out of a S106 budget increased to up to £425k) to reflect the extent to which the facility will be used as community meeting space as well as for outdoor sports. The exact funding allocations for this project under development will be subject to the final design details (which will require planning permission) and the approval of the business case for project delivery.

3. Allocate up to £250k of outdoor sports S106 funding to enable community use of improved artificial grass hockey pitch provision at the University of Cambridge Sports Ground on Wilberforce Road, subject to business case approval and a signed community use / grant agreements.

Matter for Decision

In line with the arrangements agreed by the Executive Councillor on 18th January 2018, for the Community Facilities S106 funding round 2018, applications have been invited for proposals to improve community facilities in Cambridge. Eleven applications have been received and assessed against the S106 selection criteria. The Officer’s report summarised those applications and assessments and makes nine recommendations for S106 funding.

The Officer’s report also took stock of other S106 issues which come within the Executive Councillor’s portfolio and:

a)   reviewed community facilities and outdoor/indoor sports S106 funding already allocated to particular existing projects;

b)   considered further opportunities for allocating community facilities and outdoor sports S106 funding to projects already identified as priorities in the Council’s Community Centre Strategy and Playing Pitch Strategy.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Communities

       i.          Agreed the following S106 Community Facility grants and funding, detailed in Section 3 and Appendices 1 and 2 of the Officer’s report, subject to:

§  planning and building control requirements satisfactorily met

§  business case approval

§  signed community grant agreement, securing appropriate community use of the facilities

§  any other conditions highlighted in the report

     ii.          Increased the community facilities S106 funding contribution for the new Nightingale Avenue Recreation Ground Pavilion from £33,000 up to £150,000 towards the increased overall project budget of £425,000. This reduces the outdoor sports S106 funding allocation from £370,000 to no more than £275,000. (Detailed in Section 4 of the Officer’s report).

   iii.          Allocated up to £250,000 for increased hockey pitch provision, to be available for community use, at the Cambridge University Sports Ground, subject to community use agreement. (Detailed in Section 5 of the Officer’s report).

   iv.          Allocated up to £25,000 of indoor sports S106 funding as a grant to Netherhall School for the provision of inclusive fitness equipment for its new community gym and fitness studio. (Detailed in Section 6 of the Officer’s report).

    v.          Requested officers to review and report back to this Committee any of these S106-funded projects which do not progress to the implementation stage within 18 months.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Community Funding and Development Manager.

Councillor McGerty sought clarification about the progress of  the meeting hut in the community garden at Nightingale Recreation Ground project. He also queried if Ward Councillors were invited to community group meetings with officers. The Community, Sport & Recreation Manager said pavilion plans should be available in September/October. He undertook to liaise with Ward Councillors post committee about community group meetings.

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.