Issue - meetings

The Committee received a report from the Urban Growth Project Manager.

The report provided an update on:

·       The delivery of the Area Committee’s first round local priority projects;

·       Steps being taken to implement the SAC’s second round local priorities (in particular, background information on delays to the delivery of the Accordia junior scooter facility project);

·       Opportunities to allocate some further funding to enable a couple of local environmental improvement schemes to move forward, ahead of a third priority-setting round in late 2014/early 2015.

Mrs Hilary Lowson, Joint Secretary of Accordia Community and Residents’ Association (ACRA), spoke in favour of the junior scooter park project. She said that children needed somewhere safe to play. Residents would be able to give their views on such issues as the proposed materials and siting through the consultation.

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

       i.          ACRA/Accordia residents had lobbied SAC for the junior scooter in the run-up to the second round priority-setting last January. Some residents had raised concerns more recently, and it was hoped that these could be addressed through the consultation process.

     ii.          The Cherry Hinton Baptist Church Family Centre’s on-going search for more funding for an expanded improvement scheme was set in the context of the impending closure/redevelopment of other community facilities at the local British Legion Hall.

In response to Members’ comments the Urban Growth Project Manager said the following:

       i.          SAC had identified the Accordia junior scooter park and trim trail project as a local priority (subject to local consultation and project appraisal) last January. Beyond the feedback received as part of initial consultation on first and second round broad project ideas, further consultation would be undertaken so that residents could have their input on specific design proposals for the junior scooter facility. Depending on the comments received as part of that further consultation, a project appraisal would be reported either to the SAC Chair, Vice Chair and Opposition Spokes or, if there is not a broad consensus on the proposals, to a future SAC meeting.

     ii.          Depending on the level of funding needed by Cherry Hinton Baptist Church for its expanded family centre refurbishment plans, a project appraisal would be reported either to the SAC Chair, Vice Chair and Opposition Spokes or, if the overall S106 funding request is more than £75,000, to a future SAC meeting.

Following discussion, Members resolved (by 8 votes to 0):

       i.          Noted the updates on local priority projects from the first two rounds of devolved decision-making, especially the consultation arrangements & revised timescales for the Accordia scooter project.

     ii.          Allocated £17,500 of devolved informal open space S106 contributions to support the delivery of environmental improvements at Trumpington War Memorial and Cherry Hinton War Memorial.