Issue - meetings

The Committee received a report from the Urban Growth Project Manager. The report set out the options for a couple of local outdoor sports projects. These proposals would enable the Area Committee to make use of its devolved s106 funds (which included time limited s106 contributions from Coleridge Ward) whilst leaving money for outdoor sports in the next s106 priority setting round.

The Committee discussed the following issues:

i.             Expressed support for outdoor fitness equipment, however stated that Officers needed to mindful of the type of materials that were used for the equipment so that it blended in with the context of the area.

ii.            Welcomed the upgrade of the pavilion but commented that some football teams found it difficult to be able to find a site to play locally.

iii.           Questioned whether S106 funding from outdoor sports was available for a MUGA (multi-use games area) at the East Barnwell Community Centre.

The Sports & Recreation Manager made the following comment:

i.             The outdoor sports equipment for Abbey was intended to offer more resistance and “boot camp” based workouts for people and would not be constructed of wooden materials as this material was more suitable for trim trails.

The Urban Growth Project Manager also commented that:

ii.            The Area Committee’s previous allocation of S106 funding for East Barnwell community centre had been for the community centre, not for a multi-use games area. Devolved S106 outdoor sports funding was still available for local sports projects, albeit that it was running down. The Area Committee would be able to consider any eligible future proposal for a multi-games area at the community centre, alongside other proposals for funding.

The Committee

Resolved unanimously to:

i.             Allocate up to £70,000 of its devolved outdoor sports s106 contributions for improvements to the pavilion at Coleridge Recreation Ground, subject to approval of the business case.

ii.            Allocate £40,000 of its devolved outdoor sports s106 contributions for outdoor fitness training equipment next to the Astroturf pitch by Abbey Pool, subject to the approval of the business case.