Issue - meetings

No decision required.

Information report [to follow] regarding:
- Nightingale Recreation Ground Pavilion Project.
- King George V Play Field Boundary Improvements.

The Committee received a report from the Head of Property Services on behalf of the Community, Sport & Recreation Manager regarding Nightingale Recreation Ground Pavilion Project.

 

Councillor McGerty said the item was coming to Environment and Community Scrutiny Committee for consideration 1 October 2020. Funding requirements would be looked at then. This was an urgent issue as residents were waiting for a new building once the old one was demolished. Queried what, if any, facilities would be available in the meantime.

 

Action: Head of Property Services to seek answers from Community, Sport & Recreation Manager regarding the following queries about Nightingale Avenue Pavilion:

·       Will the gardening group continue to have access during the building period?

·       What renewable energy systems will be included in the scheme?

·       Will there be an outside fountain for people to fill up bottles as discussed at planning?

·       Will there be a veranda?

 

Post meeting note: Response from Community, Sport & Recreation Manager:

·       Garden group can still access their area and we’ll be seeing how we can keep the water supply going too.

·       Photovoltaics to be installed, good thermal installation and water reducing measures in showers and toilets

·       There will be an outside tap. Location to be confirmed.

·       There will be a veranda.

 

The Head of Property Services said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.          Asbestos needed to be cleared from the site when the building was demolished, to clear the site properly.

     ii.          The City Council had undertaken a risk assessment and concluded people were at no risk from asbestos when using the building [before demolition]. There was no issue when it was left in situ.

 

The Committee received a report from the Head of Property Services on behalf of the Streets and Open Space – Development Manager regarding King George V Play Field Boundary Improvements.

      i.          The Council used S106 contributions paid by developers to mitigate the impact of developments on facilities and amenities in Cambridge.

     ii.          In view of the Covid-19 period, applications for the 2020 S106 funding round were invited over an extended period (from mid-March to the end of July 2020.  

   iii.          Eighteen proposals relating to play areas and open spaces were received (Trumpington Recreation Ground boundary treatment was one) and have been assessed against the Council’s agreed S106 selection criteria.

   iv.          The Executive Councillor is due to consider a report at the 29 September Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee when the Trumpington Recreation Ground project/application will be considered and may or may not receive funding.

    v.          If the project received funding, the scheme would be developed and implemented in late 2021 at the earliest.

 

A member of the public addressed the committee: We would be grateful for information about what is proposed around the perimeter of the play field, including the reason for any changes and the options that are being considered. As far as we are aware, other than messages on a Facebook group, there has not been any general consultation with the neighbours who live around the play field or our staff at Trumpington Pavilion. We are concerned that any physical barrier around the play field may prove to be counter-productive. There are elderly residents who have for many years walked across the play field rather than use the path to the north of the field. Also, there is a need for regular vehicle access to the football pitches and to the changing rooms and patio to the rear of the Pavilion, for maintenance and events. Residents were open to consultation on proposals.

 

Councillor Lord said he had proposed the project:

      i.          The trigger for proposed changes was the use of the play field by groups of travellers.

     ii.          Councillor Lord proposed the project in 2019.

   iii.          Due to time constraints on funding, the project had been started with the intention of undertaking consultation later.

   iv.          A multi-form barrier was proposed to block [unauthorised] vehicular access.

    v.          The project would increase the biodiversity of the area.

   vi.          The project had been put on the committee agenda tonight so residents could discuss the idea.

 

Councillor Thornburrow said:

      i.          Travellers and campers had stayed on the recreation ground to access local hospital facilities. This only happened a few times, the families concerned had caused only a few problems as far as the council was aware. It was understood families left of their own accord and removed any rubbish.

     ii.          No further action was expected until the consultation period went ahead.

   iii.          Undertook to feedback issues to the Streets and Open Space – Development Manager.