Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Leisure Centres Co-ordinator regarding the funding of a scheme to extend facilities at the St Ivo Outdoor Centre.

Approved the submission of bid for funding from the Football Foundation in the sum of £1,000,000 towards a scheme to improve football facilities at the St Ivo Outdoor Centre and subject to the receipt of this funding approved the release of £500,000 towards the project in advance of the receipt of Section 106 contributions from developments at Houghton Grange, Houghton Road and St Ives Golf Club.

By means of a report by the Leisure Centres’ Co-ordinator (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with developments in relation to a project within the Medium Term Plan to improve football facilities at the St Ivo Outdoor Leisure Centre.

In considering the content of the report, Executive Councillors were advised that as a consequence of a previous commitment to a scheme to provide changing facilities at Priory Park, St Neots the St Ivo scheme would be reliant on the receipt of Section 106 contributions and on the success of a bid to the Football Foundation towards the cost of a revised scheme which it was anticipated now also would incorporate a second synthetic football pitch with flood lighting.  Having considered issues surrounding the timing of the scheme, the opportunity to access significant external funding and the potential risk in funding Section 106 monies in anticipation of their receipt, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the submission of a bid for funding from the Football Foundation in the sum of £1,000,000 towards the cost of a scheme to improve football facilities at the St Ivo Outdoor Centre, as outlined in the report now submitted, be approved; and

(b)  that, subject to receipt of the funding referred to in (a) above, a contribution of £500,000  from the District Council be approved in advance of the receipt of Section 106 contributions from developments at Houghton Grange, Houghton Road and St Ives Golf Club.