Agenda item

By way of a report by the Head of Financial Services to consider requests for the release of funding for various projects.

Agreed to release the relevant funding for the following schemes and projects within the Council’s Medium Term  Plan –

Crime and Disorder – lighting improvements

CCTV digital services

Local Transport Plan

Safe cycle routes

Huntingdon Transport Strategy

Bus shelters – extra provision

Huntingdon Bus Station

St Ives town centre II

A J C small scale improvements

  Environmental improvements village residential areas

Street naming

Accessibility improvements; and

Affordable housing social housing grant.

Approved the release of £170,000 of capital funding for new public conveniences and the associated revenue costs, with the exception of work at South Street, St Neots and approved the release of £464,000 of capital funding for essential repairs to the swimming pool roof at St Neots Leisure Centre and associated refurbishment work to the building’s interior and authorised the Director of Central Services, after consultation with the Leader of the Council, to approve the final costings of the scheme and negotiations with the County Council and report back thereon to a future meeting.

(The Chairman announced that he proposed to include within the following item a proposal to release funds for an element of the Leisure Centres’ Condition Survey 2007-11 in accordance with Section 100B(4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972 given the need to make urgent repairs to the swimming pool roof at St Neots Leisure Centre.)

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Financial Services requesting the release of funding for various schemes included in the Medium Term Plan.  (Copies of the report and associated justifications are appended in the Minute Book).

With regard to the scheme to improve the appearance and safety of public conveniences in Huntingdon, St Ives and St Neots, Members were of the opinion that the proposal to refurbish the public conveniences on South Street, St Neots should be deferred to enable officers to investigate further issues relating to design and location.  Members also sought information on the proportion of County Council funding on a number of partnership schemes and requested that the justifications for the release of schemes should be more detailed in future.

Members were informed that as a result of heavy rainfall on the evening of 15th May, water had penetrated the roof of the swimming pool at St. Neots Leisure Centre, causing the building to have to be evacuated and closed.  Although the pool had been re-opened, it was suggested that the situation was likely to recur in the event of another rain storm.  It was pointed out that provision had been made in the current 5 year condition survey for leisure centre maintenance and in the MTP for the repair of the roof.  However this had not been brought forward for the release of funds while negotiations were ongoing with the County Council for them to bear a proportion of the costs.

The Cabinet were informed that, in preparing the condition survey, consultants had estimated that the replacement of the pool roof would take 24 weeks and that it would be advisable for all of the other internal refurbishment/maintenance at the pool to be undertaken while the pool was closed to minimise the loss of income.

Members were concerned to ensure that the County Council contributed to the cost of the work, especially since the District Council had met the whole of the cost of replacing the pool roof at Ramsey Leisure Centre some years previously.

RESOLVED

(a)  that the relevant funding be released for the following schemes and projects within the Council’s Medium Term  Plan –

·  Crime and Disorder – lighting improvements

·  CCTV digital services

·  Local Transport Plan

·  Safe cycle routes

·  Huntingdon Transport Strategy

·  Bus shelters – extra provision

·  Huntingdon Bus Station

·  St Ives town centre Phase II

·  A J C small scale improvements

·  Environmental improvements – village residential areas

·  Street naming

·  Accessibility improvements; and

·  Affordable housing social housing grant.

(b)  that £170,000 of capital funding be released for new public conveniences and the associated revenue costs, with the exception of work at South Street, St. Neots; and

(c)  that the release of £464,000 of capital funding for essential repairs to the swimming pool roof at St Neots Leisure Centre and associated internal refurbishment/maintenance work be approved and the Director of Central Services, after consultation with the Leader of the Council, authorised to approve the final costing of the scheme following negotiations with the County Council.