Issue - meetings

Cabinet, at its meeting on 4 February 2019, considered a report on a request from Marcham Parish Council for section 106 funds of £305,095.74 towards community and sports facilities.

The report of the head of planning, which Cabinet considered on 4 February 2019, is attached.

RECOMMENDATION to Council to:

(a)      create a budget for £305,095.74 for a combined village hall and sports pavilion/clubhouse, multi-use games area including tennis court and sports pitches (cricket & football) project in Marcham;

(b)      agree to secure a funding agreement with Marcham Parish Council for the use of these section 106 monies of which the terms included should be passed on to The Arthur Anson Memorial Trust through a further separate funding agreement between Marcham Parish Council and The Arthur Anson Memorial Trust; and

(c)     agree to pay Marcham Parish Council £305,095.74 once the funding agreements mentioned above are signed. 

Mr David Walton addressed Council in support of the request. Marcham has been without a village hall for about 15 years, and the Community has been working hard to secure a replacement on Anson Field. The plan includes a new village hall, with changing rooms for sports, a new junior football pitch and a new Multi-Use Games and tennis area, as well as the existing cricket pitch, children's play area, and a replacement adult football pitch. Due to the physical constraints of the site, it is not possible to make the new adult football pitch quite as wide as that recommended by the Football Association – by a matter of a few metres. In requesting Council approve the application for s106 funds he requested that Council amend the scheme to provide for the football pitch size to meet the Football Association standards as far as is practicable for the site.

Council considered Cabinet’s recommendation, made at its meeting on 4 February 2019, on a request from Marcham Parish Council for Section 106 funds towards community and sports facilities. 

Councillors Webber and Johnston agreed to withdraw an amendment they had moved and seconded in relation to the pitch sizes. However, they and Council agreed to accept an amendment moved by Councillor Barber and seconded by Councillor Murray to authorise the chief executive to agree the wording of the agreements in relation to the size of the pitches.

RESOLVED: to

1.    create a budget for £305,095.74 for a combined village hall and sports pavilion/clubhouse, multi-use games area including tennis court and sports pitches (cricket & football) project in Marcham;

2.    agree to secure a funding agreement with Marcham Parish Council for the use of these section 106 monies of which the terms included should be passed on to The Arthur Anson Memorial Trust through a further separate funding agreement between Marcham Parish Council and The Arthur Anson Memorial Trust;

3.    authorise the chief executive, in consultation with the ward councillors and Marcham Parish Council, to agree the wording of the agreements in relation to the size of the football pitches to ensure that the football pitches meet the Football Association size standard, subject to the land available; and    

4.    agree to pay Marcham Parish Council £305,095.74 once the funding agreements mentioned above are signed.

To consider the report of the head of planning and head of development and regeneration.