Issue - meetings

To consider the head of finance’s report. 

To inform cabinet that we have received an application for funds, from MCSL, for a total sum of £876,572.22. This will be spent towards a new community hall with sporting facilities in Milton Parish. The sum is to be taken from six contributions secured under S106, from legal agreements linked to four developments.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet recommends to Council;

to create a budget for £876,572.22 towards a new community hall with sporting facilities, at Potash Lane in Milton Parish, from the accumulated section 106 contributions set out in this report;

Subject to Council creating the above budget:

to authorise the Head of Finance, in consultation with the Head of Legal and Democratic to:

•         agree and enter into a funding agreement with MCSL regarding the terms of use of the S106 funding; the instalments in which the funding is paid; the timing of instalments; the conditions subject to which instalments are paid and to otherwise protect the interests of Vale of White Horse District Council as the provider of the funding by undertaking legal and financial due diligence including being satisfied that the funding is lawful and compliant with subsidy control provisions

•         approve the payment to MCSL of up to £876,572.22 towards a new community hall with sporting facilities, at Potash Lane in Milton Parish, subject to and in accordance with the funding agreement.

Cabinet member for affordable housing, infrastructure, development and governancepresented the report. Officers supporting the item were the infrastructure development team leader, the infrastructure implementation officer and the head of finance.

The report was provided to inform cabinet that the council had received an application for funds, from MCSL, for a total sum of £876,572.22. This would be spent towards a new community hall with sporting facilities in Milton Parish. The sum is to be taken from six contributions secured under S106, from legal agreements linked to four developments.

Due to the amount requested, Cabinet would need to make a recommendation to full Council to approve the funding application.  It was confirmed that planning permission would need to be in place prior to the May Council decision. If the permission was not in place by then, the decision would go to the next Council meeting. However, it was seen as important to progress this as soon as possible. It was noted that Councillor James, as ward member, spoke to this item under public participation and was in full support, along with confirmed support from the parish council.

The infrastructure development team leader added an update that required an amendment to the recommendation. The parish council (as the landowner) was suggested to be awarded funds rather than the sports club. The options for cabinet to consider were to have alternative recommendations set up, stating to “release funds to the parish council” or to delegate to the relevant officer, in this case, the head of finance, in consultation with the cabinet member, who would make the recommendation to Council.

Members discussed, and felt this was a worthwhile project, and were in agreement that the facilities proposed were needed.

Members agreed that the details of where the funds would be released shall be delegated to the head of finance in consultation with the cabinet member. The head of finance was asked to make a recommendation to Council.

RECOMMENDED to Council to:

a)    create a budget for £876,572.22 towards a new community hall with sporting facilities, at Potash Lane in Milton Parish, from the accumulated section 106 contributions set out in the report to Vale Cabinet on 19 April 2024;

RESOLVED:

b)    that Cabinet delegates the head of finance, in consultation with the Cabinet member for affordable housing, infrastructure, development and governance to confirm where the funds will be released to.