Decision details

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services seeking approval to spend the £550,000 which was transferred from the Leader’s Capital Programme to the Children’s Services and Learning Capital Programme on 14^th March 2012.  It is proposed to install security fencing to the perimeter of the former Civil Sports Ground, remediate the land in order to create extra sports pitches to alleviate the shortfall of school playing field places.  Further work will include creating areas which can be used by the local community for recreational purposes.

(i)  To approve, in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules, capital expenditure of £77,000 in 2012/13, £462,000 in 2013/14 and £11,000 in 2014/15 for the provision of additional school playing facilities and associated ground works at the former Civil Service Sports Ground.

(ii)  To delegate authority to the Director of Children’s Services and Learning  to determine the form and content of consultation on the preferred option for the refurbishment of the former Civil Service Sports Ground.

(iii)  To delegate authority to the Director of Children’s Services and Learning following the consultation referred to at (ii) above, to determine the final layout and refurbishment of the former Civil Service Sports Ground and, within the approved budget, to do anything necessary to deliver the works necessary to bring the site back into educational use.

The former Civil Service Sports Ground was purchased by the Council using powers of compulsory purchase and will be brought back into use as sports/playing field facilities and for associated educational purposes for St. Marks CE Primary School and other local schools.

(i)  If no further work was carried out at the ground, the Council would fail to achieve the outcomes envisaged by the Compulsory Purchase Order through which the property was acquired as the site is not currently in a condition that would allow educational use due to lack of use and passage.  The Council would also continue to be in contravention of the Government guidance provided in Building Bulletin 99 – Area Guidelines for Schools due to the shortage of playing field provision for schools in the area.

(ii)  To permit this site to be used for other purposes would invalidate the terms upon which the site was legally acquired (i.e. for the purpose of increasing the volume of school playing fields available locally) and therefore raise the risk of legal challenge from the previous owners.  Alternative uses would also mean the potential health and social benefits accruing from playing field use would not be realised.