Agenda item

Decision

1.    Cabinet approved the undertaking of consultation with local residents and key stakeholders on the potential for a new athletics track and pavilion at Cupid Green Playing Fields, Grovehill

2.    Cabinet approved the undertaking of necessary due diligence to confirm that Cupid Green Playing Fields, Grovehill is a suitable site for a new athletics track and pavilion

Note that officers will bring a further report back to Cabinet with a final recommendation for the location of the new athletics track following all required due diligence and consultation with residents and stakeholders.

Reason for decision

For Cabinet to consider the potential to build the new athletics track and pavilion at Cupid Green Playing Fields, Grovehill.

Corporate objectives

Clean, Safe and Enjoyable Environment

Having good quality, athletics provision is vital to improving participation and ensuring that residents can enjoy the borough and boost their health and wellbeing.

This review will therefore, ensure our approach to athletics continues to meet the needs of current and future residents.

Monitoring Officer/S.151 Officer comments

Monitoring Officer:

A preliminary review of the legal title to the site has indicated that there are no apparent legal restrictions for the development of the site; however, there are some title documents which are not currently available at the land registry and therefore further work will be required to locate these documents before a full title report can be produced.  

As indicated in the report, further planning, ground condition, design work and consultation will be required before a final report is brought back to Cabinet.

S.151 Officer:

The viability of relocating the track from its current location in Jarman Park to a new site in Grovehill will depend on the net development value of the Jarman site compared with the construction costs at the Grovehill site.

The full range of financial implications will need to be considered through the due diligence exercise, and reported back to Members in advance of a decision being made.

Advice

Cllr Harden introduced the report and referred to discussions that have taken place to relocate Jarman athletics track to Longdean School, have been unable to reach agreement.  Council has identified another site in Grovehill, would like to look at feasibility and carry out a consultation on the site.

Cllr Elliot commented that he likes idea we could be creating a sports hub up near that Grovehill area and asked, do you think there will be any objections from residents about us putting a track on that open space, or will it enhance it?

Cllr Harden responded that will be the purpose of the consultation, it will make an exciting sports offer with the other facilities already available at the site.  We will need to consider access and ingress to site and the impact on local residents. 

RSmyth advised this will be an initial consultation and feasibility study, if following that it was proved the Council were happy with that site, we would move forward to a formal proposal.

Cllr Tindall referred to a recent meeting to discuss regeneration of that area and roads etc, and what is going to happen, asking is it advisable to get Highways to comment on traffic generation given what is likely to happen in next few years, to ensure timing is not going to negatively impact.

Cllr Williams responded that Cllr Tindall is referring to County Highways works; footpath links in that Grovehill area and provision of pedestrian crossing on the Redbourn Road, almost outside the entrance to the proposed site.  There are a few bigger events the track hosts during the year but they are fairly limited in numbers.  County is aiming to have completed all of its work during this financial year so most of it should be finished prior to anything potentially happening with the site.

Recommendation agreed.

Voting

None.