Agenda item

Elaine Clarke, Community Facilities Project Officer, introduced the report which presented four requests for the release of S106 Contributions for consideration by the Cabinet Grants Panel and to provide clarification regarding the terms of the St Francis Sports and Social Club Stage 1 grant. She noted recommendations B to D of the report which arose from the previously agreed resolution not being sufficiently clear to proceed with the grant agreement, Therefore the recommendations are before the Panel to clarify these issues.

The applications which were recommended for consideration by the Panel are set out below:

The Member referred to the application from Scaynes Hill Millennium Village Centreto upgrade the existing air ventilation system with a purification unit and asked whether the Council should be looking to provide support to other centers to have the same systems put in place.

The Community Facilities Project Officer confirmed that the Council did write to all community buildings that have S106 receipts held for improvements to the building to invite them to apply for funding. She highlighted that the system is an upgrade to an existing system the applicant has, so other buildings may find it more difficult to implement. However other groups may become interested if they see the system working well.

The Chairman encouraged other property owners and land management organisations to look at their facilities and apply for grants for such systems whenever and wherever available.

The Vice-Chairman noted how hugely beneficial it would be to have the facility that the Mid Sussex District Scout Council is proposing in his ward. He thanked and congratulated the officers for working with partners to bring forward the application.

The Chairman believed that the project would be a real benefit for the community.

The Chairman took the Panel to vote on all applications, except from the application Sussex Clubs for Young People, and recommendations B to D.

Members were supportive of the applications and recommendations.

[The Vice-Chairman was removed from the voting and discussion at 16:28]

The Member believed that the community centre will be much needed and well received by the community of Haywards Heath.

The Chairman said that the report is full and explanatory with a history of many long hours of work. He congratulated the officers for their work.

The Chairman took the Panel to vote on all application from Sussex Clubs for Young People.

[The Vice-Chairman returned to the meeting at 16:29]

RESOLVED

The Cabinet Grants Panel agreed:

1. That £2,000 of S106 contributions be released to Scaynes Hill Millennium Village Centre to fund the upgrade of the existing air ventilation system with a purification unit to improve the facilities and encourage more users to take part in social and community activities in the centre in a Covid secure environment.

2. That £5,814 of S106 contributions be released to Ashengound Community Centre to fund the installation of LED lighting to improve energy efficiency and reduce overhead costs.

3. That £171,160 of S106 contributions be released to Sussex Clubs for Young People Ltd to fund the extension and refurbishment of the pavilion at Barn Cottage Recreation Ground to make it suitable for a wider range of activities and community management.

4. That £100,000 of S106 contributions be released to Mid Sussex District Scout Council to fund the construction of a new community centre at Barn Cottage Recreation Ground for use by the Scouts and other groups.

5. That the existing grant agreement with the St Francis Social and Sports Club CIC is withdrawn and terminated, and a new agreement enter into with the trustees of the St Francis Sports and Social Club to provide a Facility Grant of £405,374 for Stage 1 - swimming pool changing rooms and associated drainage, services and professional fees.

6. To provide authority for the Council to enter into a Grant Agreement with Lewes District Council for an award of £200,000 toward the St Francis Sports and Social Club Stage 1 project costs.

7. To allow an extension of time for the delivery of St Francis Sports and Social Club Stage 1 to ‘delivery of the Project must commence by 1 December 2021 and be completed by October 2023’.