Open NORTH DEVON COUNCIL
REPORT TO: STRATEGY & RESOURCES Date: 4 November 2019 TOPIC: APPROVAL & RELEASE OF S106 PUBLIC OPEN SPACE FUNDS – HEANTON PUNCHARDON & SOUTH MOLTON
REPORT BY: PROJECT, PROCUREMENT & OPEN SPACE OFFICER
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 This report seeks to allocate S106 public open space funds towards three projects one in Heanton Punchardon and two in South Molton
2 RECOMMENDATIONS
2.1 That Strategy & Resources allocates:
2.1.1 £12,000 towards creation of a footpath and ancillary facilities at the BMX track site (NDC project)
2.1.2 £14,178 to South Molton Rugby Club towards ball catch netting and storage container.
2.1.3 £94,784.83 to South Molton Football Club towards purchase of land for the relocation of the club
2.1.1 Subject to approval of 2.1 above, that Strategy & Resources Committee recommends Council vary the capital programme by £120,962.83 and that funds be released, subject to a Funding Agreement upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed by the Senior Solicitor, for external projects.
3 REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
3.1 To allocate funds in line with the requirement of S106 agreements.
3.2 To protect and enhance public open space, including land and buildings.
4 REPORT
4.1 NDC – Footpath at the BMX track The Council has awarded a contract for the design and construction of a BMX track at Velator and works have commenced at the end of September.
Additional S106 funding has since been received from the development site in which the BMX track lies.
This contribution will support creation of a footpath from the southern boundary to the northern part of the site, joining the car park.
A formal quotation will be sought in accordance with the councils Contract Procedure Rules, as this will be a separate contract from the construction of the track. Any underspend will support ancillary fencing and landscaping requirements on the site.
4.2 South Molton Rugby Club
The rugby club is a community amateur sports club, located across 4 sites in South Molton.
This request is to provide ancillary facilities on two of the sites supporting pitch use. The most recent addition to the club is the site adjacent to the community college, which secured a new pitch with a combination of S106 contributions, Sport England funding and other match funding. This new pitch requires a secure storage container for equipment.
One of their other pitches, located on Pathfields Industrial Estate, could benefit from permanent protective ball catch netting, which would stop balls being lost on neighbouring sites.
Quotations have been provided. Any overspend would be met by the club.
4.3 South Molton Football Club
South Molton Football Club is currently located on Alswear Old Road, South Molton. The site contains one football pitch and substandard changing rooms which fall significantly below current standards and expectation.
For a number of years, it has been looking to secure a new site, which can offer more pitches and improved modern facilities to meet the clubs membership and playing requirements, but also to take into account the need to provide more facilities as a result of new development, rising population and increasing demand for football. At present, the club has 10 junior teams ranging from under 7’s through to under 16’s with 180 members including an under 11 girls team. There are two senior teams with 42 members.
A new site has been identified and a purchase in principle has been agreed between the land owner and the club. This report seeks to allocate £94,784.83 towards purchase of the land. In seeking to allocate this s106 public open space contribution, the club will use this as a starting point to assist with match funding when submitting further requests to other funding sources. There is also likely to be further S106 public open space contributions towards this strategic project, as additional planning obligations have been secured, but triggers for their associated developments, are yet to be reached.
Once the new site has been secured, the club can look to market their existing site, which will help to fund construction of a new clubhouse and ancillary facilities. The club cannot dispose of their existing site without having at least one new pitch operational, to satisfy planning requirements.
The relocation of the football club is identified in the Local Plan and has been a priority for the town for a number of years.
5 RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS
5.1 NDC project – Footpath at the BMX track
Development Application Number Amount Description
Velator Close, Braunton 58119 £12,000
Total £12,000
Any overspend will be met within existing budgets.
5.2 South Molton Rugby Club Club
5.2.1 The total project cost is £14,178, to be met from the following source:
Development Application Number Amount Description
Station Road, South 51996 £14,178 Molton
Total £14,178
Any overspend will be met by the club.
5.3 South Molton Football Club
5.3.1 Total project cost – land purchase - £230,000
5.3.2 Previously allocated S106 - £74,689.25
5.3.3 That £94,784.83 be allocated from the following sources: Development Application Number Amount Description
Station Road, South 51996 £87,487.75 Molton
Old Savoy Cinema 46111 £7,297.08
Total £94,784.83
5.3.4 This leaves a shortfall of £60,525.92. The club are currently looking to secure additional funding and will meet any shortfall in funds. Any overspend will be met by the club.
6 EQUALITIES ASSESSMENT
6.1 EIA completed.
7 CONSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT
Article or Appendix Referred or and paragraph delegated power?
Part 3. Annexe 1. Delegated 1(d)
8 STATEMENT OF CONFIDENTIALITY
8.1 This report contains no confidential information or exempt information under the provisions of Schedule 12A of 1972 Act.
9 BACKGROUND PAPERS
9.1 The background papers are available for inspection and kept by the author of the report.
10 STATEMENT OF INTERNAL ADVICE
10.1 The author (below) confirms that advice has been taken from all appropriate Councillors and Officers. Author: L. Wheeler Date: 3 October 2019 Reference: I:\Projects\Open Space & S106\Reports\Strategy & Resources\November 2019\191104 S & R Report various.docx