Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: May 19, 2025

Purpose: In November 2024 Cabinet reviewed a report regarding the Football Foundation Project and the potential delivery of up to four PlayZones in Fenland, with two initially identified to be developed at the Manor Field in Whittlesey and at Barton Road Playing Field in Wisbech.   Cabinet approved the submission of bids to the Football Foundation for these two facilities.   Cabinet also noted the necessary match funding of £62,500 per facility and the planned funding applications to be submitted to the FCC Community Action Fund to support the Manor project and Wisbech Town Board to support the Wisbech project.   This report highlights the current position of these two projects and details that the necessary match funding, previously identified, has not been forthcoming following rejection of a bid to FCC and the timetable changes for the Wisbech Town Board and the Government’s Neighbourhood Plan funding.  This report therefore asks Cabinet to consider supportive match funding the two projects from FDC’s capital programme.   This report also asks Cabinet to consider whether support for two other possible PlayZone locations – should Football Foundation funding become available – whilst noting that it is likely that match funding for the facilities would be necessary from the District Council once again.

Content: AGREED to: ·         note the report and the benefits that the development of PlayZones in Fenland will offer, namely; •      increasing community physical activity levels and subsequently community health •      encouraging under-represented groups such as women and girls, disabled people and older people to become more physically active •      supporting a reduction in anti-social behaviour •      supporting community cohesion; ·         note the General Fund Budget Estimates and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) Report, agreed by Cabinet and Council in February, which projects a financial shortfall for 2025/26 of £1.432m increasing year on year amounting to around £3.4m by 2027/28. Although there are currently many uncertainties regarding the budget for 2025/26 and the MTFS, there remains a significant structural deficit which the Council will need to address. Any additional costs for items not already included in the budget will incur additional revenue costs of circa. £81k p.a. for every additional £1m required based on an assumed 30 year borrowing profile; ·         allocate the necessary match funding requirement of £80,925.29 for the Manor Field facility and the match funding requirement of £74,988.99 for the Barton Road facility;  ·         identify that this project is a capital project (as the original PlayZone report was dated November 2024; ·         delegate authority to the Corporate Director, in consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Environment and Leisure and the Leader of the Council in his capacity as Portfolio Holder for Finance to develop the PlayZones as required in paragraph 3.3, through the Football Foundation PlayZones Framework and to award, mobilise and implement such proposal with further authority to take all reasonable ancillary actions to ensure implementation; ·         authorise the Monitoring Officer to execute and complete all requisite legal documentation in relation to the matters outlined above; and ·         to support further bids to the Football Foundation for a PlayZone facility in Wisbech Park and a location in March or Chatteris and instructs officers accordingly, noting that any successful funding for two facilities will also be likely to require match funding from the Council in the region of £80,000 per facility if other funders decline to support the projects.