To consider and receive the report of the Director (Business, Development and Growth).

1.    To note the project update.

2.    To allocate the sum of £53,962 for the delivery of the project from s106 and CIL receipts.

3.    To agree to the improvement works proposed (comprising a proposed car park / revised access and pitch drainage / grading), to authorise the submission of a planning application and to further authorise the procurement of a competent contractor or contractors to deliver the work.

4.    To approve that the contract awards be delegated to the Executive Member for Economic Development and Public Service Reform.

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Executive Member (Economic Development and Public Service Reform), presented the confidential report of the Director (Business, Development and Growth) which provides an update on the Kem Mill Lane / Whittle-le-Woods Football Club playing field improvement project, seeks authorisation to allocate the project budget, submit a planning application and procure a competent contractor or contractors to deliver the works.

Decision:

1.    To note the project update.

2.    To allocate the sum of £53,962 for the delivery of the project from s106 and CIL receipts.

3.    To agree to the improvement works proposed (comprising a proposed car park / revised access and pitch drainage / grading), to authorise the submission of a planning application and to further authorise the procurement of a competent contractor or contractors to deliver the work.

4.    To approve that the contract awards be delegated to the Executive Member for Economic Development and Public Service Reform.

Reasons for Recommendation(s):

1.    The sum of £53,962 needs to be spent or there is a risk of having to repay the S106 / commuted sum contributions to the developers.

2.    The improvement to Whittle-le-Woods football club pitch drainage is identified in the Chorley Playing Pitch Strategy 2014-2019. The playing surface would benefit from the proposed pitch improvement works to regularise the pitch surface gradients and decrease the number of cancelled matches during inclement weather.

3.    The playing pitch is in need of additional car parking facilities as on match days players and spectators are parking along Kem Mill Lane resulting in inconvenience to local residents. A number of new properties have also been built, further along Kem Mill Lane which is exacerbating the parking problem on match days.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

To return the S106 to the developer and leave the playing pitch and its facilities as existing.