Issue details

Background to July and September 2010 decision: To consider a revision to the Gamlingay Dual Use Sports Facility Scheme; Cabinet approved a grant of £200,000 in December 2007. This revised scheme involves dividing the funds available as follows:

(a)               A grant of up to £150,000 to Gamlingay Parish Council towards the cost of building a floodlit multiuse games area (MUGA) on land at the recreation ground.

(b)               A grant of up to £50,000 to Gamlingay Village College towards the cost of extending the fitness suite, providing more storage and creating separate toilet and changing facilities for the school and fitness suite.

Background to April 2011 decision: South Cambridgeshire District Council awarded a dual use capital grant of £200,000 to Gamlingay Village College in September 2010 towards improvements at the fitness centre and development of a MUGA within the school grounds. This was in line with the Council's dual use strategy to enhance village college facilities for the benefit of community users.

Following the results of a recent Ofsted inspection, the schools future is now uncertain; Cambridgeshire County Council issued a consultation paper on April 6th 2011 listing three options for the school’s future. Their preferred option is to close the school, possibly as soon as September 2012 (see document Gamlingay VC Consultation Paper April 2011).

Works to the fitness centre are almost complete and the £50,000 set aside for this is nearly all paid.  The Council will honour this commitment to ensure that the works are completed and that the community can benefit from the improvements for as long as is possible.

The decision was taken under the terms of the Council's Constitution (Part 2, Articles 12.04(a) and 12.04(b)) on grounds of expediency as it is likely that the expenditure would not be in line with policy and represents a potential loss/deficiency. 

The Chairman of Council and Chairman of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee have agreed that the call-in procedure shall not apply because the decision being taken is urgent.  Scrutiny and Overview Committee Procedure Rule 12.18 applies. Furthermore, the Chairman of Council and Chairman of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee have previously agreed that the decision proposed is reasonable in all the circumstances and to it being treated as a matter of urgency.  Scrutiny and Overview Committee Procedure Rule 12.19 applies.

This decision will be reported to the next meeting of Cabinet (12 May 2011).