Issue - meetings

Milton Country Park Financial Support

Meeting: 21/05/2020 - Council (Item 12)

12 MILTON COUNTRY PARK AND FINANCIAL IMPACT OF COVID-19 (Cabinet - 6 May 2020) pdf icon PDF 161 KB

Cabinet recommended to Full Council that:

 

(a)  South Cambridgeshire District Council issues a conditional grant of £50,000 to the charitable Trust responsible for operating Milton Country Park in two equal instalments of £25,000, the first being advanced in May 2020 and the second no earlier than September 2020;

 

(b)  The first instalment be subject to the Head of Finance reviewing the Trust’s current financial position via bank statements; and

 

(c)   The second instalment be subject to the Head of Finance reviewing the Trust’s Management Accounts in addition to business efficiency measures, fundraising efforts and revised cashflow forecast.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Council AGREED that

 

A)       SCDC issues a conditional grant of £50,000 to Cambridge Sport Lakes Trust, ratifies the first instalment of £25,000 in May 2020 and agrees to the second £25,000 no earlier than September 2020.

B)       The first instalment is subject to Head of Finance reviewing the Trust’s current financial position via bank statements.

C)       The second instalment is subject to Head of Finance reviewing the Trust’s Management Accounts in addition to business efficiency measures, fundraising efforts and revised cashflow forecast.

Minutes:

Councillor John Williams proposed, and Councillor Hazel Smith seconded, the recommendations in the report to award a conditional grant of £50,000 to Cambridge Sport Lakes Trust to ensure that they can continue running Milton Country Park.

 

Councillor John Williams explained that Cambridge Sport Lakes Trust needed this grant to continue running Milton Country Park, which provided a green space for local residents to enjoy. The second instalment would be conditional on a favourable review.

 

Councillor Hazel Smith stated that residents were more reliant than ever on open spaces, but Cambridge Sport Lakes Trust relied on events for revenue, which could not take place during the lockdown. Milton Parish Council had agreed to pay £10,000 and she urged Council to support the proposed grant.

 

Councillor Peter Fane expressed his support for the grant and the continuation of free access for residents to Milton Country Park to ensure they could enjoy open spaces.

 

Councillor Heather Williams supported the proposed grant to keep the Park open for residents.

 

Councillor Deborah Roberts explained that the Cambridge Sport Lakes Trust had been given a one-off grant when it took over the running of the Park and that should be the last payment made by the Council. She asked if the Cambridge City Council were offering any financial support to the park that was predominantly used by residents from Cambridge and Milton.

 

Councillor Eileen Wilson supported the grant to ensure that local residents could continue to walk and cycle in a local park.

 

Councillor Nick Wright explained that even when the costs had been greatly reduced, the running of the park still cost the Council £70,000 a year. He supported the proposed grant as a cost effective way of ensuring that the park remained open.

 

Councillor Dr. Tumi Hawkins stated that the park was a great asset for the District and pre-lockdown, a Park Run was held every Saturday. The park was enjoyed by visitors from other villages and should remain open.

 

Councillor Brian Milnes explained that he and his family from Sawston had visited the park for 14 years and he supported the proposed grant.

 

Councillor John Williams explained that Cambridge Sport Lakes Trust needed the grant due to the impact of COVID-19 and otherwise a request would not have been made. If the Trust were unable to run the Park, the Council would become responsible for it, which would cost more than £50,000.

 

With one vote against (Councillor Deborah Roberts) and the rest in support, Council AGREED that

 

A)       SCDC issues a conditional grant of £50,000 to Cambridge Sport Lakes Trust, ratifies the first instalment of £25,000 in May 2020 and agrees to the second £25,000 no earlier than September 2020.

B)       The first instalment is subject to Head of Finance reviewing the Trust’s current financial position via bank statements.

C)       The second instalment is subject to Head of Finance reviewing the Trust’s Management Accounts in addition to business efficiency measures, fundraising efforts and revised cashflow forecast.


Meeting: 06/05/2020 - Cabinet (Item 12)

Milton Country Park Financial Support

Additional documents:

Decision:

By affirmation, Cabinet recommended to Full Council that

 

(a)   South Cambridgeshire District Council issues a conditional grant of £50,000 to the charitable Trust responsible for operating Milton Country Park in two equal instalments of £25,000, the first being advanced in May 2020 and the second no earlier than September 2020;

 

(b)  The first instalment be subject to the Head of Finance reviewing the Trust’s current financial position via bank statements; and

 

(c)  The second instalment be subject to the Head of Finance reviewing the Trust’s Management Accounts in addition to business efficiency measures, fundraising efforts and revised cashflow forecast.  

Minutes:

Cabinet considered an application for a conditional grant.

 

Councillor Hazel Smith read out a statement from Councillor Anna Bradnam, a local Member.

 

The Leader made it clear that, should the charity operating the Park terminate the lease then the Park would revert to South Cambridgeshire District Council as landowner.

 

The Monitoring Officer said that, in the circumstances, he was prepared to see the amount of the grant in the public domain.

 

By affirmation, Cabinet recommended to Full Council that

 

(a)   South Cambridgeshire District Council issues a conditional grant of £50,000 to Cambridge Sport Lakes Trust in two equal instalments of £25,000, the first being advanced in May 2020 and the second no earlier than September 2020;

 

(b)  The first instalment be subject to the Head of Finance reviewing the Trust’s current financial position via bank statements; and

 

(c)  The second instalment be subject to the Head of Finance reviewing the Trust’s Management Accounts in addition to business efficiency measures, fundraising efforts and revised cashflow forecast.