Agenda and draft minutes

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 13 March 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 March 2023 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To note forthcoming decisions anticipated on the Executive Forward Plan

RESOLVED that the Forward Plan be noted.

None.

The Executive Member for Sport, Recreation and Culture presented the report which sought approval for the capital expenditure of £244,256 to refurbish council owned tennis courts in the following locations within the district – Teignmouth Den x one; Newton Abbot Bakers Park x three and Forde Park x three; Buckfastleigh Duckspond Road, x one. 

The Local Ward Member for Buckfastleigh spoke on this item.

A Member asked if funding for one of the courts at Bakers Park could be reallocated for a court at the Multi Use Games Area in Osborne Park. Executive asked officers to approach the Lawn Tennis Association to explore this suggestion. 

RESOLVED that:-

(1)                      A total capital budget expenditure of £244,256 for refurbishment works to council owned tennis courts at the four green space sites detailed in the report be approved.  The expenditure to comprise of:

£100,475 Active Leisure S106 contributions

£4,000 capital receipts

£139,781 LTA grant; and

(2)                      The adoption of the low-cost affordable charging model as laid out at paragraphs 1.9, and 3 of the circulated report be approved, with concessionary and free provision integrated alongside it.

The Executive Member for Economy and Jobs presented the report which provided details for the provision of a high-quality bi-directional bicycle route through the spur of Cricketfield car park, forming part of the highly acclaimed National Cycle Network Route 2 (NCN2), alongside realignment of car parking with a reduction of up to 23-spaces, from the existing 341 spaces.

An amendment to the recommendation to include in recommendation (2) the addition of ‘in consultation with the appropriate Executive Members(s)’ and an additional recommendation (3) ‘To confirm that proposals to replace car park spaces will not involve the loss of trees in the car park’ were agreed by the Executive.

Members raised concerns regarding adequate signage to protect cyclist at the   junction of Albany Street with Cricketfield Car Park, as motorist often get confused and pull out.

Officers clarified that a brightly coloured road marking would be painted at this junction with a bicycle symbol to make it clearer to anticipate bicycles passing across that junction regularly.

RESOLVED:-

(1) To approve the delivery of a high-quality bi-directional bicycle route through the spur of Cricketfield car park (as in Appendix 1); and

(2) To delegate the authority to the Head of Place & Commercial Services in consultation with the appropriate Executive Member(s) to oversee the proper delivery of the NCN2 improvements project as part of the wider Newton Abbot Future High Street Fund package.

(3) To confirm that proposals to replace car park spaces will not involve the loss of trees in the car park.

The vote was unanimous.

The Executive Member for Economy and Jobs presented the report which provided an update on the progress of the Future High Street Fund Newton Abbot and to determine a heating solution based on the confines of working within a listed building as well as those environmental factors that impact on the Council’s carbon reduction action plan.

All Executive Members voiced their serious concerns regarding the use of gas as a way of heating the hall and stated that they could not support this recommendation. The Council had declared a Zero Carbon declaration and as a result had undertaken work in this area to reduce the council’s carbon output and to install a gas heating option would be counter to all the council had worked towards in the past four years.

The Head of Place & Commercial Services and Asset Manager having taken advice stated that there was not an electrical solution that would effectively and efficiently heat the space in a way that prospective tenants and users would find comfortable. Members were advised that part of the reason for recommending gas was due to the additional associated costs with an electric solution.

The Chief Finance Officer advised that not taking forward the use of gas as the most efficient way of heating the hall was risking the viability of the whole project.

RESOLVED that the monthly update report be noted: and

RESOLVED that the recommendation for the use of gas heating is not supported.