Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Forward Planning Team Leader requesting the Cabinet to endorse the Mid Devon Playing Pitch Strategy as a technical document that can be used by the Council.

The Cabinet had before it a *report of the Forward Planning Team Leader requesting the Cabinet to endorse the Mid Devon Playing Pitch Strategy as a technical document that could be used by the Council.

The Leader stated that further work was required to finalise the strategy and it was understood that Sport England would not be able to sign off the Playing Pitch Strategy until early September:

It had therefore been suggested that the report before the Cabinet meeting today be deferred and brought to the next available meeting once the Playing Pitch Strategy had been completed and signed off by Sport England.  This would be the meeting of 28 September.

It was also highlighted that Lead officers for both masterplans (the Garden Village and the EUE) are conversant with the salient content of the Playing Pitch Strategy in its current form and the amendments needed to it. With regards the provision of replacement cricket pitches at Cullompton, planning permission had been granted for those on land that would form part of proposed development to the east of Cullompton.

In response to the question posed in public question time, the Forward Planning Team Leader stated that he had been advised by the consultants that 4G pitches do not officially exist according to Sport England and technologies beyond 3G Football Turf Pitches have not been recognised by the sports governing bodies. The strategy (at 3.10) did recognise the lack of 3G football turf pitches in Mid Devon and that there was a need for 3G football turf pitches at Tiverton, Crediton and Cullompton. This finding was consistent with the Mid Devon Local Football Facilities Plan completed by the Football Association.  The strategy also noted a number of potential sites in Tiverton, which included Amory Park, Tiverton High School, Blundells School and the Tiverton Eastern Urban Extension. The strategy also included actions and recommendations based on technical assessments, which would require consideration by the Council in the management of its own playing pitch facilities, and also consideration by other providers of playing pitches in Mid Devon.

Consideration was given to:

·         Terminology with regard to cricket pitches and it was hoped that these could be corrected

·         Reference to the Willand Rovers practice pitch following concerns raised that this had been included in the strategy and not removed as requested

·         The possibility of further public engagement prior to the strategy returning to the Cabinet in September for consideration.

It was therefore RESOLVED that the item be deferred so that the strategy could be formally signed off by Sport England prior to consideration by the Cabinet at its September meeting.

(Proposed the Chairman)

Note:  *report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.