Issue - meetings

To approve Neighbourhood CIL funding to support the transformation of Seymour Leisure Centre; and the restoration of the Abbey Centre.

Cabinet approved:

The allocation of £1 million of Neighbourhood CIL funding from the Marylebone Neighbourhood Area pot to the Council to support the transformation of Seymour Leisure Centre.

The allocation of £424,435 of Neighbourhood CIL to support the restoration of the Abbey Centre.

Reasons for Decision:

There is a need for Neighbourhood CIL funding to supplement the project’s capital budget, driven by rising costs from build cost inflation and from changes to the project that reflect community responses to the extensive consultation and engagement exercise.

The funding will support a programme of works that will transform Seymour Leisure Centre into high-quality community infrastructure which will be a flagship project to benefit the local community.

Cabinet approved this decision to ensure robust and effective expenditure and reporting in line with the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010 (as amended) and in accordance with the council’s strategic priorities, CIL spending policy statement and its framework for resource allocation and management. 

Implementation Date: 5pm 22/7/24

The Chair introduced the item and invited Councillor Barraclough and Debbie Jackson to speak to the report.

Councillor Barraclough set out how the Seymour Centre proposal has been brought forward by the Council’s own Corporate Property Team, based on extensive community engagement as per the requirements for any applicant, internal or external. The proposal was subject to a vote of the Neighbourhood Forum which resulted in support for a £1m allocation being made. Marylebone Ward Councillors have also made representations to the Leader and Cabinet Member regarding the process and proposed allocation, including a request for the minutes of the meeting of the Marylebone Neighbourhood Forum where this was discussed to be circulate to the Cabinet. Councillor Barraclough confirmed that he had circulated these minutes. Councillor Barraclough also set out the proposal to allocate funding to the Abbey Community Centre.

Councillor Boothroyd supported the proposal on the basis that the Seymour Leisure Centre is in need of this investment and it is supported by the Neighbourhood Forum.

Councillor Hug noted that this item had been postponed from a previous meeting of the Cabinet to enable additional time for community and Ward Councillor feedback.

RESOLVED: Cabinet approved the following recommendations

Approval of the allocation of £1 million of Neighbourhood CIL funding from the Marylebone Neighbourhood Area pot to the Council to support the transformation of Seymour Leisure Centre.

Approval or the allocation of £424,435 of Neighbourhood CIL to support the restoration of the Abbey Centre.