Decision details

Councillor Griffiths introduced the report and highlighted the proposal  for the boxing club to be relocated from its current location on the Garrison Ground to enable the new Leisure Centre to be built.  The report proposed that further work be done to evaluate whether the Club could be accommodated within a new multiuse pavilion on the King George V Playing Field (KGV).  Councillor Griffiths emphasised that consultation would be undertaken on these proposals and the report’s third recommendation be  amended to take account of this.

Janet Berry (Highcliffe Forum) spoke during public participation as summarised below:

·                that the local community had not been consulted on the proposals before now, and in particularly as part of the recent consultation on the Design Framework that this proposal seemed to contradict;

·                What steps would be taken to mitigate additional traffic in local roads and how would any overflow parking be managed?

·                Would the ability for general community use of pavilions be retained and would the kickabout area be relocated?

·                Requested that the actions in the Highcliffe Forum Community Plan be supported and considered

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillors Weir and Burns addressed Cabinet as summarised below.

Councillor Weir

·                that she appreciated an officer briefing but the Winchester Town Forum had not been consulted on proposals due to the impact on the Town Account budget.  She requested further clarity regarding the ongoing revenue requirements as she believed this was a district-wide project;

·                the implications of the proposals on access arrangements from the local area.

Councillor Burns

·                The original 1940 deed of dedication of KGV dedicated it as public playing fields and she believed that the provision of pavilion(s) on the land was contrary to this purpose;

·                that the report’s proposals accorded with the contents of the Design Framework which envisaged that the boxing club would be located to the north west of the new stadium.

The Chairman stated that the financial implications were met from the General Fund and that further discussions would be held with Councillor Weir outside of the meeting to clarify the ongoing revenue funding requirements beyond those set out in the report.  Members also highlighted that the idea of reviewing  and/or enhancing the existing pavilions was included within the Design Framework. 

The Head of Programme confirmed that there were existing pavilions on KGV – two currently in use and one which was very old and dilapidated.  There were no proposals to increase the overall size of the area occupied by pavilion(s) but more to rationalise the overall provision. .  Matters relating to the access arrangements would be considered as part of the future consultation on the proposals. The whole of the KGV area would still be available for general use outside of the time the pitches were being used for football games.

Councillor Warwick stated that the possibility of a new pavilion on KGV had been considered some years ago by the Council including the option of a facility being named after a former Southampton Football Club player who lived in Winchester The Head of Programme agreed to investigate further this previous proposal and whether any elements could be utilised in the current ideas.

Cabinet agreed to the following for the reasons outlined above and set out in the Report.

          RESOLVED:

1.       That a supplementary capital budget of £200,000 be approved, and authority be given  to incur capital expenditure, in order to:

a)         mitigate the loss of pitches at the Garrison Ground, which is estimated to cost up to £100,000;

b)         to undertake feasibility and design work for a new Pavilion, which is estimated to cost up to £60,000; and

c)         In the event that the Pavilion project set out in this report is not achievable in the timescales required in line with the Leisure Centre project then up to £40,000 will be required to allow for a temporary relocation of the boxing club.

2.       That a supplementary revenue budget of £15,500 be approved in 2018/19 for on-going maintenance costs including improved pitch maintenance at King George V playing fields, leading to a full year requirement of £26,500 per annum from 2019/20.

3.       That the principles of relocating the Winchester Boxing Club and combining it with a new Pavilion on KGV are agreed for further consideration and public engagement, as set out in this report, and that the existing building on the Garrison Ground which currently houses the Boxing Club is demolished, subject to agreeing an alternative location and rehousing of the Winchester Boxing Club.