Decision details

Councillor Warwick introduced the Report and the Head of Landscape and Open spaces gave a presentation to Cabinet. 

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Porter addressed Cabinet as summarised below.

• The Strategy was of interest and relevance to all Members.
• Not all schools were able to undertake or fund sufficient maintenance of their playing fields so to be able to support extensive community use.
• The success of Parkrun should factor in how pitches are maintained when used for this purpose.  For example, Winchester now had 400 participants.
• Was the Council able to influence Hampshire County Council with regard to the design of MUGA pitches (Multi Use Games Areas) at schools?
• Informal kick-about pitches should be factored into the Strategy.
• The South Down National Park’s ‘dark skies’ policy should be carefully considered as floodlighting was necessary at pitches if are to be used after 1630 during the winter months.
• Some existing pitches required investment to bring to sufficient standard.  It was also a fact that the cost of provision was more than the revenue achieved form leasing facilities. The Strategy, therefore, should look to maximise potential funding streams.

Cabinet members welcomed the Strategy and noted that it accorded with the Council’s wider Health and Well-being Strategy. The Strategy aspired to the future use of pitches and facilities (as well as existing) and therefore the ambitions of local sports clubs had been sought.  As a consequence of this work and particularly from engaging with the ‘Winchester Flyers’ woman’s football team, the Garrison Ground was to benefit from various improvements including to drainage and ancillary facilities. 

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

RESOLVED:

1.         That the Winchester District Playing Pitch Strategy and Action Plan 2031 to 2031 be adopted.

2.         That the Head of Landscape and Open Spaces in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment be authorised to make any incidental textual amendment’s or corrections before publication.