Issue - meetings

That Cabinet:

a)     approve the creation of capital budget within the Capital Programme 2026-27 of up to £1,299,097.16 financed by £1,000,000 from the Change Management Reserve and £299,097.16 S106 Contributions listed in the table at paragraph 2.4 of the report; and

b)     approve that grant be released following the submission of a business case by Bilsthorpe Parish Council which would be subject to approval by the Council’s Section 151 Officer in agreement with the Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Community Relations.

In accordance with Section 100(B)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chair has agreed to take this item as a late item of business to enable the Bilsthorpe Village Hall Complex to progress without delay.

The Business Manager - Healthy Places presented a report which sought approval for a capital contribution towards the delivery of the Bilsthorpe Village Hall complex. Bilsthorpe Parish Council secured UK Shared Prosperity Fund grant in 2022-23 which was used to undertake a community asset report which recommended a new community hub, rationalising the existing community assets (the Miners Welfare, museum, and village hall) into one central, fit for purpose, asset. The parish council went onto commission architects to develop proposals for a community village which culminated in the submission of a planning application for the construction of a new parish hall, new multi-use games area outdoor court, new phased playground, bin and bicycle store and new car park.

It was proposed that the District Council provides a capital contribution of £1m from reserves towards the delivery of the Village Hall Complex. It is further proposed that this capital contribution was made available from 2026-27, with a schedule for draw down, spend by dates and outputs and outcome delivery to be contractually agreed through an agreed business case and programme.

Councillor R Holloway as the local Ward Member attended the Cabinet to set out her support for the project.

AGREED (unanimously) that Cabinet:

a)    approve the creation of capital budget within the Capital Programme 2026-27 of up to £1,299,097.16 financed by £1,000,000 from the Change Management Reserve and £299,097.16 S106 Contributions listed in the table at paragraph 2.4 of the report; and

b)    approve that grant be released following the submission of a business case by Bilsthorpe Parish Council which would be subject to approval by the Council’s Section 151 Officer in agreement with the Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Community Relations.

Reasons for Decision:

The Community Plan has a specific action within the Portfolio for Public Protection and Community Relations to ‘work alongside Bilsthorpe Parish Council and other partners, to continue to support the development of the Bilsthorpe Community Hub’.

Options Considered:

The option to not support Bilsthorpe Parish Council with a capital contribution has been discounted, reflecting the project’s priority with the District Council’s Community Plan, and the opportunity to improve outcomes for the residents of Bilsthorpe through the provision of a village hall complex that meets needs now and in the future.