Issue - meetings

The Cabinet is requested to consider the agenda report and its four appendices and the following recommendations:

(1)  That it considers the results of the Options Appraisal of potential sites for a skatepark undertaken by Petworth Town Council and the consultation responses set out in the report.

(2)  That it considers whether it should give agreement (subject to the replacement of any lost parking spaces) to Petworth Town Council to develop detailed plans for the provision of a skate park at the identified site in Pound Street Car Park.

(3)  That subject to its decision in (2) above then:

(a)   It approves that subject to planning consent and other necessary requirements being obtained appropriate agreements are entered into to enable construction and use of the skatepark on Council land and

(b)   It provisionally confirms the availability of a contribution of up to £70,000 towards the project being £50,000 from the Petworth Leisure Fund and up to an additional £20,000 (subject to detailed costings).

RESOLVED

(1)  That the results of the Options Appraisal of potential sites for a skatepark undertaken by Petworth Town Council and the consultation responses set out in the report be noted.

(2)  That agreement be given, subject to the replacement of any lost parking spaces to at least seven spaces (in a scheme that estimates losing 11 spaces) so as to ensure no more than four spaces are lost, to Petworth Town Council to develop detailed plans for the provision of a skate park at the identified site in Pound Street Car Park.

(3)  That:

(a)   Subject to planning consent and other necessary requirements being obtained appropriate agreements be entered into to enable construction and use of the skatepark on Council land and

(b)   A contribution of up to £70,000 be made available towards the project being £50,000 from the Petworth Leisure Fund and up to an additional £20,000 (subject to detailed costings).

[Note Immediately prior to the start of this item Mrs Lintill withdrew from the meeting in accordance with her declaration of a prejudicial interest made earlier and she did not return until this item had been concluded]

The Cabinet considered the agenda report and its appendices circulated in the agenda supplement appendix bundle (copies attached to the official minutes).

During the course of the Cabinet member’s introduction a copy of the aerial photograph in appendix 3 (page 73) was circulated showing (for ease of identification) the site in question outlined in red (copy attached to the official minutes).

Mr Hansford, Mr Hyland and Mrs Hotchkiss were in attendance for this item.

The report was introduced by Mrs Keegan. She summarised the background to the proposal now before the Cabinet for a skatepark in Petworth, as set out in section 4 of the report, and the resource details in para 8.1 of the report. She referred to the aforesaid aerial photograph and identified the main features of its location. The loss of car parking spaces as a result of implementing this proposal was a cause for concern and was the subject of comment in the letter in appendix 4; it was hoped that the deficit could be reversed by a consequential revised layout of spaces in the car park. If approved, the proposal would require planning permission and full health and safety risk assessment.   

Mr Hansford, and Mr Hyland did not wish to add to Mrs Keegan’s presentation.

Members acknowledged the balancing exercise involved in this matter namely that the proposal was on the one hand an expression of local democracy and the desire to provide this recreational facility in the town centre rather than in an outlying area for young people who lived in Petworth and its rural environs and did not have many leisure opportunities but on the other hand it gave rise to concerns as to impact of the loss of parking spaces on local businesses and tourism.

At Mr Dignum’s invitation Mrs Graves addressed the Cabinet and expressed reservations about the proposal. She said that she had ascertained that local parishes had not had their views sought by Petworth Town Council. The loss of parking spaces was a cause for concern as was the lack of any or any obvious alternative parking provision in the town. She felt that the sum of £20,000 to be contributed by CDC towards a project that would not be used by a significant proportion of the local population was a further reason to doubt the merits of the proposal.

At Mr Dignum’s invitation, Mr Shaxson addressed the Cabinet. He asked about the liability for the ongoing maintenance of the skatepark.  

Mr Hyland answered members’ questions on points of detail, which included the design of the skatepark eg whether it would have fencing around it; community survey work about the proposal which ahd been carried out by Petworth Town Council both within and outside the town including other parishes and that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 312