Issue - meetings

Purpose: to report on the result of a feasibility study and outline business case regarding the provision of a 3G pitch to replace the grass pitch at Faraday Road and to seek that the project is included in the 2025/26 and 2026/27 capital programme.

Resolved that:

·         That members be informed about the proposed project and to consider the business case to replace the grass football pitch at Faraday Road.

·         To include the funding for the project in the 2025/26 and 2026/27 capital programme.

This decision is eligible to be ‘called-in’.  However, if the decision has not been ‘called-in’ by 5.00pm on 3 October 2025, then it will be implemented.

Councillor Nigel Foot introduced the report (Agenda Item 9), which reported on the result of a feasibility study and outlined the business case regarding the provision of a 3G pitch to replace the grass pitch at Faraday Road and sought to include the project within the 2025/26 and 2026/27 capital programme.

It was explained that the Council had chosen to fund the project itself in order to fast track the project and retain grant funding for other pitches in the district, subject to the findings of the Playing Pitch Strategy.

Councillor David Marsh thanked Councillor Foot for the report and commented that he was delighted by the proposal. Councillor Marsh queried whether it would be possible to see the ecology report that had been prepared for the site and how biodiversity net gain could be achieved. He further queried whether any grants were available to support the project. Councillor Foot responded that a planning application had been submitted with a number of pre-conditions already addressed, and that the ecology report and biodiversity net gain assessment would be included as part of that application. He further commented that Executive preferred to allocate grant money to pitches identified by the Playing Pitch Strategy.

Councillor Howard Woollaston commented that the pitch at Faraday Road had cost approximately £2 million to date and queried whether that was good value for money, given that there were no permanent changing rooms or stands at the pitch. He suggested that the whole project had been conducted in a piecemeal manner and queried why a 3G pitch had not been installed initially.  Councillor Foot responded that the administration was redressing a fault by the previous administration and that the cost for the Monks Lane project of £214,000, and the £210,000 spent on clearing the site was money that could have been spent on Faraday Road.

Councillor Woollaston commented that the debris on the site was due to arson and nothing to do with the previous administration. He commented that there had also been a scheme in place which would have allowed for a 3G pitch immediately if pursued. Councillor Woollaston queried why Councillor Foot had not sought to implement the original planning application consent as soon as elected. Councillor Foot responded that there were several pre-conditions in the original application which had now been addressed in the current more robust application.

Councillor Woollaston commented that he was happy that football was back to Faraday Road as it was now the only location available in Newbury to take a football pitch, however he wished the 3G pitch had been actioned sooner.

Councillor Jeff Brooks seconded the recommendations within the report.

RESOLVED that:

·       That members be informed about the proposed project and to consider the business case to replace the grass football pitch at Faraday Road.

·       To include the funding for the project in the 2025/26 and 2026/27 capital programme.