The Corporate Director for Communities presented a report seeking approval from Cabinet to extend the scope of the Community Asset Transfer (CAT) Fund to include the development and refurbishment of assets / facilities currently or formerly maintained by the Parks Department that could not readily be subject to a CAT due to issues such as land title, where a minimum of 25% external match-funding had been secured. Approval was also sought to allocate £50,000 from the CAT Fund to enable three tennis courts at Maesteg Welfare Park to be refurbished in partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) at a total cost of £201,282; to allocate up to £151,065.09 (current cost £137,331.90 + 10% contingency) from the CAT Fund to enable two new tennis courts to be developed at Griffin Park, in partnership with the LTA with a match-funding contribution of £53,476.00 being secured and to allocate £3,900.00 from the CAT Fund to enable two tennis courts at Heol-y-Cyw Playing Fields to be refurbished in partnership with the LTA at a total cost of £59,868.06.

The Corporate Director for Communities explained that the LTA Park Refurbishment Programme would refurbish park courts across the UK

having received £21.9 million of funding directly from UK Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and an additional £8.4 million from the LTA Tennis Foundation to deliver the programme by March 2024. The LTA assessed tennis facilities falling under the responsibility of Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) and determined that there were 4 viable sites that should be resurfaced based upon their own condition surveys and an assessment of demand. She outlined how match-funding would support the LTA Park Refurbishment Programme Investment and that 3 of the 4 refurbishments would be undertaken at the end of March 2023 and the 4^th at Griffin Park would be delayed until September 2023. 

The Cabinet Member for Communities added that this was an investment of over half a million pounds in tennis facilities in Bridgend. He was disappointed that a County Borough Member from Maesteg had criticised the investment in Maesteg Welfare Park. The Griffin Park scheme was more expensive because it was for new courts and not refurbishment. As a guide, a family pass currently cost £39 per annum and free usage and coaching would be available. This was a great investment and some of the courts would be in place before Wimbledon. 

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration said that this was an exciting opportunity, and it was good to see so much money being invested in Bridgend. The Corporate Director for Communities explained that funding for Griffin Park would be used to replace the courts in a different location and they would be brand-new all-weather courts.

The Cabinet Member for Future Generation added that this was really positive, especially for the 3 areas north of the M4. He was hopeful that residents could be encouraged to take up the sport. It was reassuring to see the level of commitment from a major sports organisation with 1% of the entire fund being spent in the Borough. He asked what work was being done to ensure these developments were working in partnership with Halo and Community Councils. The Corporate Director for Communities replied that it was incredibly important to work alongside the existing leisure provision to enhance the offer.

The Leader thanked the officers and noted that it was a remarkable achievement to secure this level of investment.    

RESOLVED:        Cabinet:

·           Approved the scope of the CAT Fund be extended to include the development and refurbishment of assets / facilities currently or formerly maintained by the Parks Department that could not readily be subject to a CAT due to issues such as land title, where a minimum of 25% external match-funding has been secured;

·           Approved the allocation of £50,000 under the CAT Fund to enable three tennis courts at Maesteg Welfare Park to be refurbished in partnership with the LTA at a total cost of £201,282, subject to Cabinet approving the extension of the scope of the CAT Fund;

·           Approved the allocation of up to a maximum of £151,065.09 (current cost £137,331.90 + 10% contingency) under the CAT Fund to enable two new replacement tennis courts to be developed at Griffin Park with the LTA providing match-funding of £53,476.00 to the total cost of the project currently estimated to be £190,807.90, subject to the outcomes of community engagement and planning permission, and Cabinet approving the extension of the scope of the CAT Fund;

Approved the allocation of £3,900 under the CAT Fund to enable two tennis courts at Heol-y-Cyw Playing Fields to be refurbished in partnership with the LTA at a total cost of £59,868.06, subject to Cabinet approving the extension of the scope of the CAT Fund.