RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)     formally agrees to accept Football Foundation funding of £839,355 towards the development of four new Playzones at Clacton Leisure Centre, Dovercourt (Cliff Park), Jaywick Sands (Crossways) and Walton-on-the-Naze (Bathhouse Meadow), with a total project cost of £1,119,257; and furthermore, authorises the Assistant Director (Sport, Culture and Health), in consultation with the Corporate Director (Law and Governance) to enter into a funding agreement on behalf of the Council;

(b)     agrees to contribute £204,643.88 from Section 106 monies and £75,168.12 from the Corporate Investment Fund, making a total of £279,812as match funding towards this project;

(c)     authorises the Assistant Director (Sport, Culture and Health), in consultation with Legal Services, to enter into a Joining Agreement with the Football Foundation, to become part of the Football Foundation's Framework Alliance Contract for the duration of the project;

(d)     authorises the Assistant Director (Sport, Culture and Health), in consultation with Legal Services, to enter into a Pre-Construction Services Agreement with McArdle Sport, Edge Public Solutions and Sportslab UK, to undertake the detailed design proposals and to submit planning applications for the new Playzones, under the pre-procured Football Foundation Framework;

(e)     agrees for £40,000 of the Council’s agreed match funding contribution set out in resolution (b) above to be committed towards the Playzones design phase and costs of submitting the planning applications;

(f)       authorises the Assistant Director (Sport, Culture and Health), in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Public Realm, to submit planning applications where applicable, for the four facilities listed in the executive summary of the Portfolio Holder’s report (A.5);

(g)     agrees that, following consultation with local organisations, decision making for the future management options for the Playzone facilities be delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Public Realm, in consultation with the Assistant Director (Sport, Culture and Health), the Corporate Director (Law & Governance) and the Corporate Director (Finance & IT);

(h)     agrees that the approval of the final business plans and associated actions, including the decision to enter into a JCT agreement with McArdle Sport for the construction phase of the Playzone Project, be delegated to the Leader of the Council & Portfolio Holder for Finance and Governance and the Leisure and Public Realm Portfolio Holder, in consultation with the Corporate Director (Finance & IT), the Assistant Director (Sport, Culture and Health) and Legal Services; and

(i)       agrees the inclusion of four new Playzone facilities within the Capital Programme in 2025/26, with a total budget of £1,119,257.