Agenda item

Langport Cycleway (Executive Decision)

Meeting of Area North Committee, Wednesday 27th June 2018 3.00 pm (Item 28.)

Decision:

RESOLVED:

That Area North Committee agreed to:

1. Note the report, particularly the financial and in-kind support offered by the local community to ensure the sustainability of the Langport to Muchelney Cycleway.

2. Award a grant of £10,000 to Langport Town Council (as lead authority for the Consortium of Huish Episcopi Parish Council, Langport Town Council, Drayton Parish Council and Muchelney Parish Meeting) towards the purchase of a section of the Langport Cycleway and improvements to infrastructure. The funding to be allocated from capital reserves.

Reason:

To update members on progress of work with local representatives regarding the future management of the Langport to Muchelney Cycleway and to award a grant towards the costs of purchasing a section of the cycleway and capital improvements along its length.

(Voting: Unanimous)

Minutes:

The Leisure and Recreation Manager presented the report as detailed in the agenda, which updated members on the progress of work with local representatives regarding the future management of the Langport to Muchelney Cycleway. Members were informed of the work undertaken since the last report in April 2018, and she highlighted the proposed way forward and funding plan. The Manager advised that if the proposal was agreed, the Consortium would take over responsibility for the cycleway when the current licences expired, and noted that revenue costs would be greatly reduced and the revised costs would be much more sustainable for the future.

Ward member, Councillor Clare Aparicio Paul noted much work had been done to get the project to this stage. She hoped members would support the proposal and she was confident that funding from other sources would be secured.

The Communities Lead informed members that the grant proposed was a once-off capital sum, and would be conditioned to preclude any future funding applications to SSDC for the cycleway.

At the end of a brief discussion, during which members expressed their support for the proposal, it was unanimously agreed to award the funding to Langport Town Council.