Cabinet, on 19 September 2023, resolved to:

1.        Grant project approval to create a Youth Hub at Leys Pools and Leisure Centre;

2.        Recommend to Council the addition of £1,120,199 into the capital programme together with £223,907 into the revenue budget for delivery of the project; and

3.        Delegate authorityto the Executive Director (Communities and People) in consultation with theHead of Financial Services / Section 151 officer, the Head of Law and Governance / Monitoring Officerand the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Parks to award the construction contract to Oxford Direct Services Ltd subject to it being within budget and value for money.

Council, on 2 October 2023, resolved to:

1.       Approve the addition of £1,120,199 into the capital programme together with £223,907 in the revenue budget for delivery of the project.

To enter into a grant funding agreement of £1,120,199 capital and £223,907 revenue with the Social Investment Business Foundation to enable the delivery of a Youth Hub at the Leys Leisure Centre.

Entering into the grant funding agreement enables officers to then draw down the funding and subsequently deliver the project, in line with the report to Cabinet of 13 September 2023.  The decision is necessary to secure the funding.  If this decision were not taken then the funder would not release the funds and officers would not be able to deliver the project in line with the report to Cabinet of 13 September 2013. The funding is time limited and must be spent by the end of March 2025.

The alternative option would be to decline the funding and not enter into the agreement. This option has been rejected as it would mean that the project set out in the Cabinet report of 13 September 2013 could not be delivered.

Decision taken by Peter Matthew, Executive Director (Communities and People) in consultation with Nigel Kennedy, Head of Financial Services; Emma Jackman, Head of Law and Governance; and Councillor Chewe Munkonge, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Parks.