Decision details

On 10 June 2025, Cabinet agreed to support the construction of the Petersfield community and sports hub by way of two separate leases with Petersfield Partnership CIO and Saracens FC and by entering into a grant agreement and a management agreement with Petersfield Partnership CIO.
Cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Director of governance, housing and communities, in consultation with the Cabinet Member Finance & Assets, to agree the final terms of the grant and management agreements and to conclude the arrangements to ensure the hub is managed for the benefit of the community
As Director of governance, housing and communities, I now wish to make the decision that the Council concludes the grant agreement and management agreement with Petersfield Partnership CIO

The grant agreement sets out the amount of funding to be paid by the Council to Petersfield Partnership CIO and the terms by which this funding will be offered. The amount of grant is £487,751 as detailed in the 10 June cabinet report. This comprises the following sums:
Big Local funds held by the Local Trust £356,643
The Council’s future admin fee based on additional £356k to be drawn down £17,832
The Council’s previous admin fee held by the Council at 21.5.25 £42,143
Big Local underspend from current plan held by the Council at 21.5.25 £24,133
The Council – contribution from HRA £25,000
Contribution from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire and held by the Council £22,000
487,751

The grant agreement sets out the conditions by which the grant is offered:
• first obtaining approval from the Council as to a construction timeline that the Project will be delivered in accordance with. This timeline shall reflect any grant drawdown and payment requirements of the community ownership fund);
• first obtaining an agreed fixed price quotation (such quotation to be valid for the Grant Period) for the Project;
• undertaking that it has and will continue to undertake a procurement process which complies with UK procurement legislation to demonstrate best value when procuring any goods, services and/or works connected with the Project;
• committing to payment of any additional funding necessary to deliver the Project, such shall include having secured additional funding for the Project and maintaining sufficient contingency sums to cover any price increases; and
• first obtaining planning permission and such other permissions, consents, notices and requirements necessary to deliver the Project (including landlord consent)
In terms of meeting these conditions, Petersfield Partnership CIO have confirmed the following:
• Construction timeline
• Fixed price quotation
• Procurement process
• Additional funding
• Planning permission - planning permission for the Petersfield community and sports hub was granted by the Council on Friday 11 July.

To ensure the hub building is managed for the benefit of the community, the grant agreement also includes a further four conditions:
• A commitment to make the hub building available to the wider community for a minimum of 6 hours per week
• A commitment to make the hub building available as a safe space to support young people a minimum of 3 hours per week.
• A commitment to make the hub building available to provide a community space for the Endeavour, clear hold build programme a minimum of 3 hours per week.
• A commitment to provide improved facilities for Saracens FC a minimum of 6 hours per week
The grant agreement allows for regular monitoring the delivery of the hub building throughout the grant period to ensure that the conditions of the grant is being met.
The management agreement sets out the requirements for how the hub building will be managed and maintained so that it provides an amenity to the community. This includes the following provisions:
• To ensure that the Premises are available for events and bookings to the public, other sports clubs and organisations
• To put in place and operating a system for the booking of the facilities.
• To have a minimum of 2 authorised representatives who will be responsible for the hire of the facilities, at all times
• To have policies necessary to manage the hub building including; health and safety; safeguarding; risk management; equality and diversity; staff and volunteering; and data protection,
The management agreement also reiterates the commitments to make the building available for community use:
• A commitment to make the hub building available to the wider community for a minimum of 6 hours per week
• A commitment to make the hub building available as a safe space to support young people a minimum of 3 hours per week.
• A commitment to make the hub building available to provide a community space for the Endeavour, clear hold build programme a minimum of 3 hours per week.
• A commitment to provide improved facilities for Saracens FC a minimum of 6 hours per week
I am therefore satisfied that the grant agreement and management agreement contain sufficient provisions to ensure the hub is managed for the benefit of the community and that Petersfield Partnership CIO satisfy the conditions as set out in the grant agreement

none

The Cabinet Member Finance & Assets was consulted on the taking of this decision and was supportive.