Decision details

Park Tennis LTA Investment

Decision Maker: Director of Culture and Environment

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Purpose:

This report seeks approval to enter into a funding agreement with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) for funding in respect of the project to refurbish courts at Graves Park and Millhouses Park.  This is part of wider LTA investment and assistance in the development of Parks Tennis Sites across the City.  The LTA have offered funding of £84,684 for the development of the project- to resurface five macadam courts at Graves Park and resurface 6 of the same at Millhouses Park, which will support the Sheffield Parks Tennis Programme.  There is potential for a further £200,000 funding from the LTA for additional sites, which fit the criteria of the Programme.

 

This report seeks approval to accept the LTA Terms and Conditions and accept the funding for this project.

 

SCC are providing Partnership Funding on this project in the amount of £68, 317.

 

This report also seeks approval to enter into a 5 year contract (with an option to extend by a further 5 years) with an operator to manage and maintain the parks tennis sites on behalf of the Local Authority.

Decision:

That the Director of Culture and Environment:-

 

(i) Approves the acceptance of £84,684 grant funding from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) for refurbishments at Graves Park and Millhouses Park and also to provide the partnership funding detailed within the report;

 

(ii) approves the acceptance of further funding from the LTA, up to a limit of £200k for investment in additional sites, subject to approval from the Executive Director of Resources;

 

(iii) approves the acceptance of the Offer Letter and the Terms and Conditions (the ‘Funding Agreement’) from the LTA grant funding, as detailed within the report;

 

(iv) approves that work is commissioned to deliver the Parks Tennis refurbishment work;

 

(v) approves a tendering exercise to commission a provider for Parks Tennis Programme from April 2017 onwards (subject to appropriate Procurement Strategy sign off); and

 

(vi) gives approval to take such steps as they deem appropriate to achieve the outcomes set out in this report.

Reasons for the decision:

This programme offers an innovative solution to providing, growing and sustaining tennis in Sheffield’s parks.

 

This programme is seen by the LTA and Sport England as a national example of good practice.  It is a model that other core cities across the country will seek to adopt.

Alternative options considered:

An option to do nothing and retain the status quo in parks tennis was considered.  However, this would eventually lead to the complete demise of tennis facilities in parks across Sheffield due to the Councils ongoing budget pressures and inability to invest any significant funding.

Publication date: 23/01/2017

Date of decision: 22/12/2016

Accompanying Documents: