Agenda item

12.1

The Executive Director, Place submitted a report seeking authority to enter into a lease and Leisure Services Management Agreement with Pulse Soccer Limited for the operation of the Westfield Football Hub, and to dispose of public open space at Westfield to Pulse Soccer Limited and Mosborough Rugby Club via leases.

12.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-

(a)

delegates to the Executive Director, Place, in consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance, the authority to enter into the Collaboration Agreement and a Grant Agreement with the Sheffield Football Trust;

(b)

delegates to the Executive Director, Place, in consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance, the authority to enter into a Leisure Services Management Agreement with Pulse Soccer Limited for an initial period of 8 years, to manage the facility at Westfield;

(c)

notes the previous Cabinet decision of 26th March 2008 to dispose of the land to the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Football Association and now revises that decision and authorises the Chief Property Officer and the Director of Legal and Governance to dispose of the public open space at Westfield to Pulse Soccer Limited via a lease for the period of 8 years and via another lease to the Mosborough Rugby Club for a period of 25 years;

(d)

delegates authority to the Executive Director, Place, in consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance and the Director of Finance and Commercial Services, to agree the terms of the various agreements detailed within this report or any other legal documentation needed to achieve the outcomes set out within the report; and

(e)

delegates authority to the Executive Director, Place, in consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance and the Director of Finance and Commercial Services, to take such other steps as may be deemed appropriate to achieve the outcomes set out in this report.

12.3

Reasons for Decision

12.3.1

This preferred option at Westfield is the final stage in the development of the three current hub sites. It also supports the local authority's city-wide strategy to improve access to sport, health and well-being. The collaboration with the Football Association (FA) also supports their national strategies aimed at improving access to year-round, high quality footballing facilities.

12.3.2

This option allows the Council to commence the clear nine year vision for the three hub sites at Graves, Thorncliffe and Westfield and the wider FA project. This collaboration should also encompass and facilitate the emerging objectives of the Sheffield Football Trust (SFT) listed below, whilst providing clear guidance on the % of surplus (when sinking funds and Trust running costs have been factored in) that should be allocated against each key objective;

(i) Manage the recently awarded contractual relationship with Pulse Soccer Limited to ensure the hubs are financially sustainable and the development outcomes that formed part of the tender submission are realised.

(ii) To use the revenues generated by the hub sites to support other football facilities / pitches, currently provided and subsidised by Sheffield City Council. Key grass sites that the Trust will take ownership of should be within the strategy and a clear phasing plan outlined that is in line with the SFT revenue budget available.

(iii) Develop a grounds maintenance service utilising equipment banks to drive up the quality of outlying grass pitch sites both on public pitches and club leased sites (within and outside of the SFT).

            (iv) Promote sustained and increased participation in football to achieve                             wider social outcomes, for all participants from aged 5 up. This project should set out some more specific interventions e.g. to deliver measurable contributions to local public health targets (smoking cessation, regular activity frequencies, sexual health, mental health etc.) and identify which local stakeholders/experts could deliver this activity.

12.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

12.4.1

The FA recognised that grassroots football facilities in England are under severe pressure from local authority budget cuts. In October 2014, the FA launched a national initiative to invest in grassroots facilities and they have agreed that Sheffield would be the first city in which they deliver their programme.

12.4.2

The alternative to this would be not to enter these agreements and without investment there would be a severe decline in the quality and standards of Council football pitches.

12.4.3

The benefits to Sheffield include new and affordable facilities – artificial pitches, improved grass pitches and changing facilities; increased participation levels and improved health; major capital investment from national sources and a potential long term saving to the Council as more play is concentrated on fewer pitches. Therefore, whilst the FA’s national initiative is recognition of the budget pressures faced by most local authorities, the potential opportunities and benefits are substantial for Sheffield.

12.4.4

Other participants are investing in grassroots facilities too, including the private sector, especially in commercially run small-sided centres or through league clubs. However, it is a stark fact that the current level of overall investment is not enough to (i) protect the current supply of grass pitches and ii) deliver the growth in Artificial Grass Pitches that is needed to catch up with other countries and to provide a better quality, more sustainable football facility infrastructure.

12.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

None

12.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

None

12.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

Laraine Manley, Executive Director, Place

12.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

Economic and Environmental Wellbeing

10.1

The Executive Director, Place submitted a report seeking authority to enter into a lease and Leisure Services Management Agreement with Pulse Soccer Limited for the operation of the Westfield Football Hub, and to dispose of public open space at Westfield to Pulse Soccer Limited and Mosborough Rugby Club via leases.

10.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-

(a)

delegates to the Executive Director, Place, in consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance, the authority to enter into the Collaboration Agreement and a Grant Agreement with the Sheffield Football Trust;

(b)

delegates to the Executive Director, Place, in consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance, the authority to enter into a Leisure Services Management Agreement with Pulse Soccer Limited for an initial period of 8 years, to manage the facility at Westfield;

(c)

notes the previous Cabinet decision of 26th March 2008 to dispose of the land to the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Football Association and now revises that decision and authorises the Chief Property Officer and the Director of Legal and Governance to dispose of the public open space at Westfield to Pulse Soccer Limited via a lease for the period of 8 years and via another lease to the Mosborough Rugby Club for a period of 25 years;

(d)

delegates authority to the Executive Director, Place, in consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance and the Director of Finance and Commercial Services, to agree the terms of the various agreements detailed within this report or any other legal documentation needed to achieve the outcomes set out within the report; and

(e)

delegates authority to the Executive Director, Place, in consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance and the Director of Finance and Commercial Services, to take such other steps as may be deemed appropriate to achieve the outcomes set out in this report.

10.3

Reasons for Decision

10.3.1

This preferred option at Westfield is the final stage in the development of the three current hub sites. It also supports the local authority's city-wide strategy to improve access to sport, health and well-being. The collaboration with the Football Association (FA) also supports their national strategies aimed at improving access to year-round, high quality footballing facilities.

10.3.2

This option allows the Council to commence the clear nine year vision for the three hub sites at Graves, Thorncliffe and Westfield and the wider FA project. This collaboration should also encompass and facilitate the emerging objectives of the Sheffield Football Trust (SFT) listed below, whilst providing clear guidance on the % of surplus (when sinking funds and Trust running costs have been factored in) that should be allocated against each key objective;

(i) Manage the recently awarded contractual relationship with Pulse Soccer Limited to ensure the hubs are financially sustainable and the development outcomes that formed part of the tender submission are realised.

(ii) To use the revenues generated by the hub sites to support other football facilities / pitches, currently provided and subsidised by Sheffield City Council. Key grass sites that the Trust will take ownership of should be within the strategy and a clear phasing plan outlined that is in line with the SFT revenue budget available.

(iii) Develop a grounds maintenance service utilising equipment banks to drive up the quality of outlying grass pitch sites both on public pitches and club leased sites (within and outside of the SFT).

            (iv) Promote sustained and increased participation in football to achieve wider social outcomes, for all participants from aged 5 up. This project should set out some more specific interventions e.g. to deliver measurable contributions to local public health targets (smoking cessation, regular activity frequencies, sexual health, mental health etc.) and identify which local stakeholders/experts could deliver this activity.

10.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

10.4.1

The FA recognised that grassroots football facilities in England are under severe pressure from local authority budget cuts. In October 2014, the FA launched a national initiative to invest in grassroots facilities and they have agreed that Sheffield would be the first city in which they deliver their programme.

10.4.2

The alternative to this would be not to enter these agreements and without investment there would be a severe decline in the quality and standards of Council football pitches.

10.4.3

The benefits to Sheffield include new and affordable facilities – artificial pitches, improved grass pitches and changing facilities; increased participation levels and improved health; major capital investment from national sources and a potential long term saving to the Council as more play is concentrated on fewer pitches. Therefore, whilst the FA’s national initiative is recognition of the budget pressures faced by most local authorities, the potential opportunities and benefits are substantial for Sheffield.

10.4.4

Other participants are investing in grassroots facilities too, including the private sector, especially in commercially run small-sided centres or through league clubs. However, it is a stark fact that the current level of overall investment is not enough to (i) protect the current supply of grass pitches and (ii) deliver the growth in Artificial Grass Pitches that is needed to catch up with other countries and to provide a better quality, more sustainable football facility infrastructure.