Agenda item

8.

Parks Tennis Procurement and Hillsborough Activity Hub

8.1

The committee considered a report of the Executive Director for Operational Services seeking to gain approval for any associated disposals of land which may be necessary, and for officers to be authorised to obtain any consents or approvals required and to be further authorised to publish any notices required under the Local Government Act 1972 and the Charities Act 2011;

To gain approval for the proposed City Council funding contribution of up to £180,000 (of prudential borrowing) towards the development of the Activity Hub at Hillsborough Park; and the allocation of Section 106 funds of up to £183,000 for the development of the multi-use games facilities at Hillsborough Park, as described in the report.

8.2

RESOLVED: That the Charity Trustees Sub-Committee:-

1.       Note the contents of the report

2.       Note the legal advice received that before any disposal goes ahead the Trustees should be satisfied that based on financial reports and having heard any objections of the public if the proposed disposal is on balance in the best interests of the trust.

3.       Authorise the giving of notices under the Local Government Act 1972 and the Charities Act 2011 prior to the disposal of any of the properties required for the delivery of the project

4.       Subject to the process envisaged by 3 above, to approve the grant of leases of the properties referred to in the body of the report to the preferred supplier on the terms set out in the Appendices to this report after consideration of the contents of the Qualified Surveyor’s Report and satisfying itself that the proposed terms are the best that can be reasonably obtained in the circumstances.

5.       Subject to the process envisaged by 3 above, approve the award of the contract to the preferred supplier

6.       Subject to the process envisaged by 3 above, approve the use of the Prudential Borrowing and Section 106 money to support the project.

(NOTE: The result of the vote on the resolution was FOR - 4 Members; AGAINST - 0 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 1 Members)

8.3

Reasons for Decision

8.3.1

Continued management of Sheffield’s parks tennis programme, alongside a

sustainable business model, providing appropriate opportunities to generate income, provides financial security to parks tennis programme into the future. Without this, the programme faces a financially challenging future.

8.3.2

Hillsborough Park is a site which lies within an area identified as within the top 30%

IMD, and therefore the provision of quality sport and recreational facilities will have a real benefit to communities with identified health inequalities. It is designated as a

‘City Park’ which reflects the fact that residents travel to the park from across the city and further afield; and hence the benefits will also have city wide reach.

8.3.3

The deteriorating conditions of the existing tennis and multi-use games area

provision are not ‘city’ standard. Improvements to these recreational facilities will

support the parks Green Flag aspirations. The provision of an exciting and high-quality facility of this nature will raise the standard of the park, increase its

attractiveness as a destination site and encourage and attract users of all ages and

abilities from various communities to engage in sport and physical activities.

8.3.4

Data and evaluation will form an important component of this project to capture

benefits, outputs and outcomes particularly focused around a reduction in health

inequalities. See Appendix 13 for the latest performance insight.

8.3.5

The social return on investment of the current parks tennis programme was recently

valued by Sheffield Hallam University at over £191,000, this includes;

• £51,000 Health Outcomes

• £95,000 personal wellbeing

• £45,000 community development

8.3.6

We would expect this value and therefore benefits gained, to increase considerably

with the introduction of the Activity Hub at Hillsborough Park and additional courts at Hollinsend and Ecclesfield Parks.

8.3.7

The council recognises that leisure provision both indoors and outdoors is critical

post pandemic, with many people requiring rehabilitation after suffering long-COVID, or diminished mental health caused by lockdown.

8.3.8

The health and wellbeing of residents is a priority, and it is clear the services

delivered by facilities such as this play a vital role both now and in the future. It is

therefore critical that long term sustainable plans are put in place to maintain and

grow these facilities.

8.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

8.4.1

Do nothing

8.4.2

Parks and Countryside’s have reviewed the option of continuing as is, with the existing parks tennis programme model exclusive of an Activity Hub. It has been concluded that continuing in this way, now with the added pressures that the Council is facing as a result of the pandemic, would make the model financially challenging for the future. It would also mean the loss of the opportunity to improve the sports and recreational facilities in this currently underused area of the Park. In addition the health and wellbeing gains that would be gained through the introduction of the hub and the improvement of the recreational and sports facilities would be reduced.

8.4.3

For the tennis sites that form part of the ‘spokes’ of this proposal, the do nothing option would put the future viability and quality of these facilities at risk, as the current model does not adequately account for the financing of future infrastructure renewal needs.

8.

Parks Tennis Procurement and Hillsborough Activity Hub

8.1

The committee considered a report of the Executive Director for Operational Services seeking to gain approval for any associated disposals of land which may be necessary, and for officers to be authorised to obtain any consents or approvals required and to be further authorised to publish any notices required under the Local Government Act 1972 and the Charities Act 2011;

To gain approval for the proposed City Council funding contribution of up to £180,000 (of prudential borrowing) towards the development of the Activity Hub at Hillsborough Park; and the allocation of Section 106 funds of up to £183,000 for the development of the multi-use games facilities at Hillsborough Park, as described in the report.

8.2

Discussion took place around consultation work carried out, particularly in relation to young people and engagement with existing user groups such as Cycling 4 All.

8.3

It was moved by Cllr Auckland and seconded by Cllr Belbin, as an amendment, that the recommendations submitted be amended by re-ordering and the addition of a recommendation to note the legal advice given regarding the final decision. The amendment was put to the vote and carried.

(NOTE: The result of the vote was FOR – 5 Members; AGAINST – 0 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 0 Members.)

8.4

RESOLVED: That the Charity Trustees Sub-Committee:-

1.       Note the contents of the report

2.       Note the legal advice received that before any disposal goes ahead the Trustees should be satisfied that based on financial reports and having heard any objections of the public if the proposed disposal is on balance in the best interests of the trust.

3.       Authorise the giving of notices under the Local Government Act 1972 and the Charities Act 2011 prior to the disposal of any of the properties required for the delivery of the project

4.       Subject to the process envisaged by 3 above, to approve the grant of leases of the properties referred to in the body of the report to the preferred supplier on the terms set out in the Appendices to this report after consideration of the contents of the Qualified Surveyor’s Report and satisfying itself that the proposed terms are the best that can be reasonably obtained in the circumstances.

5.       Subject to the process envisaged by 3 above, approve the award of the contract to the preferred supplier

6.       Subject to the process envisaged by 3 above, approve the use of the Prudential Borrowing and Section 106 money to support the project.

(NOTE: The result of the vote on the resolution was FOR - 4 Members; AGAINST - 0 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 1 Members)

8.5

Reasons for Decision

8.5.1

Continued management of Sheffield’s parks tennis programme, alongside a

sustainable business model, providing appropriate opportunities to generate income, provides financial security to parks tennis programme into the future. Without this, the programme faces a financially challenging future.

8.5.2

Hillsborough Park is a site which lies within an area identified as within the top 30%

IMD, and therefore the provision of quality sport and recreational facilities will have a real benefit to communities with identified health inequalities. It is designated as a

‘City Park’ which reflects the fact that residents travel to the park from across the city and further afield; and hence the benefits will also have city wide reach.

8.5.3

The deteriorating conditions of the existing tennis and multi-use games area

provision are not ‘city’ standard. Improvements to these recreational facilities will

support the parks Green Flag aspirations. The provision of an exciting and high-quality facility of this nature will raise the standard of the park, increase its

attractiveness as a destination site and encourage and attract users of all ages and

abilities from various communities to engage in sport and physical activities.

8.5.4

Data and evaluation will form an important component of this project to capture

benefits, outputs and outcomes particularly focused around a reduction in health

inequalities. See Appendix 13 for the latest performance insight.

8.5.5

The social return on investment of the current parks tennis programme was recently

valued by Sheffield Hallam University at over £191,000, this includes;

• £51,000 Health Outcomes

• £95,000 personal wellbeing

• £45,000 community development

8.5.6

We would expect this value and therefore benefits gained, to increase considerably

with the introduction of the Activity Hub at Hillsborough Park and additional courts at Hollinsend and Ecclesfield Parks.

8.5.7

The council recognises that leisure provision both indoors and outdoors is critical

post pandemic, with many people requiring rehabilitation after suffering long-COVID, or diminished mental health caused by lockdown.

8.5.8

The health and wellbeing of residents is a priority, and it is clear the services

delivered by facilities such as this play a vital role both now and in the future. It is

therefore critical that long term sustainable plans are put in place to maintain and

grow these facilities.

8.6

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

8.6.1

Do nothing

8.6.2

Parks and Countryside’s have reviewed the option of continuing as is, with the existing parks tennis programme model exclusive of an Activity Hub. It has been concluded that continuing in this way, now with the added pressures that the Council is facing as a result of the pandemic, would make the model financially challenging for the future. It would also mean the loss of the opportunity to improve the sports and recreational facilities in this currently underused area of the Park. In addition the health and wellbeing gains that would be gained through the introduction of the hub and the improvement of the recreational and sports facilities would be reduced.

8.6.3

For the tennis sites that form part of the ‘spokes’ of this proposal, the do nothing option would put the future viability and quality of these facilities at risk, as the current model does not adequately account for the financing of future infrastructure renewal needs.