Agenda item

10.1

The Executive Director, Place submitted a report seeking Cabinet approval for the City Council to enter into a partnership with the Football Association (FA) which will lead to a long term relationship to oversee the planning and investment of around £9.6m in the City’s football facilities.

10.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-

(a)

approves the principle of a partnership agreement between the City Council and the Football Association and delegates authority to the Executive Director, Place in consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance  to enter into an agreement with the Football Association for the purposes of delivering the outcomes set out in the report;

(b)

approves the strategy for hub sites set out in the report and in particular the development of the first two hubs at Thorncliffe Recreation Ground and Graves Leisure Centre;

(c)

delegates authority to the Executive Director, Resources to confirm the funding of a £1.173m contribution from the City Council towards the Phase 1 programme of £9.6m set out in the report. In particular, to seek confirmation of match funding for the two hubs at Thorncliffe and Graves. The City Council funding will be provided from a mix of Capital Programme funding which optimises the Council’s Capital and Revenue Budget strategy. This may include borrowing repaid from the anticipated future revenue savings;

(d)

delegates authority to the Executive Director, Place, in consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance and the Director of Finance to enter into agreements for external funding into the Council for the purpose of meeting the costs at Thorncliffe and Graves Leisure Centre and to approve the terms of such funding agreements;

(e)

delegates authority to the Executive Director, Place in consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance and the Director of Finance to take such other steps as he may deem appropriate to achieve the outcomes in the report in relation to the partnership with the FA and specifically the delivery of the Thorncliffe and Graves Leisure Centre projects;

(f)

delegates authority to the Director of Capital and Major Projects to advertise the disposal of public open space;

(g)

delegates authority to the Director of Capital and Major Projects in consultation with the Executive Director, Place:-

(i)

to agree terms with the FA or its football trust for the disposal of the hubs once completed; and

(b)

instruct the Director of Legal and Governance to prepare and complete the necessary legal documentation to implement the transaction in accordance with the agreed terms except in relation to any public open space where valid objections had been received to the disposal in which case the matter shall be referred back to Cabinet.

(h)

notes that a capital approval submission had been submitted in the month 5 Budget Monitoring report for the necessary authority to undertake and procure the proposed works at Thorncliffe Recreation Ground and Graves Leisure Centre, in accordance with Council procedures.

10.3

Reasons for Decision

10.3.1

Football is a major participation sport in the City – with over 800 teams, of which over 500 are junior/youth teams. Like every other major City, Sheffield’s pitches and changing facilities are under severe pressure from Government budget cuts. The proposed partnership with the FA offers the opportunity for major investment in facilities and the chance to turnaround the long term prospects for the game. This will boost participation and therefore improve health and reinforce the important social role that football plays across all communities in the City.

10.3.2

The report recommends that the first two hub sites be located at Thorncliffe Recreation Ground and at Graves Leisure Centre given that both offer major opportunities for synergy with the impending indoor sports developments at each – in terms of usage levels, construction and operational economies of scale and partnership.

10.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

10.4.1

The City Council and the FA are considering a range of options in relation to the potential investment in the hub sites. These sites will be confirmed in due course. However, there is consensus on the merits of two of the sites being located at Graves Leisure Centre and Thorncliffe. This is based on the following advantages offered by both:-

·      Strong locations serving significant catchment populations;

·      A critical mass of indoor and outdoor facilities on a single site will create synergy in terms of footfall and income;

·      Economies of scale on construction costs via the potential to synchronise the development of indoor and outdoor facilities;

·      Opportunities for extensive partnership with Sport England, the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, the indoor leisure contractor and, in the case of Thorncliffe, with Ecclesfield Parish Council and the operator(s) of the other on site sports facilities;

·      The outdoor developments will achieve economies of scale by sharing some of the new infrastructure being constructed for the indoor facilities on each site e.g. access and car parking.

10.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

None

10.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

None

10.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

Simon Green, Executive Director, Place

10.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

Economic and Environmental Wellbeing

10.1

The Executive Director, Place submitted a report seeking Cabinet approval for the City Council to enter into a partnership with the Football Association (FA) which will lead to a long term relationship to oversee the planning and investment of around £9.6m in the City’s football facilities.

10.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-

(a)

approves the principle of a partnership agreement between the City Council and the Football Association and delegates authority to the Executive Director, Place in consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance  to enter into an agreement with the Football Association for the purposes of delivering the outcomes set out in the report;

(b)

approves the strategy for hub sites set out in the report and in particular the development of the first two hubs at Thorncliffe Recreation Ground and Graves Leisure Centre;

(c)

delegates authority to the Executive Director, Resources to confirm the funding of a £1.173m contribution from the City Council towards the Phase 1 programme of £9.6m set out in the report. In particular, to seek confirmation of match funding for the two hubs at Thorncliffe and Graves. The City Council funding will be provided from a mix of Capital Programme funding which optimises the Council’s Capital and Revenue Budget strategy. This may include borrowing repaid from the anticipated future revenue savings;

(d)

delegates authority to the Executive Director, Place, in consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance and the Director of Finance to enter into agreements for external funding into the Council for the purpose of meeting the costs at Thorncliffe and Graves Leisure Centre and to approve the terms of such funding agreements;

(e)

delegates authority to the Executive Director, Place in consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance and the Director of Finance to take such other steps as he may deem appropriate to achieve the outcomes in the report in relation to the partnership with the FA and specifically the delivery of the Thorncliffe and Graves Leisure Centre projects;

(f)

delegates authority to the Director of Capital and Major Projects to advertise the disposal of public open space;

(g)

delegates authority to the Director of Capital and Major Projects in consultation with the Executive Director, Place:-

(i)

to agree terms with the FA or its football trust for the disposal of the hubs once completed; and

(b)

instruct the Director of Legal and Governance to prepare and complete the necessary legal documentation to implement the transaction in accordance with the agreed terms except in relation to any public open space where valid objections had been received to the disposal in which case the matter shall be referred back to Cabinet.

(h)

notes that a capital approval submission had been submitted in the month 5 Budget Monitoring report for the necessary authority to undertake and procure the proposed works at Thorncliffe Recreation Ground and Graves Leisure Centre, in accordance with Council procedures.

10.3

Reasons for Decision

10.3.1

Football is a major participation sport in the City – with over 800 teams, of which over 500 are junior/youth teams. Like every other major City, Sheffield’s pitches and changing facilities are under severe pressure from Government budget cuts. The proposed partnership with the FA offers the opportunity for major investment in facilities and the chance to turnaround the long term prospects for the game. This will boost participation and therefore improve health and reinforce the important social role that football plays across all communities in the City.

10.3.2

The report recommends that the first two hub sites be located at Thorncliffe Recreation Ground and at Graves Leisure Centre given that both offer major opportunities for synergy with the impending indoor sports developments at each – in terms of usage levels, construction and operational economies of scale and partnership.

10.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

10.4.1

The City Council and the FA are considering a range of options in relation to the potential investment in the hub sites. These sites will be confirmed in due course. However, there is consensus on the merits of two of the sites being located at Graves Leisure Centre and Thorncliffe. This is based on the following advantages offered by both:-

·      Strong locations serving significant catchment populations;

·      A critical mass of indoor and outdoor facilities on a single site will create synergy in terms of footfall and income;

·      Economies of scale on construction costs via the potential to synchronise the development of indoor and outdoor facilities;

·      Opportunities for extensive partnership with Sport England, the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, the indoor leisure contractor and, in the case of Thorncliffe, with Ecclesfield Parish Council and the operator(s) of the other on site sports facilities;

·      The outdoor developments will achieve economies of scale by sharing some of the new infrastructure being constructed for the indoor facilities on each site e.g. access and car parking.