Issue - meetings

To provide an update on the recommendations of the Sir Halley Stewart Task Group (report of the Assistant Director Leisure & Culture enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Leisure and Culture to provide an update on the recommendations of the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field Task Group.

The Communities Manager introduced the report which outlined the following points:

·         background, purpose and scope of the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field Task Group;

·         playing field usage;

·         conclusion of the report which found that the playing field: continued to be well used by football clubs in South Holland; supported youth teams; and had been successfully used to host/promote a wide range of physical activity throughout the district through the ‘Give It A Go’ initiative.

Members considered the report and raised the following points:

·         Members asked how ‘Give It A Go’ was promoted to clubs across the district.

o   The Communities Manager responded that the initiative was promoted:

§  directly to a directory of sports clubs across the district;

§  on social media channels; and

§  through Parish Councils.

·         Members questioned the cost/profitability of the field to the Council and requested that the balance sheet be circulated to the Panel. Hire costs were also requested.

·         Members questioned the relevancy of the Task Group’s recommendations due to the passage of time since they were agreed.  Only one member of the original Task Group still served as a Councillor.

The following debate ensued around the financial responsibility of the playing field maintenance, as outlined at point 2.2 of the report: 

·         a distinction was drawn between the cost of general ground maintenance relating to health and safety compliance which was covered by the Council; and that of specific Football Association (F.A.) league upgrade requirements which was paid for by the respective football club; in the latter case, the Council offered support regarding the sourcing of contractors; and the Assets team ensured that satisfactory standards were upheld;

·         an immediate challenge existed in that whilst the floodlights complied with the F.A.’s minimum lux reading requirements for Pinchbeck United, they did not comply with the minimum requirements for Spalding United, who played in a different league. Spalding United would be demoted if the upgrade was not completed by the end of the current season. The anticipated cost was £25,000.00;

·         Some members were unhappy if the cost of F.A. stipulated upgrades to Spalding’s Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field, for the benefit of Spalding United, were met by South Holland District Council; maintenance of playing fields in other areas were funded by Parish Councils;

·         The Communities Manager confirmed that conditional league upgrade costs were met by the relevant football club, however the Council worked with clubs to assist with the recovery of costs;

·         Members were aware that the F.A. assisted with the cost of imposed upgrades where a ground was wholly leased by a football club, but the Spalding and Pinchbeck teams were unable to draw on this resource as the field was a public facility. The lease option could be investigated however this would involve lengthy negotiations with the Charity Commission who would likely insist on the inclusion  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45