Decision details

Date of Decision:

19 February 2019

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Bronwen Knight

Acting Assistant Director – Planning, Regeneration and Transportation

Specific Delegation:

(If any)

Responsibility for Functions (Appendix 9 of the Constitution)

Executive delegations to the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment

Brief Description of Decision:

Greasbrough Youth Football Club (the club) have worked with RMBC since 2011 when the club were awarded a rolling 1 year licence to maintain a section of land on Roughwood road, Wingfield. In subsequent years, as the club developed in size and stature, a request was received to change their licence agreement to as Asset Transfer Agreement, without break clauses. The current policy for Asset Transfer agreements includes the periodic review of the agreement through break clauses. At each of these points the club or the Council can terminate the agreement if certain grounds are breached, or if one or both parties decide the agreement is no longer viable. In order for the club to develop its facilities further (football pitch improvements/ facilities) it was necessary for the club to apply for external grants to fund this. Two funders, namely Sport England and The Football Foundation were applied to by the club to secure funds to develop one of the football pitches within their leased areas.

Reasons for the Decision:

Under the regulations of external grant funding from both The Football Foundation and Sport England, the security of tenure on a piece of land must be at least 25 years in duration without break clauses. The club made a request to the Council for the break clause condition to be removed from their agreement in order for their funding application to accepted by Sport England and The Football Foundation thus support the development of football and physical activity opportunities for young people in the Greasbrough and Wingfield area.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

Do not grant the club the required lease and request that they continue in occupation on the existing agreement. This option has been discounted, as without the required lease in place the grant funding will not be forthcoming and the benefits to both the club and the development of the site will not be realised.

Conflicts of interest declared by any Executive Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

None

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None

Reports or parts of reports considered

Rationalisation of the Property Portfolio: Green Space on Roughwood Road, Wingfield (Greasbrough Youth Football Club)