Agenda item

Councillor Mary Martin, the Cabinet Member for Communities and Place, and the Corporate Director Resources and Growth and the Head of Property Assets, submitted a joint report providing an update on the Swindon Town Football in the Community Trust’s interest in (a) taking a lease of part of the County Recreation Ground Swindon for the use and development of a pavilion to be shared with the Swindon Harriers Athletics Club and other community sports and social users, and (b) constructing an enclosed full size FA registered artificial grass pitch on the public open space to provide enhanced formal sports and community related facilities.

It was noted that the report was necessary as it involved a leisure asset that serves the whole borough and that Cabinet approval was being sought to grant the required leases to enable the proposed improvements to be delivered.

Councillor Mary Martin, Cabinet Member for Communities and Place, introduced the report and thanked ward members for their participation in the consultation process. 

Councillor Bob Wright advised that it was his view that the area identified in Appendix 1 to the report for lease to Swindon Town Football Club, was not the same as that used in the consultation exercise.  Councillor Martin noted his comments and, since the matter could not be clarified at the meeting, she proposed an amendment to the recommendations to that effect, that she be authorised to determine the precise area to be the subject of the lease, in consultation with the Corporate Director for Resources and Growth, the Head of Property Assets and the Ward Members.

Resolved – (1) That the Head of Property Assets, in consultation with the Director of Law and Democratic Services, be authorised to agree terms for the grant of a lease of the land at the County Recreation Ground Swindon (‘the Grounds’), shown edged red on the plan attached as Appendix 1 to the report, to the Swindon Harriers Athletics Club (‘the Club’), for a term of 25 years, to enable the improvements detailed in the body of the report.

(2) That the Head of Property Assets, in consultation with the Director of Law and Democratic Services, be authorised to agree terms for the grant of a lease of an area of land at the County Recreation Ground Swindon (‘the Grounds’) to the Swindon Town Football in the Community (‘the Trust’) for a term of 25 years, subject to planning permission being secured, to enable the improvements detailed in the body of this report. In addition, that the area of land to be leased shall be determined under the Delegated Authority of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Place, in consultation with the Corporate Director for Resources and Growth, the Head of Property Assets and the Ward Members.

(3) That the Head of Property Assets, in consultation with the Director of Finance, be authorised to agree all necessary documentation to support the grant funding bids on such terms and conditions as are necessary to protect the Councils interests.

(4) That the Director of Law and Democratic Services be authorised to complete all necessary legal documentation to enable the lease of the areas of land at the County Recreation Ground Swindon, referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 above, to the Club and the Trust respectively, on such terms and conditions as he considers necessary to protect the Council’s interests.

(5) That a budget of £215k be approved for the County Recreation Ground Improvements, to be funded from Section 106 Planning Agreement income.

The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in the report to the meeting.