Issue - meetings

The Cabinet received a report on the proposed terms of a 30-year lease of the Mayesbrook Park football stadium to Barking Football Club.

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Social Housing referred to the Council’s Parks and Open Spaces Strategy which encouraged local clubs and groups to take on responsibility for local sports and leisure assets.  Over the past 10 years, the new management of Barking Football Club had made considerable improvements to the running of the business and hosted a range of community-based projects, including the Education in Sports programme.  The Cabinet Member pointed out, however, that without security of tenure it would not be possible for the Club to continue to meet its aspirations or secure sufficient external funding for much-needed upgrades to facilities to support the development of women’s, boys’ and girls’ football.  The Club would also be in a stronger position to fulfil the requirements of the Football League in terms of governance and facilities should the men’s team be eligible for promotion in the future.

Cabinet Members commended the considerable progress made by the new management over the past 10 years, with particular reference made to its support of the Council’s Healthy Living campaign, the range of activities on offer to children and young people and its Outreach work.  The Council’s very best wishes for the future were conveyed to everyone involved with the Club.

The Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Authorise the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement and the Director of Law and Governance, to enter into a 30-year lease for the Mayesbrook Park football stadium with Barking Football Club, subject to satisfactory negotiation of the lease terms and associated requirements; and

(ii)  Authorise the Chief Executive, in the event of it not being possible to enter into a lease agreement with Barking Football Club, to enter into a lease on the same terms with another sports club for the operation of the Mayesbrook Park football stadium.