Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement presented a report on the progress of the Parklife project at Parsloes Park, which included the development of three artificial grass pitches (AGPs), a new sports pavilion with changing rooms for up to eight teams, gym facilities, sports café, public toilets, multi-use areas and social space, and increased costs that were impacting on the deliverability of the project.

By Minute 4 (19 June 2018), the Cabinet had agreed a funding package of circa £6m to deliver the project, with the majority of funding coming from The Football Foundation and other grant sources.  Since that time, project costs had been steadily increasing and that position was further exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19 which resulted in project delays and, along with other factors, significant increases in construction and component costs.  As a consequence, the total project cost was now estimated at £13.6m and while The Football Foundation had agreed to increase its overall contribution to £6.2m, there was a total funding gap of circa £6.1m without taking into account the £400,000 already pledged by the Council.

The Cabinet Member and other Cabinet colleagues spoke on the significant benefits of the flagship Parklife project to the local community and reiterated their support for its delivery.

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Agree that the Council proceeds with the Parklife project in Parsloes Park to deliver high-quality pavilion facilities to support local football growth in the Borough and associated sports and social activity, and enter the Grant Deed and Delivery Agreements;

(ii)  Agree the provision of additional funding of up to £6.1m, via prudential borrowing, to address the project shortfall;

(iii)  Delegate authority to the Strategic Director, Inclusive Growth, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement and the Chief Legal Officer, to let the facilities to the National Football Trust on the terms set out in the report subject to compliance with s123 of the Local Government Act 1972; and

(iv)  Delegate authority to the Strategic Director, Inclusive Growth, in consultation with the Chief Legal Officer, procure and enter into all necessary contracts and agreements, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, to ensure completion of the Parklife project.