Executive Committee and Council only Date signed off by the Monitoring Officer: 22nd June 2018 Date signed off by the Section 151 Officer:

Committee: Executive Committee Date of meeting: 27th June 2018

Report Subject: Re- Naming of the Woodland Field Portfolio Holder: Environment

Report Submitted by: Corporate Director of Regeneration and Services Report Written by: David Watkins

Reporting Pathway Directorate Corporate Portfolio Audit Democratic Scrutiny Executive Council Other Management Leadership Holder / Committee Services Committee Committee (please Team Team Chair Committee state)    

1.0 Purpose of the Report

1.1 The purpose of the report is for the Executive Committee to approve the renaming of the Woodland Field, Cwmtillery.

2.0 Scope and Background

2.1 The scope of the report is for the Executive Committee to approve the renaming of the Woodland Field Cwmtillery to the “Keith Williams field” in respect to Keith Williams who had put over forty years of service into the

Excelsior Football club, and into football in general in the community of

Abertillery. 2.2 This request has been received from the Excelsior’s Football Club’s General Secretary (Copy letter attached appendix 1) following the recent untimely

death of one of their senior football team players.

2.3 The Excelsior Football Club intends to hold a commemorative day on Saturday 4th August 2018 and would therefore request Council’s approval before this date.

2.4 The request for local facilities to be named after local people who have contributed to, and in some cases enhanced the lives of people in local communities is not uncommon, examples of this would be Eugene Cross Park , Burt Denning Centre , Jim Owen field Cwmtillery and the

Windom Vowels Community Centre Cwmtillery. 2.5 The Excelsior’s Football Club have recently (September 2017) taken on the management responsibility under a 25 year lease of the Woodland Field and Jim Owens facilities through the Council’s Community Asset Transfer (CAT)

process. 3. Options for Recommendation

3.1 Option 1

3.1.1 Do nothing and advise the Excelsior’s Football Club that their request has been rejected

3.2 Option 2

3.2.1 Fully support the request from the Excelsior’s Football Club to rename the Woodland Field facilities to the “Keith Williams field” (Subject to legal services checking any legal requirements that may need to be observed)

3.3 It is recommended that Option 2 is approved as the preferred option. 4. Evidence of how does this topic supports the achievement of the Corporate Plan / Statutory Responsibilities / Blaenau Well-being Plan

4.1 This topic empowers the local people by enabling them to establish a mark of respect to someone who has contributed greately to thier local community.

5.0 Implications Against Each Option

5.1 Impact on Budget

5.1.1 There is no impact on the Council’s budget.

5.2 Risk including Mitigating Actions

5.2.1 The risks are:

5.2.1.1 Option 1- The Council could be perceived as not supportive of the local community.

5.2.1.2 Option 2 – There are no risks for the Council

5.3 Human Resources

5.3.1 There are no staffing implications associated with this report

6.0 Supporting Evidence

6.0.1 Examples of facilities across being named after certain individuals would be as follows;  Eugene Cross Park Ebbw Vale,  Burt Denning Centre Brynmawr,

 Jim Owen field Cwmtillery and,;  Windom Vowels Community Centre Cwmtillery.

6.1 Performance Information and Data

6.1.1 There is no performance information or data associated with this report

6.2 Expected outcome for the public

6.2.1 The Council to support the request to rename the Woodland Field Cwmtillery to that of the “Keith Williams field”.

6.3 Involvement (consultation, engagement, participation)

6.3.1 The Council provides services in the community for the community and other partners with respect to the services provided in order to meet local and national needs.

6.4 Collaboration / partnership working N/A

6.5 EqIA(screening and identifying if full impact assessment is needed)

N/A 7.0 Monitoring Arrangements

7.1 N/A Background Documents /Electronic Links

Appendix 1 - Letter from Excelsior’s Football Club

Appendix 1 ABERTILLERY EXCELSIORS AFC

President : Chairman : Treasurer : Secretary : Nigel Daniels, Darren Britton, Roger Fisher, Mattew Tomas, 5 Roche Street 2 Newall Street, 9 The Willows, 124 Tillery St Abertillery Abertillery. Abertillery, Abertillery Gwent Gwent Gwent Tel 0780516295 Tel : 215157 Tel : 07875069437 Tel : 320452

Team Manager : Stephen Morgan. Club Colours : Red & Black.

Child Protection Officer : Wayne Griffiths Mobile : 07983563697 Registered Ground : Woodland Field.

June 19th 2018

Mr David Watkins B.G.C.B.C.

RE:- Re-naming of Woodland field , Cwmtillery

Dear David

We are seeking the authorities’ permission to change the name of the Woodland field to the Keith Williams field in respect to Keith Williams who had put over forty years service into our club and into football in our area .

We feel this will be a fitting tribute to a true gentleman who’s service to football in our area has been colossal.

We intend to hold a commemorative day on Saturday 4th August and we would like your approval by then.

Thank you for your assistance in this matter. . Yours in Sport

M.Thomas General Secretary