ITEM NO. 11

REPORT TO: Cabinet Member Leisure and Tourism Cabinet Member Children’s Services Cabinet

DATE: 5th December 2007 22nd January 2007 24th January 2007

SUBJECT: Sports Park

WARDS AFFECTED: Norwood/Kew

REPORT OF: Strategic Director of Children’s Services Leisure Director CONTACT OFFICER: Graham Bayliss – Leisure Director Tel. No. 0151 934 2371 EXEMPT/ CONFIDENTIAL:

PURPOSE/SUMMARY: To inform Cabinet Members of a proposal received from King (KGV) College Southport and for the development of a “sports park” on land adjacent to the two establishments.

REASON WHY DECISION REQUIRED: if the scheme is to progress a capital contribution will need to be made by the Authority as part of the capital cost of the scheme. Cabinet Members’ support is needed to request Cabinet to make approximately £382k available in the 2008/9 capital programme.

RECOMMENDATION(S):

Cabinet Members:

1) support the proposal by KGV College and Meols Cop High School for the development of a sports park;

2) request Cabinet to make £382k available in the 2008/9 capital programme as a contribution to the scheme, subject to a successful bid to the Football Foundation and grant of £100k from Sefton PCT.

KEY DECISION: No

FORWARD PLAN: No

IMPLEMENTATION DATE: Following the expiry of the call-in period for these meetings

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS: If Cabinet Members do not support the proposals it is unlikely that the sports park could be developed.

SEFTON COUNCIL EXECUTIVE REPORT report-master Page No.

ITEM NO. 11

IMPLICATIONS:

Budget/Policy Framework: Playing Pitch Strategy, Local Leisure Plan, Sefton Sports Facility Strategy

Financial:

2006/ 2007/ 2008/ 2009/ 2007 2008 2009 2010 CAPITAL EXPENDITURE £ £ £ £ Gross Increase in Capital Expenditure 382,000 Funded by: Sefton Capital Resources 382,000 Specific Capital Resources Education Fund REVENUE IMPLICATIONS Gross Increase in Revenue Expenditure Funded by: Sefton funded Resources Funded from External Resources Does the External Funding have an expiry date? No When? How will the service be funded post expiry?

The revenue (debt repayment) costs of financing the Capital Expenditure of £382,000 are £9,600 in 2008/09 and £36,800 in 2009/10 and future years. Legal: None

Risk Assessment: None

Asset Management: The Sports Park will be owned by KGV College but run in partnership between the College, High School, Sefton PCT and Sefton MBC

CONSULTATION UNDERTAKEN/VIEWS

SEFTON COUNCIL EXECUTIVE REPORT report-master Page No.

ITEM NO. 11

CORPORATE OBJECTIVE MONITORING:

Corporate Positive Neutral Negative Objective Impact Impact Impact 1 Creating a Learning Community 9 2 Creating Safe Communities 9 3 Jobs and Prosperity 9 4 Improving Health and Well-Being 9 5 Environmental Sustainability 9 6 Creating Inclusive Communities 9 7 Improving the Quality of Council Services and 9 Strengthening local Democracy 8 Children and Young People 9

LIST OF BACKGROUND PAPERS RELIED UPON IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT

SEFTON COUNCIL EXECUTIVE REPORT report-master Page No.

ITEM NO. 11

1. BACKGROUND

1.1 KGV College and Meols Cop High School in Southport have approached the Council with a proposal to greatly improve outdoor leisure facilities adjacent to the College by developing a “sports park” that would be used by the College, School and wider community.

1.2 Using consultants they have produced a business plan with a view to applying to the Football Foundation for a grant towards a scheme costing (in total) around £965k.

1.3 It is proposed that the scheme be developed in partnership between the College, Meols Cop High School, Southport Football Club, Sefton PCT and the local authority.

1.4 It is hoped this development will be the first phase of a fundamental redevelopment of the whole site which could include a major rebuild/refurbishment of the College and a potentially major refurbishment of Meols Cop High School. These proposed developments would further enhance health and leisure opportunities on the site and offer significant community facilities.

2.0 STRATEGIC NEED/DEMAND FOR FACILITIES

2.1 The present proposal for a “sports park” would involve the development of a full size 3G (third generation) all-weather pitch, improvements to the existing natural turf pitches and renovation of an existing sports pavilion to meet education and community user needs.

2.2 The assessment of demand for the proposed facilities is based on consideration of local population data related to the location of King George V College and local transport networks. Additionally, there is a strong partnership of football providers and education establishments within close proximity to the sports park, most notably:

• King George V • Meols Cop High School and Junior Schools Cluster • Southport Football Club

2.3 Consideration has also been taken of the findings and recommendations provided in the Sefton Sports Facility Strategy 2002-05, which identified the need for an additional 2 x synthetic sports pitches within the borough, notably one serving the North Southport area. Southport has only one full-sized, floodlit synthetic turf pitch accessible by the community. This is located at on the south side of the town and is a multi-purpose, sand filled synthetic pitch. It tends, therefore, to be less popular with football clubs seeking a 3G surface and is in demand from other sports.

2.4 Consultation has been conducted with Southport FC and both the senior and junior football leagues. Consequently, the demand for the floodlit 3G synthetic turf pitch for club training and recreational five a side football is considered to be high. This is based on the requirements identified by the local leagues and clubs and the number of football clubs within four miles/20 minutes travelling time to the complex.

2.5 The key partners, in consultation with the local junior and senior football leagues, have formulated a ‘football development plan’ and ‘programmes for use’ that realistically reflect the potential demand for these facilities from both the education and community sectors.

2.6 The proposed football facilities will enable the College, High School and Football Club to develop their own football activities and increase participation in football through the programme of use included within the development plan. Through the consultation process with the local senior and junior leagues leading to the formulation of the development plan it was clear that many constituent clubs have inadequate training and playing facilities.

SEFTON COUNCIL EXECUTIVE REPORT report-master Page No.

ITEM NO. 11

These proposals, therefore, have the potential to make a major impact on the local football community by providing additional facilities that will support the development of local clubs and increase participation. This is in line with Sefton’s Playing Pitch Strategy.

3.0 COSTS AND FUNDING

3.1 Cost estimates have been prepared by consultants for KGV College as follows:

3G synthetic floodlit football pitch £550,000 Grass sports pitch renovation £ 51,000 Changing rooms conversion and refit £215,000 Professional fees £ 89,000 Ancillary equipment £ 7,500 Provisional sum – additional electricity supply £ 50,000

£962,500

3.2 The total cost of the scheme is therefore close to £1 million but would provide excellent sports (football) facilities for the College, School and local community.

3.3 Due to the nature of the scheme and Sefton Council’s record of delivery on behalf of the Football Foundation, particularly at Litherland Sports Park, it is hoped that the proposed development may attract a 50% capital grant award from the Foundation (£481,250).

3.4 This would mean that an additional £481,250 would need to be raised to match any Football Foundation grant.

3.5 Preliminary consultations have taken place with a possible funding partner, Sefton PCT, who believe that they may be able to make a contribution of around £100K towards the scheme if it meets their required health outputs.

3.6 Should Members wish to support the development of the sports park, there would, therefore, be a need to make a sum of £382,000 available from Sefton’s capital programme to match fund a bid to the Football Foundation in the 2008/9 financial year (subject to a successful bid and PCT funding)

3.7 Within the business plan revenue costs to run the facility would be generated by KGV College and the High School from income accrued for the hire of facilities/pitches.

4. CONCLUSION

4.1 The establishment of a “sports park” to be used by KGV College, Meols Cop High School, Southport FC and the local community would provide a considerable improvement to sports provision within the area. For a bid to be submitted to the Football Foundation, match funding needs to be identified. Initial “soundings” suggest that there would be a requirement for the Authority to provide approximately £382k of capital funding, subject to Sefton PCT making a contribution of £100k. Should the Football Foundation bid not be successful, it is unlikely that the proposal would be taken forward.

SEFTON COUNCIL EXECUTIVE REPORT report-master Page No.