Issue - meetings

Receipt of Grant Funding and Future of Tennis Provision

 

 

Meeting: 17/12/2020 - Council (Item 63)

63 CABINET RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL - MELTON SPORTS VILLAGE TENNIS FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT pdf icon PDF 141 KB

To receive a report from the Cabinet on recommendations referred to the Council for determination

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Communities, Councillor Pearson, moved the recommendations and provided a brief introduction as follows:

 

·         A report was presented to the Cabinet in September 2019 which advised the need for investment in the site due to the deterioration of the playing surface

·         Atkins were authorised by the Cabinet for clarifying the funding arrangements of the investment required and assurances of the financial sustainability of the tennis provision of this Council owned asset

·         Working closely with Melton Mowbray Tennis Club, the Council’s Sports Team has secured just under £39k grant funding and has clarified this investment that the Tennis Club will be able to make including significant  fund-raising

·         This has reduced the level of investment needed by the Council into the facility from estimated £40k to £9.4k

·         As part of the overall investment of £113k (including project and management costs) working in partnership with Council Officers, the Lawn Tennis Association and the Tennis Club has provided a maintenance plan covering the use of the sinking funds both for the court replacement and in future and other ongoing yearly maintenance

·         The contractual arrangements of the Council owned site will be rationalised and the Council will enter a 24 year lease with the Melton Mowbray Tennis Club to include the usual rent reviews and break clauses to protect both parties

·         By adding the project to this year’s Capital Programme would allow for the works to finish on time for the start of the new tennis season in 2021

·         The approval of the £113k to the Capital Programme for 2021 and most of this was from the Lawn Tennis Association, the Council’s  contribution being £9.4k from capital receipts to support the remaining cost of delivering the project

 

Councillor Orson seconded the motion.

 

During debate the following points were noted :

 

·         The 24 year lease was considered to be comfortable for the club to manage against the investment

·         The town already had a long-standing tennis club in the town being Hamilton Tennis Club but the Melton Sports Village Tennis Club was already a very successful club and worked mainly with young people and much of the improvements had already been done. The club had hundreds of young people involved which kept them active and healthy and off the streets

·         The Council’s input was very small. If the Council did not support the scheme then the facility would deteriorate and be closed

·         There was tribute to the Sports Working Group at King Edward and how this project had developed from an obsolete and dangerous facility to a thriving tennis club

·         There were break clauses in the lease to ease any risk on both sides

·         It was confirmed monitoring would be in place however the Council was not liable for any default on payments as the funding arrangement was with the club’s trustees direct

·         It was noted that the membership was very cheap for children

·         The asset would continue to belong to the Council

·         Tribute was made to previous Deputy Chief Executive, Keith  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63

Meeting: 16/12/2020 - Cabinet (Item 141)

141 MELTON SPORTS VILLAGE TENNIS FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT pdf icon PDF 185 KB

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Communities to submit a report providing an update on actions and seeking approval in relation to the contractual arrangements for future management of the tennis courts.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Cabinet:

 

2.1  RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL that £113,300 is added to the 2020/21 Capital Programme in relation to improvements at the tennis courts.

2.2  NOTED funding total of £103,900 to deliver the required improvements to the tennis courts at the Melton Sports Village as detailed in paragraph 1.2 above.

2.3 Subject to the Council approving the recommendation at 2.1:

2.3.1 RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL that £9,400 be provided from capital receipts to support the remaining costs of delivering the project.

2.3.2 AUTHORISED a variation to the contract with the current Leisure Provider SLM noting the financial impact as outlined in para 8.3 to remove the responsibilities relating to the tennis courts with a delegation to the Director of Housing and Communities to finalise the agreement.

2.3.3 AUTHORISED the procurement for project works, and delegates to authority to the Director of Housing & Communities the award any subsequent contract.

2.3.4 AUTHORISED a 24 year lease with MMTC for the tenure of the tennis facilities site, and delegates to the Director for Housing & Communities in consultation with the Director of Corporate Services to negotiate, agree and enter into any such lease agreement.

Minutes:

Andrew Cotton, Director for Housing and Communities introduced the report, the purpose of which was to provide an update on actions and seek approval in relation to the contractual arrangements for future management of the tennis courts.

 

Mr. Cotton advised that following Cabinet’s decision (in September 2019) to approve a number of actions relating to the clarifying the funding arrangements of the investment required and gaining assurances of the financial sustainability of tennis provision at this site, the Council had worked with Melton Mowbray Tennis Club to secure approximately £39k grant funding and had confirmed the Tennis Club’s investment, which included significant fundraising activities undertaken by the club.  This had reduced the level of investment needed from the Council (from an anticipated £40k pounds to £9,400k).

 

Mr. Cotton advised that in partnership with the Council and the Lawn Tennis Association, the Tennis Club had developed a maintenance plan, covering the use of sinking funds both for corporate placements and other ongoing yearly maintenance.  Adding the project to this year's capital programme would the works to finish in time for the start of the new tennis season in April 2021.  The 24 year lease between the Council and the Tennis Club would rationalise contractual arrangements and would include the usual rent reviews and protections for both parties.

 

Councillor Alan Pearson, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Communities thanked all those involved with this project and thanked Councillor Leigh Higgins for the related work he had undertaken.  Considerable effort had been put into the project and it would offer a valuable service to the community.

 

During discussion the following points were noted:

 

•        Members welcomed the proposed recommendations, noting that the project would be of great benefit to the community.

•        Members recognised the excellent work undertaken by the Tennis Club and by the Council’s former Deputy Chief Executive, Keith Aubrey and it’s Leisure and Culture Client Manager.

•        Members thanked officers and Councillor Pearson for their work.

•        Members noted that the project included a long-term plan to ensure finances were in place to maintain this asset.

 

 

 

 

 

Cabinet:

 

1)    RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL that £113,300 is added to the 2020/21 Capital Programme in relation to improvements at the tennis courts;

 

2)    NOTED funding total of £103,900 to deliver the required improvements to the tennis courts at the Melton Sports Village as detailed in paragraph 1.2 above;

 

3)    Subject to the Council approving the recommendation at 2.1:

3.1   RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL that £9,400 be provided from capital receipts to support the remaining costs of delivering the project.

3.2   AUTHORISED a variation to the contract with the current Leisure Provider SLM noting the financial impact as outlined in para 8.3 to remove the responsibilities relating to the tennis courts with a delegation to the Director of Housing and Communities to finalise the agreement.

3.3   AUTHORISED the procurement for project works, and delegates to authority to the Director of Housing & Communities the award any subsequent contract.

3.4   AUTHORISED a 24 year lease with MMTC for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 141