Decision details

To consider the report of the Head of Leisure and Culture seeking approval to spend City Council funds towards a project at Lordshill Playing Fields to improve drainage. This includes £84,850 from S106 (Playing Fields) and £50k from Children’s Services.

1. To add, in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules, a sum of £134,800 to the Housing & Leisure Capital Programme for drainage works at Lordshill playing fields.
2. To approve, in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules, capital expenditure of £134,800 in 2013/14 from the Housing & Leisure Capital Programme to carry out drainage works at Lordshill playing fields.
3. To transfer, in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules, a sum of £50,000 from the Academies – Capital Works project in the Children’s Services Capital Programme.
4. To note that a bid of £50,000 has been made to Sport England for additional funding for the project, and that this will be added to the project in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules, if the bid is successful.

Lordshill Recreation ground has had a longstanding problem with drainage resulting in a lot of football, cricket and rugby matches being cancelled, leading to a loss of income and a reduction in people using the site.  This has been highlighted in a recent refresh of the Playing Pitch Audit.

Doing nothing has been considered as an option. However, the site would continue to deteriorate and it is possible that clubs and leagues would look to relocate elsewhere eventually.