Agenda item

Report of the Cabinet Member for Culture, Economy and Skills is attached.

Councillor Charlotte Morris, Cabinet Member for Culture, Economy and Skills, presented the report which update the Cabinet on a previous decision to approve an investment of up to £450k in the Gigg Lane Stadium at its meeting on the 13th of July 2022, and to refresh the delegations for that decision which would enable the installation of a 3G pitch.

Jacqui Dennis, Director of Law and Democratic Services, advised that the wording of the recommendations had changed since the report was published, and advised on the new wording which removed the condition for a lease to be in place providing sustainability and longevity was secured. This allowed for greater flexibility for the stadium and the Club and would still enable the security of the grant agreement.

Members discussed the report, noting the huge opportunity for community benefit and the continued support from the Council in the development of the stadium and the Club. In response to a question regarding the benefactors, it was noted that they had made significant financial contribution thus far, and financial due diligence undertaken still gave confidence in the Council’s investment for the pitch. With regards to the timescales involved, these were for the Club to manage but they were aiming to have the pitch installed over summer to be in place for the next season.

Decision:

Cabinet:

1.    Agreed that the Council restates its intention to invest £450k of grant funding to Bury FC. (Noted that this sum would contribute towards the cost of installing a 3G pitch at Gigg Lane.)

2.    Agreed a delegation to the Chief Executive, Director of Finance, and Monitoring Officer following consultation with the Leader and the Cabinet Member for Culture, Economy and Skills to enter into a grant agreement, subject to the following conditions

-       The financial due-diligence demonstrates that the FSSB (the merged entity) represent a low-risk for an investment in a 3G pitch.

-       That the FSSB complete the drawdown of their remaining grant funding from the Community Ownership fund administered by DLUCH

3.    Noted that within six months of entering in to the grant agreements, a community engagement plan will be agreed between the Council and FSSB.

Reasons for the decision:

·         The Council has strongly supported the merger of the two football societies. This is because it represents the only realistic route back to securing football league fixtures and to secure the associated economic benefit realised by hosting regular fixtures, often with more than 3,000 spectators.

·         It is important that Gigg Lane is a financially sustainable facility. It is a large stadium (especially for non-league football) with not insignificant costs associated with its upkeep. Meeting this cost burden is best achieved through active use of the Stadium outside of matchdays. It is possible to create significant new income streams through the installation of a 3G pitch, which so long it is of a specific standard, is allowed at Step 9 of the football pyramid (Bury's current position is in the Northwest Counties Football League) and leagues above.

·         There are strong economic benefits for the Borough associated with guaranteeing the future of the Gigg Lane facility and there are also additional benefits in providing floodlit 3G sports facilities in the Borough. The Council see this as an opportunity to develop a pioneering approach to working with a fan owned football club to develop real and meaningful community benefit.

·         For the Club it builds goodwill that will eventually translate into new supporters. Our ambition for Bury is to develop an exemplar of how a fan-owned club can drive real social benefit.

Other options considered and rejected:

The Council has the option to ‘do nothing’. This would mean the installation of the 3G pitch would likely not proceed. It would prove difficult for the Stadium to be developed without the income stream generated from a for-hire pitch. It also allows for a much-enhanced community engagement plan, as without the 3G pitch it would be difficult to meaningfully utilise the facility.