NOT FOR PUBLICATION

North Yorkshire Council

Executive

17 June 2025

Replacement of the Community Football Pitch (Scarborough Sports Village)

Report of the Corporate Director [Community Development].

1.0 PURPOSE OF REPORT

1.1 To set out the current position and options in relation to the replacement of the Community Football Pitch at Scarborough Sports Village. To seek support for the preferred option to ensure the replacement of the pitch in a timely manner to minimise income loss and reduce the impact on Scarborough Athletic Football Club (SAFC) and other users of the pitch.

2.0 SUMMARY

2.1 This report sets out recommended options to ensure continuation of community football at Scarborough sports Village.

3.0 BACKGROUND

3.1 The Community Football pitch and associated stadium forms part of Scarborough Sports Village. The ground is owned by the Council and managed on behalf of the Council by Everyone Active. As part of the Strategic Leisure Review the management of the facility will pass back to the Council, as part of Active North Yorkshire, in June 2027.

3.2 The pitch is a well used community facility, used by a number of groups and teams, including youth groups, girls football, walking football, local league finals and Scarborough Ladies. The stadium is the home ground of Scarborough Athletic Football Club (SAFC) who play in the football league (National league North). It is an integral part of the wider Scarborough Sports Village facility.

3.3 The pitch was completed in 2017, however, the current pitch is failing and will not pass another pitch inspection (required annually to maintain FIFA status and for competitive play). A project was, therefore, being progressed to resurface the football pitch at the end of the current football season.

3.4 A series of ground investigation surveys undertaken as part of this project revealed serious ground stability defects believed to be related to the drainage system and the retention of an existing culvert that should have been removed when the pitch was first installed. This significantly increased the costs and complexity of the project and users of the pitch have been advised that competitive play is unlikely to be able to take place from the beginning of the football season.

3.5 This has a significant and serious impact on SAFC, who are a fan owned club and rely on income generated from match tickets and associated spend for their financial sustainability. This situation is likely to result in a significant loss in income for the Club. In addition, there is no alternative grade 2 ground locally (required for the level they play at). Whilst the Club have entered into agreement with Bridlington Town for a temporary ground share arrangement for next season, this will require additional costs for the Club to enable appropriate improvements to be made to meet the required League standard.

4.0 ISSUES AND OPTIONS

4.1 The Scarborough Sports Village and the community football pitch was completed in 2017. The Football Foundation partially funded the current pitch with a grant of £162k. This has a term of 21 years. The Sports Village is managed by Everyone Active (EA) under a Leisure Operating Contract. There is a three-way agreement in place between the Council, EA and SAFC in relation to arrangements and charges for their use of the pitch. SAFC also have a license for the section of the ground on which the “fan zone” is situated.

4.2 Evidence from the ground surveys suggests defects in the original construction of the drainage around the pitch. Positive discussions are taking place with the primary contractor, with a view to defects being remedied in a timely manner.

4.2 Detailed work has been undertaken by the Capital Projects Team and Align Property Services to assess the best technical solution to remedy the identified defects. This involves excavation to circa 0.5m and installation of a geo-mattress sub-layer to the pitch, with full remediation of drainage, made ground, culvert and existing ground by grouting and resin injection method. The pitch will then be resurfaced. The total cost of the scheme (if procured via framework) is in the region of £3.2million.

4.3 If a full procurement for the works is undertaken the timescale required for all works to be completed would be around 44 weeks. The feasibility of a potential direct award to North Yorkshire Highways is being investigated and this would reduce the procurement period significantly. For the pitch resurfacing a direct award from the Football Foundation framework (MGAC) is recommended.

4.4 This is a time sensitive project, involving significant disruption to users and loss of income for the Council and for SAFC. The issue needs to be resolved as quickly as possible during the next football season, despite the complexity.

4.5 It is recommended that to provide stability and certainty for all parties that the Council provides a commitment to resolve the underlying issues and replacing the pitch. It is recommended that the current positive discussions with the contractors continue, however, with the backstop position that the Council undertakes the work if a positive resolution is not forthcoming in an acceptable timescale. In the event that there is a dispute then all legal options will be considered. It is recommended that delegated authority is provided to the Director of Community Development, Director of Resources and the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) to take appropriate actions to enable the pitch to be replaced in the most appropriate and cost effective way.

4.6 In relation to the resurfacing of the pitch, this is required to a FIFA Quality pro standard to enable SAFC to continue to play in their current league (National League North). This reduces the amount of community use on the pitch from over 40 hours to around 20 hours per week. The estimated loss of revenue for this is around £40k per annum and an agreement has been reached with SAFC on a new charging structure to cover this loss in revenue for the Council. Currently the naming rights sit with the Council, the current agreement with Flamingo Land has expired and despite two procurement rounds by the Council no interest in the naming rights has been secured. It is proposed that SAFC attempt to secure an appropriate sponsor for the ground for the next period (5 years) and that any income generated can be retained by the Club to support the additional costs incurred during this period.

4.7 As a community pitch, activities identified in the football development plan will be prioritised, this includes women and girls’ football, inclusive football, local league finals and youth training and play. Effective programming with the pitch at Pindar will also continue to take place to ensure an inclusive and balanced football programme across the town.

5.0 CONSULTATION UNDERTAKEN AND RESPONSES

5.1 We have worked closely with SAFC and key partners, including the Football Foundation, during this period.

5.2 A petition with 3247 signatures has been received by the Council. This urges the Council to repair the football pitch. This is due to be considered by the Area Committee on 6 June 2025.

5.3 This issue has generated a significant amount of local concern and local members and officers have received a significant amount of correspondence highlighting the negative impact on SAFC and supporting timely action to resolve the issues with the pitch.

6.0 CONTRIBUTION TO COUNCIL PRIORITIES

6.1 The provision of inclusive and accessible sporting facilities contributes to Council ambitions to support thriving places and ensure people are safe, healthy and living well.

7.0 ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED

Pitch Replacement

7.1 A range of alternative options have been considered in relation to the pitch replacement. A summary of these options is below:

7.2 Option 1 – full excavation and reinstatement. This is not the preferred technical solution. Possible risk to surrounding buildings. Estimated cost £3.8m.

7.3 Option 2 – Minimal excavation and installation of geogrid – not preferred. Unlikely to resolve subsidence/ground instability.

7.4 Option 3 – New facility on alternative site. No site identified. Would need stadium infrastructure. The current pitch is integrated and managed within wider sports village facilities. Impact of disused pitch within the sports village complex.

7.5 Option 4 – do nothing. Loss of community football on site at all levels. Impact of disused site within wider sports village complex. Potential wider impact on sports village buildings if drainage issues get worse and defects are not remedied. Grant clawback.

7.6 The recommended and preferred option is a technical solution (partial excavation and installation of geogrid) with full remediation of drainage defects to remedy the defects and then to resurface the pitch at the current location.

8.0 IMPACT ON OTHER SERVICES/ORGANISATIONS

8.1 The temporary loss of the pitch is disruptive for all current users of the pitch. SAFC have had to seek a temporary ground share arrangement (currently agreed with Bridlington Town). This will impact fans, not all of whom will be able to travel and will have a significant effect on the financial position of SAFC, with significant loss of income expected.

8.2 The situation will result in a loss of revenue for Everyone Active and under the Leisure Operating Contract they will be eligible to be compensated for the loss in revenue (reduced management fee) by the Council.

9.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Capital costs

9.1 In the event that the Council funds the full cost of remediation and resurfacing, this is likely to cost in the region of £3.2million.

9.2 Current discussions are taking place with the original contractors, with a view to achieving a resolution, which is acceptable to the Council, and which remedies the identified defects.

Revenue Implications

9.3 The SSV village pitch generates around £100k per annum in revenue. Under the Leisure Operating contract Everyone Active would be eligible to be compensated for the actual loss in income through a reduced management fee. Until it is clarified how long the pitch will be affected for it is difficult to quantify this amount, and although competitive match play cannot take place, non-competitive community use can continue for the time being until actual construction starts.

9.4 As in 8.2 above EA will be eligible to be compensated for any actual loss of revenue as a result of the pitch defects.

Football Foundation Grant

9.4 The original grant from the Football Foundation of £162k has a term of 21 years. Claw back is likely in the event that football does not continue from the site. We are in dialogue with the FF who are aware of the issues.

10.0 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

10.1 Officers are currently in discussions with the original contractor that carried out the works as well as the appointed developer for the Sports Village development with a view to agreeing a remediation strategy. Further information on the legal position is set out in the exempt appendix to this report.

11.0 EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS

11.1 The Scarborough Sports Village pitch is used by a number of organisations who offer inclusive and accessible football. An equalities impact assessment has been completed and a full EIA is not required.

12.0 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS

12.1 A climate change impact assessment has been completed and no significant impact has been identified. Climate change and environmental impacts of options will be considered in the decision making process, along with cost/value for money and suitability.

13.0 CONCLUSIONS

13.1 This is a complex situation that requires certainty around the long-term future of the community football pitch. It is therefore recommended that a commitment is given to ensuring that the defects are remedied, and the pitch resurfaced during the 25/26 football season, with a view to play commencing by the start of the 2026 season at the latest.

14.0 REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

14.1 To safeguard the Scarborough Sports Village community football pitch and to ensure the continuation of community football at this location. To ensure a resolution that minimises the financial impact on the Council, whilst ensuring the defects are resolved in a timely manner.

15.0

RECOMMENDATION(S)

i) that the Council commits to ensuring that the defects are remedied, and the pitch resurfaced during the 25/26 football season, with a view to play commencing by the start of the 2026 season at the latest.

ii)that officers continue dialogue with the original contractors and agree a suitable remediation arrangement. That delegated authority be granted to the Director of Community Development, Director of Resources and the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic) in consultation with the portfolio holder for Housing, Culture and Leisure, to agree a suitable remediation by the contractors.

iii) that in the event that an agreement as ii above cannot be achieved in a timely manner that the Council undertakes the works to remedy the defects and resurface the pitch as set out in paragraph 4.2 above, with the pitch resurfacing undertaken by direct award to a contractor on the MGAC (Football Foundation) framework, up to a maximum cost of £3.2million.

iv) that all appropriate legal remedies are pursued in relation to the original defects.

v) that the pitch be resurfaced with a FIFA Quality pro pitch surface to enable SAFC to continue to play in their current league.

APPENDICES:

Appendix A – Equalities Impact assessment

Appendix B – Climate Impact Assessment

BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS: None

Nic Harne

Corporate Director – Community Development

County Hall

Northallerton

16.05.25

Report Author – Jo Ireland, Assistant Director (Culture, Leisure, Archives and Libraries)

Presenter of Report – Jo Ireland

Note: Members are invited to contact the author in advance of the meeting with any detailed queries or questions.