Issue - meetings

Recommendations

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.

Considered a report of the Corporate Director of Community Development which set out the current position and options in relation to the replacement of the Community Football Pitch at Scarborough Sports Village together with a preferred option to take forward.

The Executive Member for Culture, Arts and Housing, Councillor Simon Myers introduced the report noting the council’s support for the replacement of this valuable community asset in which serious defects had come to light earlier this year.  Although the council was involved in positive negotiations with the original contractor, and the appropriate legal remedies would be pursued in relation to the original defects, the council’s unequivocal support was reflected in the proposed backstop at recommendation (iii) to ensure the pitch was back in use for the start of the 2026/27 season.

Local division Councillors Rich Maw and Liz Colling then addressed the meeting.  Councillor Maw thanked the Executive for their support for the pitch replacement, for Scarborough Athletic Football Club and for Bridlington Town AFC and their ongoing works to achieve Grade 4. Councillor Maw then put a series of questions in regard to the adequacy of the preferred technical solution to ensure the long term stability and performance of the pitch, together with details of monitoring systems and contingency plans should ground instability continue.  In reply, the Assistant Director Culture and Leisure provided assurance that significant work including further site visits, investigations and expert specialist advice supported the preferred technical solution which was intended to resolve all the underlying issues and not be merely a temporary fix.  Councillor Colling, Chair of Scarborough and Whitby Area Committee then communicated the committee’s strong support for the recommendations in the report as reflected at their last meeting on 6 June, not only because of the economic value of the venue to the town, but also its social and community value. The committee had also expressed gratitude to Bridlington Town AFC for agreeing groundshare arrangements.  Although she remained concerned that the pitch had failed prematurely, Councillor Colling hoped the Executive would adopt the recommendations and wished the scheme success.

Members of the Executive then echoed these sentiments, commending the proposed approach, and noting that the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire had given his backing to the project too.

Resolved (unanimously)

       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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 699