Report
Resources Committee
23 April 2009
LEASE OF ST MARY’S PLAYING FIELDS, GILLBRAE ROAD,
DUMFRIES
1. Reason for Report
Approval is sought to grant a lease of St Mary’s Playing Fields, Gillbrae Road,
Dumfries to Heston Rovers Youth Football Club.
2.
Glossary
Service Level Agreement
SLA
3. Recommendations
Members are asked to:
3.1 agree to grant a lease to Heston Rovers Youth Football Club for a period of
50 years at a rent of €14,600 per annum to be reviewed every five years;
agree a Service Level Agreement be entered into with Heston Rovers Youth
3.2
Football Club allowing the Council and St Josephs College the use of St Mary’s
Playing Fields and associated facilities for a sum equal to the rent; and
3.3 all other terms and conditions including arrangements for wider community
use to be agreed by the Service Director Support Services.
4.
4.1
Plan Links and Contribution
The recommendation in this Report contributes to Corporate Plan values of: -
.
.
Local decision making and service delivery - to make decisions and deliver
services at a local level whenever appropriate
Partnership working and exploring different ways of delivering services
with public, Third Sector (voluntary bodies) and private sectors
The key theme of “Healthier” - Promoting and expanding leisure and sport
activity across the region.
4.2 The development of this lease and SLA also fits with the recommendations of
the Council approved Sports Pitch Strategy 2006-201 1.
5.
ResourcesNaIue for Money Assessment
5.1 The Estate Management Leader is of the opinion the rent of €14,600 per
annum represents best consideration for this land.
5.2
Under the Council’s draft Asset Management Plan the Council must
demonstrate a clear strategic operational interest in retaining this property. The
lease and the Service Level Agreement, will ensure the continuing operation and
secure the Council’s use of this sports facility, in a community where there is under
provision of football pitches.
22
Report
Resources Committee
23 April 2009
6.
Risk Assessment
If the Council does not grant a lease to Heston Rovers then they will not be able to
obtain external funding to improve the condition of the football pitches which have
become water logged due to the poor drainage.
7.
Authorities and Legal Implications
7.1 Section 74 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 requires all Councils
to obtain “best consideration” in the disposal of any property, either by open market
disposal or negotiated sale.
7.2
where:
Disposal by lease is delegated to the Service Director Support Services
.
the property is specifically held for leasing
the leasing of other properties requires Members’ approval
8.
Consultations
The Operations Manager Leisure & Sport, Group Manager Local Services Nithsdale,
Operations Manager Legal Services, Operations Manager Accountancy, Service
Director School Services and Area Manager Nithsdale have been consulted and are
in agreement with the terms of the report.
9.
Background
9.1 The Council own St Mary’s Playing Fields, Gillbrae Road, Dumfries
(Appendix I).
9.2 The Playing Fields and St Joseph’s College were originally leased on a 99
year lease from the Marist Brothers.
9.3
The Council obtained ownership of these properties in 2008.
It was agreed at the Asset Management Committee on the 15 August 2006 to
lease an area of land for 25 years. This was to enable Heston Rovers to locate a
portacabin for changing facilities.
9.3
9.4 Heston Rovers wish to take a lease of the playing pitches to enable them to
secure external funding to improve the quality of the pitches, and provide permanent
changing facilities. The grass cutting and current grounds maintenance regime in
place will still continue to be provided to the same level and specification by
Combined Services and be paid by the Council; however the club will have the
autonomy to do additional grounds maintenance works over and above this in liaison
with Combined Services.
9.5
The area of land to be leased extends to approximately 18.5acres.
The Service Leader Estate Management has assessed the market rent for a
lease of the relevant area of land at E14,600per annum.
9.6
St Joseph’s College requires to retain ownership and use of these playing
fields to comply with statutory requirements. The school will have the right to use the
playing field and associated facilities by agreement through the SLA.
9.7
Report
Resources Committee
23 April 2009
9.8 To facilitate the school use Heston Rovers agreed to enter into a SLA with the
Council whereby the Council and St Joseph’s College will have the right to use the
facilities up to the value of the rental charged. In addition to this there will be
potential for the wider community to use the pitches and changing facilities on site at
a hireable cost, which is consistent with other Council SLA’s in place with local
football clubs.
10.
Key Issues
10.1 By having a SLA it will help protect school and community access to the
playing fields.
10.2 Heston Rovers require a lease in place to allow them to obtain external
funding.
Andrew Maxwell
Senior Technician
Property Services
George W West
Estate Management Service Leader
Property Services
Gordon Lawson
Service Director Support Services
Community and Support Services
Council Offices
English Street
Dumfries
Date of Report: 15 April 2009
File Ref: M38lA AMISW
Appendices
-1
Background Papers
Sub-Lease of Land at Maryfield, Dumfries - AMC 25/08/06
PROPERTY SERVICES
Scale 1:3000
NX9875NE
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