The Director of Neighbourhood Services presented the report which detailed the results of two years of successful partnership development work with the Football Foundation.

Members were informed that the Football Association and Football Foundation had targeted Wirral as an area for special consideration, in terms of attracting grant aid towards the development of new Artificial Grass Pitches. This was in direct response to the exponential growth in grassroots junior football over the past few years in all age groups and all abilities (both in the men and women’s game) throughout Wirral.

As stated in Wirral’s Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy – the Borough had approximately fourteen artificial grass pitches short of meeting demand. This was evidenced in Wirral’s Local Football Facility Plan.

Members thanked officers for the report and their hard work securing the funding. Questions were raised on how officers had mitigated against possible overspend with assurance officered that the project planning had been robust in terms of time and cost control.

The environmental impact of the project was also discussed by Members who queried the Building Research Establishment’s’ Environmental Assessment Methods (BREEM) rating of ‘Good’ and the impact of microplastics generated by 3G pitches. Also raised was storage for bicycles and travel plan as well as participation in football by women and girls.

On a motion by Councillor Cameron, Seconded by Councillor Smith it was –

Resolved – That

(1) the Director of Neighbourhood services be authorise to grant offer letters and associated conditions attached in Appendix 1 and 2 for Wirral Tennis and Sports Centre and Woodchurch Leisure Centre and accept both grant offers from the Football Foundation.

(2)  The Director of Neighbourhood Services be authorise to vire match funding of £114,000 from an existing approved Capital Programme Budget - ‘Health & Safety - Condition Surveys’, and vire an underspend of £68,000 from ‘Wirral Tennis Centre 3G’ project to a newly established, ‘Woodchurch Leisure Centre supersize 3G pitch and pavilion’ budget. 

(3) The Director of Neighbourhood Services be authorise award the tendered pavilion contract to Lyjon Construction Ltd, in the sum of £859,867.13 with regards to the development of the facility based within the grounds of Woodchurch Leisure Centre (part of the overall project and the procurement element for which was managed by the Council).

(4) The Committee determined that the decisions referred to above be not subject to removal of delegation and reconsideration under Part 4 Section 4 of the Constitution because the delay likely to be caused would lead to the withdrawal of the grant offers from the Football Foundation which would seriously prejudice the interests of the Council and of the public.