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RESOLVED:
1.
   That this Council notes
that:
a)       
When presenting the outstanding Leah Williamson on
28 February 2023 with her Freedom of the City award this council
undertook to ensure that there would be a legacy across MK in her
honour to mark this momentous achievement.
b)      
Girl's football has been growing at a phenomenal
rate in recent years, and the success of the Lionesses at European
and World level has certainly accelerated that demand. Add to that
the ever-growing population growth and expansion in MK -
demographically still a young profile, means that the continued
growth for already thriving mixed grassroots youth football will
continue for the foreseeable future.
c)       
The Council’s pitch strategy, prepared using
the Sport England matrix is being delivered, but the increase in
the women’s games shows the need for more space to meet our
aspirations driven by the Lionesses recent achievements. Nowhere
represents this more than in the Danesborough & Walton ward and
in Wavendon in particular. Wavendon is MK's fastest growing area
and home to the largest and oldest grassroots football club with
more girl's teams than any other.
d)      
Historically Woburn & Wavendon FC has relied
upon pitch provision in Central Beds to satisfy demand for its
members (who are mostly MK residents), reflecting a deficit in
pitch provision.
e)      
The Strategic Land Allocation in SE MK promised 8.6
hectares of playing fields to satisfy demands from new
developments. However, only just over 2 hectares will eventually be
delivered, simply adding further to the deficit. Similarly,
grassroots football requires adequate midweek artificial floodlit
facilities, which is recognised within the strategy, with clubs
encouraged to access funding via the FA and Football Foundation to
ensure this is delivered. Already the new 3G at Glebe Farm Combined
School in Wavendon is fully booked with a substantial waiting
list.
2.
   That this Council believes that
youth football enables our young people to:
a)       
Make friends - making friends is an important part
of social development for young people. Youth soccer teams provide
not only the opportunity for our children, settled or newly arrived
and of either gender not only to make friends, but also find a
place where they can belong, build self-esteem and confidence, and
create a safe space to talk about tough issues. Peer feedback and
problem-solving addresses the causes of teenage vandalism and
associated anti-social behaviour in some young people by giving
them somewhere to go and somewhere to belong.
b)      
Build life skills - playing football helps our young
people build valuable life skills, such as hard work,
decision-making, problem-solving, and communication. Through
healthy competition, it also teaches the importance of teamwork and
cooperation, balanced by good sportsmanship.
c)       
Be active and healthy – youth football is a
fun activity that helps young people to stay active and helps
combat childhood obesity. With physical activity comes many health
benefits like muscular development, but it’s also important
for kids to learn motor skills like coordination and
balance.
d)      
Promote gender equality - gender equality is core to
effective and sustainable development, and participating in youth
football can help break down gender stereotypes.
e)      
Experience the joy of childhood - when it comes down
to it, football is a game! It’s an outlet for kids to play
and have fun.
3.    That this Council
resolves to ask the executive to:
a)       
Continue to provide more safe, well designed, and
constructed grass pitches within future expansion areas in line
with the pitch strategy calculations as affirmed by stakeholders.
The provision of playing fields needs to match the promises made in
full. Past deficits need to be addressed. Football facilities need
to continue to be delivered earlier, in line with housing
development as shown by the facilities at Brooklands, Tattenhoe
Park, Fairfields and Whitehouse, but recognising the increasing
need for more, including in the South East.
b)      
Continue to address the need for more floodlit
artificial surfaces in line with new housing developments and
population growth as set out with the Council’s Pitch
Strategy.
c)       
Continue to address the issues associated with costs
and accessibility – be it grass or artificial surface, and
value community cohesion with partner agencies who deliver more,
such as schools, Town and Parish Councils and community groups, who
open up their facilities across the city for community
use.  Continue to expect Community
access agreements to be adhered to as set out within Planning
Consents, whether they be Academies or Maintained, with a
requirement in the agreements to offer realistically priced and
year-round community access.
d)      
Support the ongoing audit of all youth football
facilities and existing grass pitches undertaken  via the FA and Pitch Power, to assess the level of
investment required and encourage all landlords and clubs to take
up the funding available from the Football Foundation to improve
quality, reduce postponements and grow truly local
participation.
e)      
Include a specific section (prepared in conjunction
with Sport England) either included in or as an associate document
to  Plan:MK 2, devoted to setting out
just how Plan:MK 2 will ensure the delivery of open space provision
for youth football  through an ambitious
determination to accelerate the provision of such facilities and
meet the demand for  grassroots football
(especially for girls) and in so doing engage and work with the
National Football Foundation to garner advice, financial assistance
and guidance.