Purpose

Approval to proceed with
refurbishment

Content

RESOLVED
 
KEY DECISION
 
That the Executive:
 

a)   
Approved the delivery of the Kettering Pitch, Track
and Pavilion Refurbishment project.
 

b)   
Approved the procurement process as outlined at
Section 4 of this Report which was completed as part of the
Football Foundation Capital Grant Application Process.
 

c)   
Noted the request contained in the Capital Update
Report (The Report) elsewhere on the agenda for budget approval for
the scheme totalling £1.021m in 2024/25, £810k from the
Football Foundation grant, £33k from external contributions
and a virement of £178k from the Leisure Minor Works budget
within the approved capital programme.
 

d)   
Approved the award to the contractors that have been
identified to complete these works as part of the Football
Foundation Capital Grant Application Process.
 

e)   
Delegated authority to the Assistant Director of
Assets & Environment and the Assistant Director of Communities
& Leisure in consultation with the Executive Member for Sport,
Leisure, Culture and Tourism to take all necessary actions to
deliver the project including awarding of the contracts.
 
 
Reasons for
Recommendations
 
·      
To utilise the capital grant award of 81% of a total
project cost from the Football Foundation.
·      
This project will have a positive impact on
multi-sport, but particularly football and athletics development
within the North Northamptonshire Community, but particularly for
Kettering.
·      
This is a high-profile site which has been
underinvested in for many years and the pitch is condemned and out
of use.
·      
Increased opportunity for local people to be more
active and for coaching and development programmes to be
established for local clubs and coaches to reinvest into sport in
the area.
·      
The project will support people to live healthier
more active lives. The programme of delivery will offer accessible
opportunities for all members of the community to be more active.
This meets the Councils Corporate Plan objective of “Active,
fulfilled lives” and the Health and Wellbeing Strategy
priority for “Keeping Active”.
 
Alternative Options Considered
 
·      
A range of funding opportunities for the project
have been explored including being fully funded by the Council.
However, this would not create a collaborative approach with
Northamptonshire Football Association and the athletics club, would
have limited success of funding, reduced opportunities to develop
more of the facilities and therefore would not provide best value
for the Council.

 
·      
Kettering Town Harriers Athletics Club, who
currently have part of the pavilion on a lease agreement, have
limited funding to invest into the scheme, their governing body
England Athletics do not have capital funding opportunities, and
they do not have the resource, skills, or experience to take on the
full management of the project and facilities.

 
·      
The Athletics track and facilities have had some
investment by the Council However, the track itself needs
additional investment to ensure that it provides a quality surface
for future use by the club.  Although
the track and equipment improvements for athletics do not form part
of the funding award from the Football Foundation, the improvements
to the club house will and Northamptonshire Football Associations
experience and skills will be able to support future funding
opportunities for investment for the club and
facilities.