Decision details

To agree proposed Heads of Terms to secure private investment into the redevelopment of Headingley cricket and rugby grounds.

The Director of City Development submitted a report which sought approval in principle to proposed arrangements in order to enable the Council to facilitate third party investment in the proposed development of the Headingley Stadium.

Discussion identified both Leeds Rhinos Rugby League Club and Yorkshire County Cricket Club, based at the Stadium, as significant contributors to the city; and considered the economic impact on the city if the redevelopment proposals were not progressed. Reference was made to the future of Test Cricket at Headingley Stadium and the stance adopted by the English Cricket Board. In terms of progressing the proposals, a suggestion to involve Opposition Group Leaders on Executive Board in the consultation on the agreement of the final terms of the arrangements and the relevant documentation was accepted.

Additionally, the Chief Executive reported receipt by Members of a representation from Councillor M Dobson with a request for Executive Board to set aside recommendation (d) of the report in order to make the matter available for Call-in. Councillor Golton expressed his support for this request. The remainder of the Board noted the impact any delay would have on implementation of the proposals.

Following consideration of Appendices 1 and 2 to the submitted report, designated as exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3), which were considered in private at the conclusion of the meeting, it was

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the principle of the Council facilitating the redevelopment of Headingley Stadium by acting as tenant for the redevelopment of the North/South Stand and entering into lease arrangements with Yorkshire County Cricket Club and Leeds Cricket Football and Athletic Company, either individually or through a New joint company owned by the clubs, be approved;

(b)  That the draft Heads of Terms, as outlined in exempt Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved;

(c)  That based upon the draft Heads of Terms, as outlined in exempt Appendix 1 to the submitted report, approval be given for the agreement of the final terms of the arrangements and the relevant documentation to be delegated to the Director of City Development, in conjunction with the Chief Officer (Financial Services) and in consultation with the Leader of Council; the Executive Member for Transport, Regeneration and Planning and the Opposition Group Leaders on Executive Board;

(d)  That for those reasons as detailed within paragraph 4.5.2 of the submitted report, the resolutions within this minute be exempted from the Call In process;

(e)  That the underwriting arrangements, as referred to in paragraph 3.12 of the submitted report, be approved;

(f)  That it be noted that the Director of City Development and the Chief Officer (Financial Services) will be responsible for the implementation of the resolutions above.

(The Council’s Executive and Decision Making Procedure Rules state that a decision may be declared as being exempt from the Call In process if the decision taker considers that any delay would seriously prejudice the Council’s, or the public’s interests. In line with this, the resolutions contained within this minute were exempted from the Call In process, because, as stated within the submitted report considered by the Board, it had not been possible to submit this matter to the Board sooner so as to have been eligible for Call In, as it was not until January 2017 that it became clear that the originally proposed funding package was not capable of being delivered and the proposed alternative option had only emerged in the course of the last few weeks. Given that timing was now a critical issue and any delay would seriously prejudice the Council’s interests, as it was understood that work needed to start in June 2017 in order to enable the stand to be completed in time for the 2019 Cricket World Cup. Should this matter not be dealt with at the 19 April 2017 Executive Board, it would not be possible to progress the various agreements necessary to enable the building work to commence in the required timescales and the public benefits of the stadium redevelopment may be lost).

(Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.5, Councillor S Golton required it to be recorded that he abstained from voting on this matter)

Briefings

Leader of the Council, Executive Member for Regeneration, Transport & Planning, Leaders of the opposition.