Issue - meetings

Further to Minute No. 80, 18^th October 2017, the Director of City Development submitted a report which sought approval to the provisionally agreed Heads of Terms for the freehold disposal of the Matthew Murray site, which would facilitate Leeds United Football Club’s (LUFC) proposals to relocate its training facilities and the Leeds United Foundation (LUF) and Academy facilities back into the heart of the city and the Elland Road environment.

Responding to a Member’s enquiry, the Board received an update on the current position regarding the remaining term of LUFC’s current lease at the Thorp Arch site and the relationship between this and the proposals regarding the use of the Matthew Murray School site.

Members discussed the current position regarding what facilities the club intended to relocate to the Matthew Murray site, with it being highlighted that further clarity was required in this area. In response, it was noted that such matters could be picked up as part of the ongoing negotiations with the club.

With regard to the commitment of the club around the support it was proposing to provide for the benefit of the local community as part of this relocation, it was requested that further discussion be held with the club in order to enable such commitments to be confirmed in writing.

With regard to how the proposals would potentially affect the Thorp Arch site, a request was made that relevant Ward Members be kept informed of developments.

In conclusion, the Board was assured that the Executive would be kept up to date with developments on such matters, as appropriate.

Following the consideration of Appendix 1 to the submitted report, designated as being exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3), which was considered in private at the conclusion of the meeting, and in taking into consideration all of the matters raised during the discussion on this item, it was

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the disposal of the Council’s freehold interest in the Matthew Murray site, for use as a training facility for LUFC to Greenfield Investments (a wholly owned company of the owner of LUFC), on the draft terms as set out in exempt Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved;

(b)  That the approval of the final disposal boundary and terms, including that relating to part of the playing fields of the Ingram Road Primary School and any requirement by Highways England, be delegated to the Director of City Development, with the concurrence of the Executive Member for Resources and, where applicable, the Head Teacher of Ingram Road Primary School;

(c)  That it be noted that the receipt from the disposal of the Matthew Murray site has already been ring-fenced to the Consolidation Schools Programme;

(d)  That it be noted that a separate report is being presented to this Executive Board regarding the ‘Parklife Project’, which is proposed on Council owned land at Fullerton Park adjacent to LUFC’s stadium, which provides for associated training facilities.