Issue - decisions

The Director of Environment and Housing submitted a report which provided an update on the development of Middleton Park undertaken since 2014, and highlighted the evolution of land use proposals for the site, with specific reference to a proposal for the development of an urban bike park.

Members welcomed the proposals detailed within the submitted report, noted the interest that the project had already generated within the local community, together with the aim of the proposals to build upon the legacy of the 2014 Tour de France Grand Depart.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the injection of £400k of grant funding from British Cycling, as a contribution towards the costs of establishing a series of trails and cycling facilities within Middleton Park, be authorised;

(b)  That the injection of £238.5k of grant funding from Sport England, as a contribution towards the cost of enhancing and renovating the former golf club house facility in Middleton Park in order to enhance opportunities for community engagement and participation in physical activity and to support the cycle trail facility, be authorised;

(c)  That the injection of a revenue income contribution of £240.0k from Parks and Countryside, together with the transfer of existing Leeds City Council match funding from within the current capital programme of £284.0k into the scheme, be authorised;

(d)  That expenditure of £1,162.5k to deliver an Urban Bike Park in Middleton Park, be authorised;

(e)  That the conditions attached to the funding to be provided by Sport England, namely the requirement to use both professional support and building contractors that are part of a competitively tendered framework contract established by Sport England, be noted, and with this in mind, approval be given that Contract Procedure Rules 8.1, 8.2, 9.1 and 9.2 are waivered in order to support these appointments to implement any necessary improvements to the building, subject to the successful receipt of planning consent;

(f)  That it be noted under Contract Procedure Rule 3.1.4, that all external landscaping works are to be undertaken and overseen by the Parks and Countryside Service. It also be noted however, that as a condition of the grant from British Cycling, the service is required to engage with a trail construction specialist for technical elements of the development, and as such, approval be given that Contract Procedure Rules 8.1 and 8.2 are waivered in order to support the direct appointment of a specialist contractor to provide this support function;

(g)  That the engagement work already taking place on site be noted, and that the necessary authority be delegated to the Director of City Development in order to agree terms with Cycle Pathways, at market consideration, for their use of the former golf club house building, with the agreement that any arrangement entered into should include a community use agreement in order to facilitate the continued use of the facility by community organisations, groups and the Local Authority in its sport development activities;

(h)  That it be noted that the Chief Officer Parks and Countryside will be responsible for the implementation of the resolutions made, and the taking of any subsequent and related decisions regarding the principles of development as contained within the report.

(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 it is considered 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, to enable, as stated within the submitted report considered by the Board, acceptance of the grant offers within the time limitations as set by the grant funders.  The implication of not exempting these resolutions from Call In is that, should Call In be invoked, then Leeds City Council would potentially need to forgo the opportunity to benefit from the funding offer provided from external partners and in turn lose the opportunity to develop this flagship development in Leeds. In addition, both grant offers were formally submitted at the end of February, and as such, this had been the first opportunity to bring forward such proposals to a scheduled Executive Board meeting).