To consider a report from the Executive Member for Culture Leisure and Strategic Partnerships.

That the Executive:

i)              Approved that the Council enters into a grant agreement with the DLUHC to access grant award from the Levelling Up Fund to support the delivery of the programme of works.

ii)            Delegated authority to the Corporate Director for Place, in consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance and Director of Finance and Systems, to agree the terms and conditions of the grant funding agreement.

iii)           Delegated authority to Director of Legal and Governance to enter into the grant agreement required to finalise the transaction.

iv)           Delegated authority to the Corporate Director of Place to negotiate and award any contracts which may be required to implement this decision.

v)            Noted that the outcomes of the RIBA Stage 2 report for Partington Leisure Centre will be presented to the Executive prior to submitting a planning 2 application in 2024.

The Executive Member for Culture, Leisure, and Strategic Partnerships introduced the report onPartington Sports Village. The report outlined that the Council had been allocated grant funding by DLUHC from the Levelling Up Fund (LuF2) to support the delivery of the Redevelopment of Partington Sports Village.

The report before the Executive sought approval from Members to enter into an agreement with DLUHC to secure grant funds of £18.3m. The scheme also included an additional £1.2m match funding from the Council’s approved Leisure Investment Programme capital budget and £1.25m match funding from external stakeholders. It was noted the funding would support delivery of a programme of improved leisure facilities in Partington including the refurbishment of Partington Leisure Centre, Cross Lane Changing Rooms, Pump Track, Trim Trail, and improved public realm.

The Executive Member for Climate Change and Transport Strategy welcomed the report and the awarding of the levelling up fund which was of instrumental importance to securing those leisure facilities in Partington. He noted the excellent work of officers that had gone into ensuring the bid was successful. The Leader mirrored the Executive Member for Climate Change and Transport Strategy’s comments and noted that the investment linked well with other investments in Altrincham and Stretford to secure state of the art leisure facilities for Trafford residents.

The Executive Member for Adult Social Services noted that a programme on BBC Radio 4 had reported that across the Country 352 pools, leisure centres, and gyms had seen temporary or permanent closures in 2022 and 31% of local authorities were reducing their leisure facilities. Considering the national picture, the Executive Member for Adult Social Services welcomed the report and the improvement of leisure facilities in Partington.

The Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing, and Equalities welcomed the report in particular the positive impact it would have upon residents’ wellbeing in Partington over many years through the infrastructure it would bring to the area.

The Leader of the opposition and Councillor Butt both welcomed the report and the benefit the upgraded facilities would bring to Partington. At the conclusion of discussions, the Leader moved the recommendations of the report and they were agreed.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive:

1)   Approved that the Council enters into a grant agreement with the DLUHC to access grant award from the Levelling Up Fund to support the delivery of the programme of works.

2)   Delegated authority to the Corporate Director for Place, in consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance and Director of Finance and Systems, to agree the terms and conditions of the grant funding agreement.

3)   Delegated authority to Director of Legal and Governance to enter into the grant agreement required to finalise the transaction.

4)   Delegated authority to the Corporate Director of Place to negotiate and award any contracts which may be required to implement this decision.

5)   Noted that the outcomes of the RIBA Stage 2 report for Partington Leisure Centre will be presented to the Executive prior to submitting a planning 2 application in 2024.