Issue - meetings

The Corporate Director of Health, Housing and Adult Social Care to present a report which seeks consent to lease land at the Askham site to Bishopthorpe White Rose Football Club and to dispose of land at Burnholme for the provision of a health hub, in order to deliver improved health and wellbeing facilities for York.

Resolved:  (i)      That the net investment of approximately £400,000 in the works necessary to deliver sports pitches and related facilities on land at the Askham Site, subject to submission and approval of the necessary planning application, be noted.

                   (ii)      That it be noted that this investment will be funded from the capital programme agreed by Council as part of the enabling activities for the Lowfield Green site, from Section 106 monies held for the development of sport provision and by relevant grants.

                   (iii)     That approval be given to enter into a Community Asset Transfer, by way of a long lease with Bishopthorpe White Rose Football Club, for pitches and facilities on the land at the Askham Site on terms acceptable to both parties, in accordance with the council’s Community Asset Transfer Policy and Financial and Contract Procedure Rules.

Reason:     So that improved sport and active leisure facilities are made available and pitches re-provided from Lowfield Green.

                   (iv)     That approval be given to dispose of land on the former Burnholme Community College site, by way of a long lease to Priory Medical Group, who propose to develop a Health Centre, residential accommodation and associated car parking (subject to obtaining planning permission and any other necessary statutory consents on terms acceptable to them), in accordance with the council’s Financial and Contract Procedure Rules and as part of the Older Persons’ Accommodation Programme.

Reason:     So that improved sports and leisure facilities are made available in the Burnholme, Heworth and Tang Hall areas.

                   (v)     That the progress being made to enhance retained sports facilities at Burnholme be noted.

Reason:     To be aware that improved sports facilities can complement the health and community provision at Burnholme.        

The Assistant Director for Housing & Community Safety presented a report which sought approval for proposals to lease land at Tadcaster Road - the Askham site - to Bishopthorpe White Rose Football Club and to dispose of land at Burnholme for the provision of a health hub.

In respect of the Askham site, the proposals followed on from the Executive’s approval in June 2016 to redevelop the Lowfield School site for health and wellbeing facilities, and their request on 7 December 2016 for a further report on details of the football facilities that could be created on land off Tadcaster Road (Minute 85c of that meeting refers).  Agreement had now been reached in principle with Bishopthorpe Football Club to support the club’s need for additional pitch space by way of a long lease of this site, as shown in Annex 2.  The council would undertake the necessary construction and other work at a cost of £400k, to be funded by the Football Foundation, the club, local sponsorship and small grants, with the remainder coming from the agreed capital programme.

Plans for the provision of health facilities on the former Community College site at Burnholme, as requested by Executive on 7 December 2016 following their approval on 19 May to develop a Health & Wellbeing campus on the site, were set out in paragraphs 36 to 50 of the report.  The Priory Medical Group (PMG) had been identified as the preferred partner and, subject to consultation, aimed to integrate its three practices on the site and provide an Urgent Care Centre.  It was proposed to grant PMG a long lease of the site, raising an estimated receipt of £800k.  Progress on delivering improved sports facilities at Burnholme was detailed in paragraphs 51 to 58.  This included an initial review of feasibility designs commissioned from external architects, with a view to developing the designs and specifications in-house before putting them out to tender.  Executive approval would be sought in early 2018 for additional capital investment to fund the improvements.

In response to Members’ questions and comments, Officers confirmed that:

·        The aim would be to maximise sustainable travel to both sites via cycle routes, Park & Ride and other bus routes;

·         Bishopthorpe Football Club drew its players from across the city, thereby benefiting a number of areas and not just Bishopthorpe.

Resolved:  (i)      That the net investment of approximately £400,000 in the works necessary to deliver sports pitches and related facilities on land at the Askham Site, subject to submission and approval of the necessary planning application, be noted.

                   (ii)      That it be noted that this investment will be funded from the capital programme agreed by Council as part of the enabling activities for the Lowfield Green site, from Section 106 monies held for the development of sport provision and by relevant grants.

                   (iii)     That approval be given to enter into a Community Asset Transfer, by way of a long lease with Bishopthorpe White Rose Football Club, for pitches and facilities on the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 99