Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report provides details about the Playing Pitch Strategies (PPS), summarises the supply (pitch provision) and demand (participation data) of pitches for football, rugby, cricket, hockey and lacrosse and provides a sound basis on which to develop policy and make informed decisions for sports development and investment.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:

(1) Note the findings of the PPS and that the Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Sport and the Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways & Transportation Services will be recommended to formally adopt the PPS.

(2) To note the commencement of the Local Football Facilities Plan

(LFFP) refresh.  

Officer contact: Denise Irving-Lang on 0161 474 4494 or email denise.irving@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details about the Playing Pitch Strategies (PPS), summarises the supply (pitch provision) and demanding (participation data) of pitches for football, rugby, cricket, hockey and lacrosse and providing a sound basis on which to develop policy and make informed decisions for sports development and investment.

The Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Sport (Councillor Frankie Singleton) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Members commented that facilities including changing rooms and toilets which were required to support girls’ football teams.

·         An analysis of pitch supply and ancillary provision was required.

·         The DEFRA report on rubber crumb was expected to come to this Scrutiny Committee in the Spring of 2025. This would provide clarity on what materials should be used for the borough’s pitches.

·         Members requested a list of unused pitches with consideration being given to bringing unused pitches back into use.

·         The shared pitch facility in Trafford and Manchester formed one part of the overall playing pitch strategy. In terms of accessibility to that pitch, it was reported that junior clubs played at grounds across Greater Manchester and were used to travelling to multipitch hubs.

·         The fees for hiring the shared pitch facility were intended to fund maintenance of the facility.

·         Community use of school playing pitches was part of the planning process to ensure that commitments were made for the community use of pitches.

·         Members expressed concern about the provision of new housing and schools in terms of the consequential increase in demand for playing pitches. It was noted that, in some instances, new housing developments had reduced playing pitch facilities. In response it was stated that the playing pitch strategy identified the future demand for playing pitches.

·         It was noted that development applications which affected the provision of sports pitches involved consultations with stakeholders such as Sport England and, where appropriate, elite sporting bodies. It was common for recommendations to be made to mitigate for the loss of sporting facilities which might not necessarily replace like for like facilities.

·         The Local Football Facilities Plan was due to be reviewed, following the production of the playing pitch strategy.

·         Members requested that the full playing pitch strategy report be brought to the next meeting of this Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED - (1) That the findings of the PPS and that the Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Sport and the Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways & Transportation Services will be recommended to formally adopt the PPS be noted.

(2) That the commencement of the Local Football Facilities Plan (LFFP) refresh be noted.