This Council Meeting notes with deep concern the ongoing uncertainty around the future of Stockport County Football Club, having fallen out of the football league after 106 years.
This Council Meeting believes that Stockport County is a key part of our local community, which contributes to the distinctiveness and identity of Stockport, is an excellent ambassador for our Borough, and has an important role to play in promoting sporting activity amongst local people.
This
Council Meeting is aware that a number of football clubs have
received the support of their local councils, including:
· Peterborough United, whose ground has recently been purchased by Peterborough City Council.
· Accrington Stanley, whose ground is owned by Hyndburn Council, who are also sponsors of the team, and who work very closely with the club on community sports development activity and economic development activities.
· The successful development of the Leigh Sports Village by Wigan Council, used by Leigh Centurions rugby club and Leigh Genesis football club.
· Coleraine FC, where a new stadium is proposed as part of a community sports facility.
This Council Meeting further notes the support being given by Salford City Council to Salford City Reds rugby club, including loan support, and also for the development of a new community stadium at Barton.
This Council Meeting therefore requests the following;
That the Executive on behalf of this Council, gives serious and full consideration to offering real support toSCFC during this difficult period, including, but not limited to:
(1) Helping to secure SCFC’s continued presence at Edgeley Park;
(2) Exploring the potential for a new stadium combined with community sports facilities;
(3) Sponsorship of the club for the season 2011/12;
(4) Provision of training facilities within the Borough, and the formation of new links, and making use of the club’s expertise and facilities, to deliver sports promotion and development activities in the local community.
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Moved by: |
Cllr Dave Goddard |
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Seconded by: |
Cllr Stuart Corris |
Minutes:
MOVED AND SECONDED
This Council Meeting notes with deep concern the ongoing uncertainty around the future of Stockport County Football Club, having fallen out of the football league after 106 years.
This Council Meeting believes that Stockport County is a key part of our local community, which contributes to the distinctiveness and identity of Stockport, is an excellent ambassador for our Borough, and has an important role to play in promoting sporting activity amongst local people.
This
Council Meeting is aware that a number of football clubs have
received the support of their local councils, including:
· Peterborough United, whose ground has recently been purchased by Peterborough City Council.
· Accrington Stanley, whose ground is owned by Hyndburn Council, who are also sponsors of the team, and who work very closely with the club on community sports development activity and economic development activities.
· The successful development of the Leigh Sports Village by Wigan Council, used by Leigh Centurions rugby club and Leigh Genesis football club.
· Coleraine FC, where a new stadium is proposed as part of a community sports facility.
This Council Meeting further notes the support being given by Salford City Council to Salford City Reds rugby club, including loan support, and also for the development of a new community stadium at Barton.
This Council Meeting therefore requests the following;
That the Executive on behalf of this Council, gives serious and full consideration to offering real support toSCFC during this difficult period, including, but not limited to:
(1) Helping to secure SCFC’s continued presence at Edgeley Park;
(2) Exploring the potential for a new stadium combined with community sports facilities;
(3) Sponsorship of the club for the season 2011/12;
(4) Provision of training facilities within the Borough, and the formation of new links, and making use of the club’s expertise and facilities, to deliver sports promotion and development activities in the local community.
AMENDMENT MOVED AND SECONDED
Delete everything after “This Council Meeting” and replace with:
· Values Stockport County Football Club as a key part of our community, and of Stockport’s culture and heritage;
· considers that it would be a matter of deep regret if over 100 years of football history were to be lost; and
· recognises and applauds the hard work of fans in keeping the future of the club on the public agenda.
This Council Meeting recognises the difficult issues facing Stockport County, including:
· That the club has been relegated from the Football League, and will now play in the Blue Square Premiership;
· that this most recent setback has come after a prolonged period of difficulties at the club; and
· that unusually, the Club does not own its own ground, leaving it without a major asset, without the income streams it would normally generate, and requiring it to pay rent in addition to other overheads.
This Council Meeting notes the previous support given to Stockport County by this Council, and the willingness of councillors of all parties, and of Council officers, to work with the Club, and with potential investors, to find a sustainable future for County and for professional football in our Borough. We would welcome, and urge the Executive to give full consideration to, any approach for support from County backed up by a viable business case and adequate funding, but note that none has been forthcoming to date.
However, at a time when Council budgets are under unprecedented strain, requiring significant cuts to local services, this Council Meeting does not, and cannot, at this time, support further cash payments which do not provide any solution to Stockport County’s current difficulties nor any means to put the future of the Club on a sustainable footing.
This Council Meeting recognises that this decision should be taken under the scheme of delegation as set out in the Council’s Constitution and not by this Council Meeting, and as such, requests that the appropriate decision-maker does not proceed with the proposal to sponsor Stockport County FC for the forthcoming season.
For the amendment 31, against 28.
AMENDMENT CARRIED
A named vote was requested in relation to the voting on this amendment and the voting was recorded as follows:-
Those councillors who voted for the amendment were as follows:-
Councillors Brian Bagnall, Sheila Bailey, Walter Brett, Peter Burns, Richard Coaton, DeanFitzpatrick, Colin Foster, Alexander Ganotis, Anne Graham, Tom Grundy, Philip Harding, Brian Hendley, Linda Holt, Sylvia Humphreys, Les Jones, Mick Jones, Bryan Leck, Syd Lloyd, Patrick McAuley, Tom McGee, Paul Moss, Chris Murphy, Adrian Nottingham, Anthony O’Neill, Maureen Rowles, Andrew Verdeille, Alanna Vine, Chris Walker, Lisa Walker, David Wilson and David White.
The councillors who voted against the amendment were as follows:-
Councillors Ben Alexander, Shan Alexander, Andrew Bispham, Stuart Bodsworth, Martin Candler, Stuart Corris, Sue Derbyshire, Kevin Dowling, David Goddard, Chris Gordon, Lenny Grice, Daniel Hawthorne, Kevin Hogg, Stella Humphries, Pam King, Mags Kirkham, Hazel Lees, Wendy Meikle, Wendy Orrell, John Pantall, Paul Porgess, Iain Roberts, John Smith, June Somekh, Mark Weldon, Mike Wilson, Craig Wright and Suzanne Wyatt.
It was then
RESOLVED – (31 for, 28 against) – This Council Meeting:-
· Values Stockport County Football Club as a key part of our community, and of Stockport’s culture and heritage;
· considers that it would be a matter of deep regret if over 100 years of football history were to be lost; and
· recognises and applauds the hard work of fans in keeping the future of the club on the public agenda.
This Council Meeting recognises the difficult issues facing Stockport County, including:
· That the club has been relegated from the Football League, and will now play in the Blue Square Premiership;
· that this most recent setback has come after a prolonged period of difficulties at the club; and
· that unusually, the Club does not own its own ground, leaving it without a major asset, without the income streams it would normally generate, and requiring it to pay rent in addition to other overheads.
This Council Meeting notes the previous support given to Stockport County by this Council, and the willingness of councillors of all parties, and of Council officers, to work with the Club, and with potential investors, to find a sustainable future for County and for professional football in our Borough. We would welcome, and urge the Executive to give full consideration to, any approach for support from County backed up by a viable business case and adequate funding, but note that none has been forthcoming to date.
However, at a time when Council budgets are under unprecedented strain, requiring significant cuts to local services, this Council Meeting does not, and cannot, at this time, support further cash payments which do not provide any solution to Stockport County’s current difficulties nor any means to put the future of the Club on a sustainable footing.
This Council Meeting recognises that this decision should be taken under the scheme of delegation as set out in the Council’s Constitution and not by this Council Meeting, and as such, requests that the appropriate decision-maker does not proceed with the proposal to sponsor Stockport County FC for the forthcoming season.