URL: https://councillors.knowsley.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=6573

Decision Maker: Executive Director Communities and Neighbourhoods (Andrew Donaldson) & Executive Director Resources (James Duncan)

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose: To authorise the Council to provide £0.010m to FC Kirkby CIC to allow the club to undertake works to prepare and improve the pitches for the 2024/25 season. The funds will be provided on the strict basis that the club repay the Council when the Football Foundation Grass Pitch Maintenance funding becomes available to the club in August 2024.

Content: To authorise the Council to provide £0.010m to FC Kirkby CIC to allow the club to undertake works to prepare and improve the pitches for the 2024/25 season. The funds will be provided on the strict basis that the club repay the Council when the Football Foundation Grass Pitch Maintenance funding becomes available to the club in August 2024. That the Executive Director (Communities and Neighbourhoods) and the Executive Director (Resources), in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods and the Cabinet Member for Resources:   a)       Approve the provision of £0.010m to FC Kirkby CIC to support the delivery of pitch improvements at Eddie McArdle Playing Fields;   b)       Authorise the Head of Environmental Sustainability and Communities to make the necessary arrangement to issue the funding; and   c)       Authorise the Head of Legal Services to enter any necessary legal agreements. Following an assessment of the condition of the pitches at Eddie McArdle Playing Fields by a qualified agronomist FC Kirkby CIC have been informed that planned maintenance works must take place as soon as possible in order to support the delivery of football activities on the site during the 2024/25 season. However, the club are unable to claim funding previously secured for this purpose until 18 August 2024 which would be too great a delay and would result in the quality of the pitches reducing for the forthcoming season.

Date of Decision: July 31, 2024