Decision - Blatchington Mill School Hockey Pitches

2.1       That Cabinet authorises the council to grant a lease to the Hockey Club for 20 years at a peppercorn rent, when the Conditional Funding Agreement conditions detailed at paragraphs 3.3 and 3.4 are met, subject to Counsel’s opinion.

2.2       That Cabinet agrees that the Council loans Blatchington Mill School £350,000, funded through unsupported borrowing on the repayment terms set out in paragraph 5.1.

By working in partnership the School and the Club, with funding from the EHB, have submitted a planning application and business plan for the development of 2 all weather pitches to be used by the School, the Club and the community.  Income generated from the hire of the pitches to third parties is to be used to cover the costs of management, maintenance and finance.

In order to secure their interest and in return for a contribution of £400,000 towards the construction of the pitches the Club have been offered a 20 year lease with security of tenure.  Should the council terminate the lease on expiry the school are to pay to the Club the balance of the sinking fund to allow them to set up and construct new pitches elsewhere.

The School could not afford to fund the development without the investment from the Club.  The partnership approach makes the development affordable to both parties who will benefit in equal measure.

The School could potentially partner with another sporting club who had access to the financial resources needed to fund this development.  The council is not aware of any other sporting clubs with such finances available.