Agenda item

To receive and consider the report of the Operations Manager.

Also, with the permission of the Chair, this item was moved up the agenda so the members of public could hear the discussion and outcome.

The Committee received and considered the report and accompanying verbal update from the Operations Manager outlining the position of the sports pitches as the new football season approached.

Members heard that following a dry spring and summer the renovations had not been fully successful with areas of newly seeded ground not taking properly due to a lack of rain. The Operations Manager explained that the decompaction work had not taken place and in hindsight this was the correct decision as it would have led to create drying of the ground and creation of dangerous playing surface due to large cracks.

An update was provided on the grant funding that the Council was in receipt of, it was hoped that further funding may be sought from the Football Foundation to carry out further drainage consultations, specifically at West Witney. Members welcomed this having heard earlier from the representative of Witney Vikings that the club would look to support the Council in any grant applications.

The Operations Manager highlighted the potential risk of ground allocation for junior teams in so much as if one recreation ground was to suffer from poor weather, this would lead to the potential cancellation of all of that clubs games and therefore adversely affect them. It was agreed that a trial allocation be discussed further with the football clubs at the meeting on 4 September.

The Committee discussed the request from Witney Vikings for the siting of a storage container at King George’s field, Members were very supportive of this and highlighted the need to ensure that consideration also be given to storage for the Witney Wolves Basketball team who intended to make use of the court in the Multi Use Games Area.

Discussion regarding the request for additional insetting of pitches took place, it was proposed by Cllr R Smith, seconded by Cllr G Doughty that this should not be undertaken. Members heard this was the advice from the Football Association and was further supported by the news of damage witnessed from the overuse of the Burwell pitches in previous years.

A vote was taken with six members supporting the proposal, one member abstained.

Recommended:

1.      That, the report and verbal updates be noted and,

2.      That, Officers discuss  ground allocation with the junior football clubs and,

3.      That, no marking of inset pitches take place and,

4.      That, agreement install a storage container at King George’s field be granted and consideration given to storage for Witney Wolves and,

5.      That, potential grant funding opportunities is explored by Officers.