Agenda item

To receive the report of the Operations Manager with an accompanying STRI (formerly the Sports Turf Research Institute) report following the evaluation of the Council grassed sports provision.

The Committee received and considered the report of the Operations Manager which was accompanied by a report on the Council’s grass sports pitches by STRI (formerly the Sports Turf Research Institute).

Members also received a verbal report from the Head of Estates & Operations on the saliant points of the STRI report and the actions of the whole operations team to address issues faced at the Councils grassed recreational and sports areas. The majority of actions had already been completed, some additional work such as dealing with weed coverage on football pitches would be carried out in the Spring of 2026.

Members welcomed the positive comments within the report which again outlined the continued improvements and praised the impact the Council’s in-house ground’s maintenance regime. Members expressed their thanks to the Operations Manager and his team.

The Committee were disappointed to hear that despite the football training pitches being made available at Ralegh Crescent, these had not been booked by teams. Members heard that the next scheduled meeting with football clubs was planned for the following day and Officers hoped to gain feedback on the lack of use. It was reported that there had been some issues experienced with the goal post sockets following damage caused by West Oxfordshire District Councils contractor.

Discussion turned to the use of recreational areas for third party events with it being noted that the damage caused following Witney Feast had been repaired. Members asked that Officers carry out a feasibility review of all third-party events at The Leys to ensure these are scheduled to limit potential damage and impact to sporting activity.

Members were frustrated to hear that the cricket square at The Leys had again been unused for another year. A request for two sight screens had been received; however, the Committee was reluctant to fund these if there were no signs of cricket returning. Officers were asked to explore the potential use further with clubs and for friendly ad-hoc use and report back to the Committee.

Finally, the Committee heard of the plans for Officers to meet with specialists to consider the introduction of enhanced drainage for sports pitches, the cost of such work was estimated at £75,000 per 11v11 football pitch, however this could be offset in part by funding from the Football Association should they authorise grant funding. It was unanimously agreed that once the initial discussions had taken place that officers prepare a report for presentation to a meeting of the Policy, Governance & Finance Committee and the decision be deferred to that Committee.

Recommended:

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

2.      That, two portable sight screens be budgeted for and,

3.      That, the continued improvement in the Council’s grass sports pitches be welcomed and,

4.      That, officers evaluate the use of The Leys for third party events and,

5.      That, Officers prepare a report outlining the proposal for enhanced drainage for each of the councils recreational and sports grounds and any decision on how to proceed be deferred to the Policy, Governance & Finance Committee.