A total of seven sports clubs in the Vale are in negotiation with the Vale Council over community asset transfers that will see the clubs take responsibility for all or part of their sporting facilities.
Under the asset transfer scheme, clubs that pay the Vale Council an annual fee for maintenance of playing fields and buildings will sign up for a lease enabling them to take over that responsibility.
Being in possession of a lease gives a club more options when it comes to applying for external funding for improvements. Some clubs shy away from the deal, regarding the cost of the lease as too high, but others feel they can make it work.
A number of bowls clubs have signed up for the asset transfer scheme and other sporting clubs are looking at the scheme.
A report considered by the Vale Council cabinet on earlier this month revealed which clubs were currently in negotiation with the Vale Council.
1. Penarth Athletic Club – The club is seeking a long lease for the facilities but with the Vale Council retaining responsibility for the boundary wall and fence. Due to the complexity and costs associated with looking after the cricket square at the Athletic Field, that is kept to a very high quality, the club has also requested some initial prime funding, reducing over three years to enable them to adjust to the proposed new arrangements.
At present the Athletic Club is one of the most expensive leisure facilities operated directly by the council. The report says that a subsidy of approximately £60,000 per annum is required to operate the site.
2. Old Penarthians Rugby Club – The club is seeking a long lease for their primary pitch and training area and a licence for the additional pitch. This would mean that the Vale Council still has responsibility for the football pitch at the site and the remainder of public open space. The present subsidy at this site is estimated at £2,000. As the council will continue to maintain some of the area a saving of approximately £1,000 is estimated.
3. Wick Pavilion – Discussions have been on-going with the community council in relation to this building which is now surplus. Work has been completed on the roof at the site and the proposal is to offer the community council a full repair and maintain lease. This will enable them to apply for grants to refurbish the building to their requirements. An indemnity, similar to that applied to the transfer of bowls facilities, has also been requested for five years to safeguard against any structural or boiler issues.
4. St Brides Major Pavilion – A request has been made by the community about transferring this site that is also surplus to council requirements. The process, although similar to that proposed for the Wick pavilion, will require a community association to be formed as it understood the community council would not be interested, although this does need to be discussed in more detail.
5. Island Marine FC – Discussions have taken place with the club in relation to providing them with a lease for their clubhouse with a slight increase in the boundary of the existing building to allow them to expand the facilities in the future if funding becomes available. This would be subject to the necessary consents being granted, such as planning. The pitch would however be subject to a licence arrangement and remain as public open space when football is not being played.
6. Llantwit Major Football and Cricket Clubs – The situation at Llantwit Major is slightly complicated by the junior and senior football clubs being separate organisations. The senior football club are keen to have a lease for the Pavilion and the first team pitch but provision must be made within any lease to protect other users. Licences for the remaining pitches are difficult to issue due to the different clubs using facilities, but a licence for the cricket square, to transfer expensive maintenance costs to the club is seen as vital as part of any agreement. The site at Llantwit Major is presently costing the Vale Council approximately £50,000 per annum. Some of these costs will remain because some areas will still require the council to maintain them.
7. Vale United FC – The club have brought the facilities at this site back into full use and are now looking for a lease on the building and a licence for the pitches. There is an opportunity for more community use at this site and it is proposed to investigate the possibly of inserting clauses into a lease that promotes this and provides free use at certain times to groups approved by the Vale Council.
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