To consider agreeing to lease the North Parade Bowling Greens to North Parade Bowling Greens Association.

1.     That the lease of the asset to North Parade Bowling Green Association at a peppercorn rent and authorisation to the Deputy Chief Executive – Programme Delivery and Assistant Director - General Fund Assets to enter in an appropriate lease that suitably and sufficiently protects the Council’s position be agreed.

2.     That the £100,000 grant funding provided to North Parade Bowling Green Association on a decreasing term over 5 years be agreed.

A report was presented to agree to lease the North Parade Bowling Greens to North Parade Bowling Greens Association.

During his introduction of the report, the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Leisure & Culture and Carbon Reduction highlighted that in November 2016 as part of the Transformation Programme, the use of the eight bowling greens in Skegness were reviewed.  The greens on South Parade were now maintained as amenity grass, and the three remaining greens to the north of the foreshore had been maintained to tournament standard by the Neighbourhoods Service.  The Council continued to receive representation from the English Bowls Federation about the standard of this area, with the threat of moving the national championships to Great Yarmouth if facilities did not improve.

It was further highlighted that Bowls usage in Skegness had declined in recent years and the costs to the Council for the maintenance of the greens at circa £48,000 per annum was no longer feasible.  Following the consideration to reduce the maintenance levels on the green which would mean the greens were below tournament standards, a new group (North Parade Bowling Greens Association) approached the Council with a view to managing the greens in the future and increase participation.  Full details were set out in Sections 1, 2 and 3 of the report, pages 14 to 16 of the Agenda refer.

The Leader of the Council acknowledged that a lot of work and meetings had been undertaken with the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Leisure & Culture and Carbon Reduction, officers, Skegness Town Councillors and the community groups involved and recognised the importance of this locally to Skegness and those involved in the bowls tournaments.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning commented that it was good to see local individuals coming together who also had the capacity to make this happen without the difficulties that may had presented should the district council be required to do so.  He added that he appreciated the huge amount of work the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Leisure & Culture and Carbon Reduction and officers had put in to make this happen and hoped that it was a success.

RESOLVED

1.     That the lease of the asset to North Parade Bowling Green Association at a peppercorn rent and authorisation to the Deputy Chief Executive – Programme Delivery and Assistant Director - General Fund Assets to enter in an appropriate lease that suitably and sufficiently protects the Council’s position be agreed.

2.     That the £100,000 grant funding provided to North Parade Bowling Green Association on a decreasing term over 5 years be agreed.

Reason

The demand for bowls in Skegness has declined however the English Bowls Federation along with the North Parade Bowling Greens Association have a business plan in place to help support bowls growth and promote future usage.  

Other Option

Option considered to revert the greens to amenity grass.

N.B.  Phil Perry, Assistant Director for Leisure and Culture left the Meeting at 6.11pm.