An extraordinary meeting of Whitby Town Council is set to reject plans to register the local 3G pitch as a community asset.
A proposal for Whitby’s 3G pitch to be registered as an asset of community value (ACV) could be rejected when the plan returns to the town council tonight (Tuesday Feb 13).
Last month North Yorkshire Council was asked to approve an application to register a synthetic 3G outdoor pitch as a community asset but dismissed the application claiming the applicant, Social Enterprise International (ESI), wasn't a locally focused group. There was also an objection from Whitby Town Football Club.
Approval of the application by North Yorkshire Council would mean that owners wishing to sell the 3G pitch would have to wait six months for locals to put together a bid to purchase it on the open market.
In January the Town council was asked to back a revised proposal from ESI and it asked for more information. However, despite positive feedback from town councillors at the January 9 meeting, members have now been recommended to reject the application.
Managing director of Whitby Town FC, Graeme Hinchliffe, said the club objected because the plan was submitted
“without giving others in our community the chance to understand what it really means and what impacts would be made should this community asset be developed”.
A report prepared for tonight's Town Council Meeting states that following a “consultation with other interested local groups” it was “established that there is no declared threat to the facility,”.
The report states:
At the meeting of Full Council held on 9 January 2024, council considered a request submitted on behalf of Enterprise International (ESI) for Whitby Town Council to submit an application to North Yorkshire Council to register the 3G pitch at Eskdale School and surrounding area as an Asset of Community Value.
It was resolved that the item should be deferred to an extraordinary meeting of Council to enable consultation with other interested local groups.
Further information has been submitted on behalf of the applicant, by representatives of Whitby Town Football Club and by the Head of Sport and Active Wellbeing (Development) for North Yorkshire Council.
It is established that there is no declared threat to the facility and that North Yorkshire Council as the landowner is committed to the Community Use Agreement governing the 3G pitch as a condition of the funding secured from the Football Foundation.
There is an established community steering group for the 3G pitch which is actively seeking continued use of the 3G pitch within the terms of the Community Use Agreement.
It is recommended that, based on the advice of the Head of Sport and Active Wellbeing, that an application to register an asset of community value is not made at this time.
If Town Councillors did approve the application, it would then be submitted to the unitary authority by Whitby Town Council.
A report prepared for the meeting states that councillors will
“further consider a request for the town council to sponsor an application to North Yorkshire Council to register the 3G pitch at Eskdale School and surrounding area as an Asset of Community Value”.
The extraordinary meeting of the town council will be held on Tuesday, February 13, from around 6.30pm onwards.
The meeting is open to members of the public and residents may speak or ask questions.
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