Dedicated team set up to help communities take control of sporting assets

A DEDICATED team of officers is being set up to work with town and community councils, sporting clubs and associations to transfer sporting facilities in to their hands.

The move comes as the county council faces significant efficiency savings, meaning non-statutory services such as sport and leisure provision will have to change.

In order to sustain community sporting facilities, the council is seeking to work with organisations to transfer assets and protect them for the future.

Officers have already met with several groups in an attempt to come to an agreement which passes over control of grounds and facilities, therefore allowing the council to protect more money for front-line services.

Such a move would allow clubs and associations to apply for grants to improve facilities.

It would also address the current inbalance in the county, where around a third of clubs own and manage their own assets – the majority of them in the Carmarthen area – whilst others are subsidised by the taxpayer.

Speaking at a meeting of the council’s Executive Board this week, Chief Executive Mark James said that a working group officers will be established to increase engagement with the community and drive the proposals forward.

“We are putting together a dedicated team of officers to look at this – this will be their day job from now on,” he said.

“We will ask them to draw up specific transfer proposals, and bring forward any reports for approval by members.

“We are already having conversations all over the county, but this is something that we need to happen fairly quickly.”

Leader of the council, Cllr Kevin Madge, added: “Because of the proactive work we are doing, a lot are coming forward and are wanting to work in partnership. There are tough times ahead, and we should all work together.”