Agenda item

To authorise the Director of Finance to agree a budget of £1,000,000 from Council reserves to enable the delivery of the Host Integration Project.

Approval was sought to authorise the Director of Finance to agree a budget of £1,000,000 from Council reserves to enable the delivery of the Host Integration Project.

It was also proposed to authorise the Director of Finance to submit funding and agree funding bids with third parties that could support the delivery of the Host Integration Project and authorise the Director of Regeneration and Growth, in consultation with the Director of Finance and the Director – Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer, to undertake procurements and sign legal agreements that support the delivery of the Host Integration Project.

The report also sought approval to authorise the Director of Regeneration and Growth to create three new fixed term full time equivalent posts (until 31 August 2022) as follows:

·      Sandwell Aquatics Centre Facility and Operations Manager (H Grade);

·      Sandwell Aquatics Centre Deputy Facility and Operations Manager (G Grade); and

·      Sandwell Commonwealth Games Volunteer Co-ordinator (E Grade).

Reasons for Decision

Hosting a venue for the Birmingham 2022 (B2022) Commonwealth

Games was a once in a lifetime opportunity for the borough of Sandwell and one that Sandwell Council wish to make the most of for its residents. The delivery of the Host Integration Project would support the delivery of many opportunities.

As part of the bid to host the Games, Sandwell Council agreed a ‘Host City Guarantee’ with the Commonwealth Games Federation and Birmingham City Council in September 2017. This agreement detailed what the Council would be required to deliver as part of the overall Games delivery. The Host Integration Project would deliver all the requirements detailed within the ‘Host City Guarantee’.

To support the delivery and success of the Host Integration Project and the B2022 Commonwealth Games, additional resources outlined, both from a financial and staffing perspective were required for the project to be a success.

Alternative Options

Do nothing – this would leave Sandwell Council in breach of the ‘Host City Guarantee’ that was entered into in September 2017 and would leave Sandwell Council at risk of the recovery of funding towards the Aquatics Centre. Also, the non-delivery of the Host Integration Project would mean that the B2022 Commonwealth Games with all the excitement and benefits that it would bring to the borough would not be able to be delivered.

Agreed:-

(1)          that the Director of Finance be authorised to agree a budget of £1,000,000 from Council reserves to enable the delivery of the Host Integration Project;

(2)          that the Director of Finance be authorised to submit funding and agree funding bids with third parties that could support the delivery of the Host Integration Project;

(3)     that the Director of Regeneration and Growth, in consultation with the Director of Finance and the Director – Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer, be authorised to undertake procurements and sign legal agreements that support the delivery of the Host Integration Project;

(4)     that the Director of Regeneration and Growth be authorised to create three new fixed term full time equivalent posts (until 31 August 2022) as follows:

·      Sandwell Aquatics Centre Facility and Operations Manager (H Grade);

·      Sandwell Aquatics Centre Deputy Facility and Operations Manager (G Grade); and

·      Sandwell Commonwealth Games Volunteer Co-ordinator (E Grade);

(5)     that the Director Regeneration and Growth be authorised to submit a further report to Cabinet in March 2022 detailing the final Operational Plan for the Host Integration Project.