WHERE IS FOOTBALL STADIUM REPORT?
HUGH SULLIVAN
A full meeting of Hastings Borough Council (HBC) on 15 December last year resolved that Jane Hartnell, the council’s managing director, prepare a report to cabinet “at the earliest opportunity” regarding the proposed relocation of Hastings United football club from Pilot Field to Tilekiln.
The resolution directed Ms Hartnell “in the spirit of openness and honesty” to “set out the current situation with [the club]” and report on whether or not the scheme to develop the sites “is viable to recommend to Council”; also to “set out what alternative provision is available to allow Hastings United to remain in Hastings”.
Five months later, no such report has emerged.
At the most recent full council meeting on 26 April, Conservative leader Cllr Andy Patmore, who had tabled the motion which led to the December resolution, asked council leader Paul Barnett why the report had been delayed. Cllr Barnett did not answer this question directly but said merely “I haven’t yet seen it, I’m waiting for a draft .“
Some of the delay has been ascribed by a council officer to HBC’s budget difficulties and “other legalities” taking precedence, which the football club’s directors say they have accepted. However, on 10 May the directors sent an open letter to Ms Hartnell describing the continued delay as “unacceptable… especially as no explanation has been offered or update provided”.
Council meetings
They referred to “previous assurances” being given that the report had been prepared in time for a cabinet meeting due to be held on 2 May, but noted that this meeting was cancelled, the next would not be until 5 June, and the next full council meeting after that not scheduled until 19 July. They requested a fresh assurance that the report would be presented to cabinet on 5 June and that an extraordinary council meeting then be convened the following week (beginning 12 June).
Up to the time of going to press Ms Hartnell has not made any public response, and the council has declined to make any comment.
But the news of the club’s CEO Billy Wood resigning last week, following the departure a few days earlier of its successful management team (see page 23), has come amidst rumours that the directors – who have never hidden their career profiles as property developers – are in serious negotiation to sell their majority shares to prospective new owners. It seems reasonable to speculate that they have lost patience, and with it the momentum to pursue the relocation scheme further.
Leader’s opposition
Outline planning permission was granted in June 2022 to build 86 dwellings on the current stadium site of Pilot Field, along with full permission, subject to conditions, to build a new stadium and other sports facilities at Tilekiln playing fields in Hollington. However, both freehold sites remain in HBC’s ownership, and it’s no secret that Cllr Paul Barnett has opposed the move from the outset of his becoming council leader last spring.
Under the previous leadership of Cllr Kim Forward the council (then controlled by a Labour majority) seemed to favour the ideas behind the relocation – release of land for residential building whilst providing enhanced sports facilities within the borough. The club’s directors clearly felt sufficiently encouraged to pursue their planning applications, reputed to have cost up to £200,000 in consultancy fees and other expenditure. But by the time that positive planning outcomes were achieved, Cllr Barnett made clear his opposition.
“The world has moved on since we started talking about this four years ago”, he announced in March 2022. “Our priority now has to be to protect and invest in our green spaces, and wherever possible re-use existing buildings rather than build new ones. This means ensuring that Tilekiln, a well-used and popular community facility, is preserved for the people of Hollington.”
That might well have been the end of the matter if Cllr Barnett’s administration had retained its party majority in the borough election of May 2022. But it didn’t. So when at the December meeting, Conservative opposition leader Cllr Andy Patmore introduced his motion calling for the stadium report, the somewhat unlikely combination of Greens and Conservatives was able to constitute a majority in favour. Faced with potential defeat in a contested vote, the Labour cabinet and councillors preferred to show support, and the motion was duly passed by 29 votes for to 1 against.
It would be idle to speculate how the report will be framed when (or to the extent that) it is eventually released. However, whatever the contents, it seems unlikely to shift the attitude of Cllr Barnett. In a self-review of his year as council leader issued as a press release last Friday, he made no mention of issues over sports facilities but expressed optimism that “we have started to focus on our top priorities”, one of which is “protecting our green spaces”.
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