Agenda and minutes

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 the Chairman is of the opinion that by reason of special circumstances this item should be considered as a matter of urgency. The circumstances are set out in the report.

In accordance with Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 the Chairman was of the opinion that by reason of special circumstances this item should be considered as a matter of urgency. The Chairman of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee had been consulted in accordance with Section 54.6 of the Executive Arrangements and Cabinet Procedure Rules and had agreed that the decision was urgent and could not reasonably be deferred.

Cabinet considered an urgent report on the future of Macclesfield Town Football Club.

The Club was facing considerable financial challenges and the Council had been approached on 3^rd June 2013 to see if there was any support available from the Council to prevent imminent insolvency and the consequent economic, social and reputational impact for Macclesfield. 

Since the evening of the 3^rd June, the Council had worked collaboratively across all services to deliver due diligence, risk assessment and appropriate options appraisal to find a possible way forward. The report proposed a way forward which secured the financial viability of the Club and prevented imminent insolvency; allowed for the transfer of current shares in Macclesfield Town Football Club into a Community Interest Company and acquired an asset for the Council secured at good value.

The proposal provided the opportunity to create much needed investment in the south of Macclesfield and would deliver economic, social and community benefits to the area which suffered from relatively high levels of deprivation in Cheshire East terms. It would also anchor and sustain the Club within the local community.

The deal proposed would secure the first Community Interest Company in the UK which had been set up to manage and run a football club without the club first becoming insolvent. This particular route to converting to a community-owned club had far less impact on the local economy and community.

Club Chairman Mike Rance and former Chairman Alan Cash attended the meeting and, at the invitation of the Chairman, spoke about the Club and the various ways in which it contributed to the life of the local community. Both thanked the Council for its support.

The Chairman, Councillor M Jones, as Leader of the Council, summed up by saying that the proposal was about investing in the community, putting people first and showing the Council’s commitment to Macclesfield.

Members extended their thanks and appreciation to those Finance and Legal officers who had been involved for their dedication and professionalism and the speed with which they had worked.

RESOLVED

That

(1)  Cabinet agrees that the Interim Chief Executive or his identified nominee, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Resources, and subject to taking advice from the Monitoring Officer and the Chief Financial Officer or their identified nominee(s), be given delegated authority to acquire the freehold interest of Macclesfield Town Football Club, Moss Rose Football Ground, London Road, Macclesfield;

(2)  the above be subject to terms and conditions which must not involve any departure from the Council’s Budgetary and Policy Framework, or any other Cabinet or Regulatory  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.