Minutes:
The Chairman welcomed Paul Bland, the Borough Council’s representative on King’s Lynn Football Club to the meeting.
Paul Bland provided the Panel with an update. He explained that the Football Club had been sold to a new owner earlier in the year and new arrangements were working well. The club had expanded and now had a reserve team, under 18’s and a ladies team.
He felt that the first team were doing well, despite suspensions and injuries. Paul Bland commented that the new owner was very ambitious and would be working to bring in new players, establish academies and bring in younger players for youth teams.
The Chairman thanked Paul Bland for the update and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.
In response to questions, Paul Bland explained that gate sales had increased since last year and the income from the gate sales and sponsorship was very important for the club. New booking systems had been introduced and customers could now book and pay online. The more successful the team was, the more it was likely that gate sales would increase.
Reference was made to the Football Club Car Park and Paul Bland acknowledged that the car park was not in a good condition. He explained that the car park was not locked and often resident’s vehicles were parked in the car park. He commented that if the car park was locked when there was not a match, this would result in more cars parking on the side of the road. He explained that the Football Club had been in contact with the Council regarding the future of the car park and discussions were ongoing.
Councillor Pope addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34. He referred to the potential expansion of the club in establishing youth teams and he asked where they would play their matches. Paul Bland explained that he would meet with the Borough Council at the appropriate time to see if there was anywhere available that the youth teams could use. Paul Bland stated that it was important to encourage young people and provide local facilities which they could use.
In response to further questions from Councillor Pope, Paul Bland explained that the Football Club was owned by an individual and the Board was made up of himself and the owner of the Football Club. The Football Club was a private business.
Councillor Pope stated that he did not think the Borough Council should pay for any work to the Car Park at the Football Club and Paul Bland replied that the Football Club was in liaison with the Borough Council as the Council was their Landlord and they would just be looking at options for the future at this stage.
Paul Bland informed the Panel that the food offer at the Football Club had improved significantly and people now came for a three course meal which was a real bonus for the club.
The Leader of the Council thanked Paul Bland for attending the meeting and explained that financial information was available in the Borough Council’s accounts, but the financial affairs of the Football Club, which was a private commercial business, would not be available to the Council. He explained that the Borough Council had a representative on King’s Lynn Football Club Board to represent the Council’s interest as landlord. He explained that the Council carried out maintenance and repairs as appropriate as the owner of the building and within the terms of the lease. He explained that this was why it was important for the Football Club and Council to work together to discuss options for the future of the car park.
In response to a question from Councillor Smith, Paul Bland hoped that in the future the offer could be extended to under 12’s, girls and boys teams. He explained that work was already carried out with schools.
It was confirmed that the relationship between the Council and the Football Club was that the Borough Council was the landlord and the Football Club were the tenants.
Councillor Moriarty queried why the Football Board was only made up of two people and he suggested that Paul Bland research his responsibilities and liabilities.
Paul Bland stated that he was the Borough Council’s representative and therefore would report to the Borough Council any issues. He confirmed that he was not a Shareholder. He confirmed that he had been appointed to the Football Club Board since approximately 2010.
RESOLVED: The Panel noted the update.