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Calderdale Council to Decide Fate of Shay Stadium

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Calderdale Council's Cabinet is set to decide the future of the Shay Stadium, home to professional clubs FC Halifax Town and Halifax Panthers, on November 3. The council has agreed to dispose of the stadium in 2024 due to budget pressures, including funding for adults' and children's social care. After 10 months of negotiations with the two clubs, Huddersfield Giants owner Ken Davy made an offer to sell the stadium for a nominal sum, with the intention of basing his club there while a purpose-built stadium is developed in Kirklees.

Key Takeaways:

  • The council has agreed to dispose of the Shay Stadium in 2024 due to budget pressures, including funding for adults' and children's social care.
  • Ten months of negotiations with the two clubs failed to produce a sale, until Huddersfield Giants owner Ken Davy made an offer to sell the stadium for a nominal sum.
  • The sale would include ground upgrades, renting to the two Halifax sports clubs, and a covenant that ensures sports use when Davy leaves.
  • Alternative proposals to run the stadium as a community partnership on a not-for-profit basis were submitted but later withdrawn.
  • Conservative group leader Coun Howard Blagbrough raised concerns about the sale, citing inadequate consultation, delayed equality impact assessments, and lack of transparency.
  • Cabinet member for Public Services and Communities, Coun Danielle Durrans, responded by stating that the council has acted properly, correctly, and fairly in its plans for disposal of The Shay.
  • The council has invested £800,000 in the stadium, with tenants contributing around £240,000 a year in rent and an additional notional value of around £170,000 for office space use.
  • The council's liabilities associated with the stadium are deemed to outweigh its commercial value.
  • A budget saving of £161,000 a year is the anticipated outcome of the disposal, but actual savings would be "much greater".
  • A subsidy of between £350,000 and £500,000 is made each year to ensure the stadium meets health and safety requirements.

Statistics:

  • £800,000 - investment made in the Shay Stadium
  • £240,000 - annual rent contributed by tenants
  • £170,000 - additional notional value of office space use
  • £161,000 - budget saving anticipated from the disposal
  • £350,000 - £500,000 - annual subsidy made to ensure the stadium meets health and safety requirements

Sources:

  • Calderdale Council's "key decisions" list
  • Coun Danielle Durrans (Cabinet member for Public Services and Communities)
  • Coun Howard Blagbrough (Conservative group leader)
  • Gavin Butler (scrutiny councillor)
  • Malcolm Walker (scrutiny councillor)
  • Sam Barnes (scrutiny councillor)
  • Richard Walsh (scrutiny councillor)
  • Christopher Wilde (scrutiny councillor)

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