Luton Town Football Club have been given hope that their plans for a dome training facility for their academy are not dead after Liberal Democrat councillors tonight forced a reconsideration of Luton Council’s decision to refuse a request for a lease on playing fields at Cutenhoe Road.
The club had already promised they would be happy for any lease agreement to include unrestricted use of the playing fields by local schools, to accept full responsibility for maintenance of the pitches and said they would pay a commercial rent.
But on Monday night the council’s executive committee went against officer’s recommendation to approve the request and voted against it in a behind closed doors decision.
“The decision to say ‘no’ is hard to justify so it is only reasonable to give the Labour Council a chance to reconsider,” says Liberal Democrat leader, Cllr David Franks after his party exercised a rarely used standing order to call in the decision.
“Having discussed the situation with my colleagues I have to say we are all mystified. No reason for the decision has been given, at least not publicly and since the football club offer would benefit local schools, benefit young people interested in a football career, benefit the club itself of course and would produce some income for the council it is really hard to work out why they would say no.”
The decision now has to be referred to the council’s overview and scrutiny board who will review it. The board does not have the power to change the decision but can refer it back to the Executive committee for reconsideration or onwards to a meeting of the full council with or without a recommendation.
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