A councillor has criticised Oxford United and the county council as he claims they are “keeping residents in the dark” over how much money is available to help fund grassroots sports pitches.
The county council struck a deal with the football club so that council-owned land at ‘The Triangle’, east of Frieze Way and south of Kidlington roundabout, could be used as a site for its proposed new 16,000-capacity stadium.
As part of the Community Collaboration Agreement, a side agreement that sets out the benefits for the local community, OUFC agreed to provide funding for improving and maintaining sports pitches at Stratfield Brake.
The figure for how much money local authorities would receive was omitted from the document.
County councillor Ian Middleton, who represents the Kidlington South division and has previously voiced opposition to the stadium plans, asked about the redaction at the Oxfordshire County Council meeting on Tuesday, 10 December.
He submitted a written question arguing that not involving local stakeholders in negotiations around how much support they would receive was “democratically obtuse”.
The cabinet member for finance, councillor Dan Levy, said in his written response that this was “not unusual”, and that OUFC had asked them to keep certain legal provisions confidential in order to protect their commercial interests.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Middleton said: “I continue to be disappointed and baffled by the approach the county council has taken in these negotiations with OUFC.
“The club came to us and are the only potential tenant for this piece of land.
“This is therefore a seller’s market giving the council the leverage to both secure a good deal for local residents and insist on more democratic accountability and transparency than they might expect in other circumstances.”
“The council should have made it clear to OUFC from the outset that certain aspects of the deal, especially those pertaining to local community benefits, would have to be in the public domain.
“If OUFC were not comfortable with that, they would have been free to walk away.
“The people and stakeholders I represent in Kidlington are now left in the ludicrous position of having agreements signed off over their heads about financial contributions they may receive for facilities they are responsible for maintaining, without being consulted on if that agreement is workable or equitable.
“Instead, we are effectively being told not to worry our heads about such things and trust that the council has achieved a good deal.
“One also has to question why, if this deal is going to be so beneficial to the community, are OUFC insisting on keeping it secret.”
When requested for comment, a spokesperson from OUFC said: “As part of the Community Collaboration Agreement, the club have agreed to maintain the pitches at Stratfield Brake, a commitment that will deliver a significant saving to the councils who currently fund this.
“It will be up to councillors such as Mr Middleton to determine how this money is reinvested for the benefit of Kidlington and the local community.
“In addition to pitch maintenance, the agreement also delivers a comprehensive package of community benefits, including a gym, health and wellbeing centre, spaces for community hire and support programmes for local schools and sports clubs.”
A spokesperson for OxVox, the Oxford United Supporters’ Trust, said: “My understanding is that the council spends well over £100k on pitch maintenance on the site, perhaps if Mr Middleton had been more concerned about this important local facility rather than his constant opposition to the community stadium, the pitches might not have been left in such poor condition.”
OUFC’s lease for the Kassam Stadium expires in 2026.
Cherwell District Council aim to make a decision on whether planning permission for the new stadium will be granted in early 2025.
Read more: Oxford United’s planning application for its new stadium to be considered in early 2025
Oxfordshire County Council has been contacted for further comment.
