Agenda item

Councillor Fennimore welcomed the opportunity to build on the support provided to local organisations by the Council.  Andy Sharpe, a resident, expressed his delight that the Council could secure the use of the three Council assets for local community use.  The Leader stated that the Administration’s ambition was to work with residents and empower them to do better and greater things within their local communities.  Masbro Centre had produced some outstanding work contributing to the growth and wellbeing of the local community. The Council was happy to support social entrepreneurship which will produce great benefit for the local community.

1.            That the Masbro Centre be transferred to UPG through freehold transfer with appropriate restrictive covenant and pre-emption rights which stipulates the building must in its entirety be retained for community use, subject to Secretary of State consent under Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 and that UPG is required to assume full responsibility for all running costs, repairs and maintenance of the property. The current lease between LBHF and UPG would be surrendered.

2.            That Edward Woods Community Centre be transferred to UPG through a freehold transfer with appropriate restrictive covenants and pre-emption rights which stipulates the building must in its entirety be retained for community use, subject to Secretary of State consent under Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 and that UPG is responsible for all running costs, repairs, and maintenance of the property under the terms of the freehold transfer. 

3.            That 49 Brook Green be transferred to UPG via a grant on the under-lease, for a 30 year term which specifies the use of the property. The transfer will be subject to, subject to Secretary of State consent under Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972. The Council has capped the level of service charge payable to UPG and the details are outlined in the heads of terms.  That £115,660 per financial year (or part thereof) be awarded to UPG for the running, staffing and management costs of Edward Woods Community Centre.  This funding is recommended for an initial term of 4 years three months (until March 2021), with the option of renewing the funding agreement for two further terms of 12 months each.  The funding for this will come from the Council’s existing budget for the Edward Woods Community Centre and funding released from the Amey contract for the facilities management costs of the property, which will be reinvested into the council’s corporate grants scheme. 

4.            That £55,566 per year (or part thereof) be awarded to UPG for the running costs of 49 Brook Green.   This funding is recommended for an initial term of 4 years three months (until March 2021), with the option of renewing the funding agreement for two further terms of 12 months each.  This funding will meet the costs of internal maintenance and repairs, business rates and running costs of the property, but also takes into consideration the income generated from the space.  This grant will be funded from the council’s existing budgets for the property (held by CSD and CPS), including funds currently held through the Amey contract, which will be re-routed into the council’s corporate grants budget.

5.            That delegated authority be given to the Director of Delivery and Value to undertake the TUPE transfer of staff from Edward Woods Community Centre to UPG following consultation with the staff affected during October 2016 with effect from 1^st December 2016. 

6.            That the Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion and the Cabinet Member for Finance are given joint delegated authority to make further minor decisions related to the Community Asset Transfer in order to drive forward the programme and realise the administration’s ambitions.