Agenda item

Having considered an officer report, and presentations by the Cabinet

Member for the Third Sector, Councillor Joan Millbank, representatives of two

Community Centres and Councillor Dacres on behalf of the Safer, Stronger

Communities Select Committee, the Mayor agreed that:

(1) the implementation plan as outlined in section 5 and detailed by

category in Appendix A, B, C, and D be approved;

(2) further consultation on proposed closures and redevelopments take place

and the outcome be reported back to Mayor and Cabinet prior to

any Implementation taking place; and

(3) the amendment to the Community Asset Transfer Framework as

outlined in Section 8 and Appendix E be approved.

The report was presented by the Cabinet Member for the Third Sector,

Councillor Joan Millbank, who explained the intention of the Council was to

ensure the better use of its buildings.

The Mayor received a representation from Yvonne Peart representing the

Honor Oak Community Centre. She believed her Centre was earmarked for

closure and redevelopment as housing, with users being relocated at a

smaller facility outside the estate. She stated the Trustees were concerned

about the process to date and wished to develop proposals with the Council in

association with user groups.

Brian Courtney next made a representation as Chairperson of the Ewart

Road Housing Co-operative Community Clubhouse and stressed his

opposition to any threatened closure.

Councillor Dacres confirmed to the Mayor that the Safer Stronger

Communities Select Committee had agreed not to make a referral to the

Mayor only after receiving categorical assurances that the proposals were

draft and no closures would be contemplated without full consultation.

The Mayor ordered that the consultation outcomes had to be reported back to

the Mayor and Cabinet before any implementation took place

Having considered an officer report, and presentations by the Cabinet

Member for the Third Sector, Councillor Joan Millbank, representatives of two

Community Centres and Councillor Dacres on behalf of the Safer, Stronger

Communities Select Committee, the Mayor, for the reasons set out in the

report:

RESOLVED that:

(1) the implementation plan as outlined in section 5 and detailed by category

in Appendix A, B, C, and D be approved;

(2) further consultation on proposed closures and redevelopments take place

and the outcome be reported back to Mayor and Cabinet prior to any

Implementation taking place; and

(3) the amendment to the Community Asset Transfer Framework as outlined

in Section 8 and Appendix E be approved.