Agenda item

Voluntary Sector Accommodation Implementation Plan update

Decision:

Having considered an officer report, and presentations by the Cabinet

Member for the Third Sector, Councillor Joan Millbank, and 10

representatives on behalf of 6 Community Centres, the Mayor agreed that:

(1) the consultation feedback as summarised in section 6 of the report and

the full submissions in appendices B & B1-3 be noted; and.

(2) the recommendations for each of the 16 community centres:

Barnes Wallis Community Centre: Telegraph Hill Ward

Brandram Rd Community Hall: Blackheath Ward

Champion Hall: Bellingham Ward

Clare Hall: Brockley Ward

Evelyn Community Centre: Evelyn Ward

Ewart Rd Club Room: Crofton Park Ward

Goldsmiths Community Centre: Whitefoot Ward

Honor Oak Community Centre: Telegraph Hill Ward

Lethbridge Club Room: Blackheath Ward

Saville Centre: Rushey Green Ward

Scotney Hall: New Cross Ward

Sedgehill Community Centre: Bellingham Ward

Venner Rd Hall: Sydenham Ward

Wesley Halls: Downham Ward

Woodpecker Community Centre: New Cross Ward

as shown in section 6 of the report be approved and officers be instructed to

proceed to the next stage of implementation.

Minutes:

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

Councillor Joan Millbank, who outlined the consultation process and

confirmed changes had been made to the original proposals following detailed

consideration of the responses received. She also set out the context of

Central Government funding reductions which had impacted on the provision

of all local services. She stressed that the majority of the centres reviewed

would continue to function, either in their current building or in a new building

funded by the provision of new affordable homes. She concluded by

acknowledging the process had not been easy and there was deep personal

attachment to various centres from individuals who had devoted a lot of time

and effort in supporting their local community.

The Executive Director for Community Services’s representative then outlined

the proposals for each centre and explained how the original plan for the

rationalisation of community provision had changed since July 2014. She

clarified that the Honor Oak consultation meeting on September 4 had been

called by the Association rather than the Council and all three Ward

Councillors had been in attendance.

The Mayor was then addressed by ten speakers representing six of the

centres.

Yvonne Peart of the Honor Oak Community Association called upon the

Mayor to reconsider the proposals for her centre and asked that a bid for a

Community Asset Transfer should be entertained.

Kristina Green representing Wesley Halls reinforced their written

representation saying they had no objection to the housing provision as long

as the existing community building was retained. She was supported by Helen

Bashford of Brighter Horizons, one of the Wesley Halls user groups, who said

the existing building was ideal for wheelchair users.

Sarah Hanks, Julia Adam and Celia Holman made a joint presentation on

Brandram Road calling for the retention of their centre. They expressed

interest in agreeing a full repairing lease but said they needed more time to

confirm the arrangement and would be helped by a Council agreement to a

sliding scale lease agreement. Officers indicated they could give further

consideration to a sliding scale agreement.

Jackie Bishop, the Chair of the Pensioners Forum said her group had been

based in the Saville Centre for 9 years and asked the Mayor to reconsider his

proposals, as she did not believe the alternatives identified would be

appropriate. She was supported by Bridget Sam Bailey of the Artful Dodgers,

a self support group for heart disease sufferers who also said identified

alternatives could not be used by her group.

Bishop Justus Mugbeh of the Milton Court TRA pleaded for the retention of

the Woodpecker Community Centre,saying it was a vital community hub in an

area of high deprivation.

Ken Wakeman spoke about the Barnes Wallis Community Centre, explaining

he had been the voluntary unpaid manager there for 11 years and he called

for the retention and expansion of the Centre.

The Mayor then received the views of Councillors Dromey and Best in support

of the officer proposals before considering each facility individually and

agreeing the recommendations shown in section 6 of the report.