Agenda and minutes

Councillor Littleboy explained that he had asked for the meeting in order to discuss whether the Management Committee of the Brinsford Road Community Centre could lease the building at a favourable discount to enable the continued use of the facility.  The granting of a lease would enable the Management Committee to apply for external funding.

He explained that the Management Committee had registered as a charity and had a formal Constitution.

Reference was made to a recent assessment of the building carried out by a local group of disabled people which identified a number of areas which required capital expenditure. 

The following works were highlighted:-

–       windows which needed replacing;

–       marked spaces for disabled parking in the car park; 

–       provision of a dropped kerb;

–       the need for a ramp at the door for wheelchair access (noting that this had been identified when the building was used as a Polling Station);

–       the need for a ramp outside of the emergency fire door.

The Head of Asset Management advised that the Management Committee currently had a licence for the use of the building, as it was owned as a community building by the Economic and Development Services Programme Area.

There was a need to assess:-

–       the Management Committee’s prospects for external funding

–       the current use of the building and planned future activities

–       the current income/accounts

–       the Management Committee’s Constitution

It was pointed out that a current commercial full repairing and insuring lease would be in the region of £2,000-£3,000 per year.  It was noted that the use of building currently qualified for 80% discretionary rate relief.

It was suggested that the Head of Asset Management, and appropriate officers, meet with representatives of the Management Committee to look at formulating a simple Business Plan, and to examine the accounts and current trading position, current activities and prospects.

It was proposed that a report would then be submitted to the Regeneration and Asset Board for determination by Members.

Reference was also made to the location of the building in relation to the Parish boundary and proximity to other facilities in Brinsworth.  It was pointed out that Brinsworth Parish Council was not able to help as the building was outside of the parished area.

It was agreed:-  (1)  That a meeting be arranged with representatives from the Management Committee to discuss the issues outlined with a view to putting together a Business Case.

(2)  That a report be submitted to a future meeting of the Regeneration and Asset Board, and that representatives from the Management Committee be invited to attend to present their case.