Agenda item
Idea Store Strategy Action Plan Update - Idea Store Metro Watney Market and One Stop Shop (CAB 010/101)
Decision:
Resolved
1. That the progress update on the Idea Store Strategy Action Plan be noted.
2. That the Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture be authorised to enter into a grant funding agreement with the Big Lottery Fund (BLF) to secure the £2m of funding provisionally allocated to the project [Idea Store Local and One Stop Shop at Watney Market];
3 That the inclusion of the Idea Store Local and One Stop Shop at Watney Market within the Capital Programme be approved and a Capital Estimate for the sum of £4,101,000 be adopted for the delivery of the scheme;
4 That the Corporate Director Development and Renewal be authorised to facilitate the allocation of S106 commuted sums as part-finance for the scheme [Idea Store Local and One Stop Shop at Watney Market], as set out in the capital profile attached to the report (CAB 010/101), as a matter of priority;
5. That the Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture be authorised to proceed with building procurement in accordance with Council’s financial and procurement protocols subject to planning permission;
6 That the use of the Council owned plot of land listed in Appendix 1 for development of the new Idea Store Local and One Stop Shop be authorised; and
7 That the appropriation with immediate effect of the site for planning purposes pursuant to Section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972 be approved; and
8. That the terminology used in the report (CAB 010/101), recommendations contained therein, and going forward in respect of the next phase of Idea Stores, be revised to reflect the wishes of the Cabinet that the word “Local” replace that of “Metro”.
Action by
CORPORATE DIRECTOR COMMUNITIES, LOCALITIES AND CULTURE
(S. HALSEY)
Service Head Cultural Services, Communities, Localities and Culture (H. Bonfield)
Head of Idea Store Communities, Localities and Culture (J. St. John)
CORPORATE DIRECTOR DEVELOPMENT AND RENEWAL
(A. DALVI) [Resolution 4]
Minutes:
Mr Beattie, Acting Service Head Strategy and Resources – Communities Localities and Culture, at the request of the Chair, in introducing the report:
· Summarised the key points contained therein, highlighting in particular:
· That progress against the Idea Store Action Plan was set out in Appendix 2.
· The innovative proposal to develop a new One Stop Shop (OSS) aligned to the development of a new Idea Store (IS) in Watney Market to provide lifelong learning opportunities for local residents.
Ø A strategic need had been identified in the area for both an Idea Store, to replace sub- standard library provision, and improved OSS provision replacing accommodation at Cheviot House; also to improve/ develop Watney market itself. The new community facility would enhance the market offer.
Ø Value for money was a primary element of the proposal and the co-location of the IS and OSS would enable more effective and efficient delivery of localised services. It was cheaper to link the two developments and joined up working would be improved.
Ø The detail of Capital and Revenue resourcing for the scheme were signposted for Members; and attention drawn to the referencing, in error, of a Section 106 contribution to capital funding of the scheme arising from a specific development. There were a range of Section 106 grants available to support the scheme.
Ø A key driver for the scheme was availability of £2 million of funding from the Big Lottery Fund, however this was time limited and a timely Cabinet commitment to the scheme was needed to secure the funding.
· Addressed, in conjunction with Mr Halsey, Corporate Director Communities, Localities and Culture, the matters raised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, held on 6th July 2010, in relation to the report; as set out in the tabled sheet of questions and comments presented by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee earlier in the proceedings:
A discussion followed, during which the proposals in the report were broadly welcomed, and which focused on the following points:-
· In the context of the need for fiscal tightening it was important to recognise the underlying rationale for the scheme:
o Availability of Big Lottery Funding of £2 million was time limited: the BLF Community Library Funding Programme would end in March 2013 and conditions for funding required the scheme to be operational 1 year before this. It was fortunate therefore that the scheme had been in the pipeline.
o The need for an IS in the area had been identified but it was not viable to construct one in isolation due to a capital shortfall of £800,000 and a shortfall in revenue going forward. The identified need for an OSS in the area was therefore timely as the marrying of the two schemes would address the financial shortfall and enable the provision of a building which enabled local residents to access OSS services and IS facilities. It would also address the difficulties for these residents of accessing the IS facilities at Whitechapel IS.
· The usage in the report of the term IS “metro” to describe the next phase of Idea Stores did not reflect the aspirations of Members, who preferred the term IS “local” and this should be revised here and going forward. Accordingly Councillor Jones proposed an additional recommendation to those set out in the report, for the consideration of members of the Cabinet as follows:
“That the terminology going forward in respect of the next phase of Idea Stores, be revised to reflect the wishes of the Cabinet that the word ‘Local’ replace that of ‘Metro’.”
· Councillor Jackson, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, speaking with the consent of the Cabinet, commented that the pre-scrutiny question regarding the closure/ future of Cheviot House had arisen from questions from Members around whether public engagement with the proposals had been as good as it could have been, and in particular with older people, who used it as a social facility, and with children in relation to their safety in accessing the children’s library at the new location. Assurance was sought that the scheme would be managed to ensure vulnerable elements of the community did not suffer from the merger of the two services. Officers responded that there were plans for public consultation and safety issues would be addressed within any design solution for the scheme.
· Recognition that relocation of the OSS across the Commercial Road and the central location of the new joint IS/OSS facility in the market would enhance the market’s services, and pedestrian traffic to it would result in a boost for trade in the market, with the outcome positive for the area in general.
· Acknowledgement that there was evidence of increased usage of Idea Stores (IS’s)and also increased book lending and consideration that as the next phase of Idea Stores was rolled out that there was a continued focus on book lending. Ms St John, Head of Ideas Stores, at the request of the Lead Member Culture and Creative Industries, outlined the renewed focus on book lending within IS’s in the last year. Ms St John and her Officer team were commended for the improvement in lending levels at IS’s.
· Strong endorsement of the proposal as it was not possible to maintain OSS provision in the existing accommodation at Cheviot House.
· Clarification/ assurance was sought as to the level of officer confidence in achieving the Section 106 contribution to the scheme of £1.101,000, detailed in paragraph 8.4. Whether the source of this, referenced in the report as PA/07/02193, was the property at 32-42 Bethnal Green Road. Also what additional development schemes would yield Section 106 contributions for the proposal. The Corporate Director Communities Localities and Culture undertook to provide this information to Councillors Francis and Khatun in writing.
· Commented that the proposal was appealing, however, given there was an item of business later in the proceedings about identifying £9.1 million in Budget savings within the financial year, it was important to note the compelling rationale that if the proposal was not agreed £2 million of BLF funding would be lost. Commented also that is was important to note that the proposals would result in a 7% reduction in ongoing revenue commitments.
· Clarification/ assurance was sought and given regarding:
o The level of officer confidence in relation to the future letting of the retail units currently occupied by the Watney Market Library.
o Discussions undertaken with Tower Hamlets Homes (THH) in relation to the current co-location of the LBTH OSS and THH front desk at Cheviot House, and whether this co-location would continue at the new joint facility in Watney Market or the THH provision would remain in Cheviot House.
o Whether the rental income from retail units currently occupied by Watney Market Library would accrue to the Council, with the exact figure to be provided to Councillor Islam in writing.
o Whether the OSS contribution to capital funding of £1 million had yet to be identified or in which budget strand the provision existed.
o The source of the Communities, Localities and Culture funding of the residual £105,000 in revenue costs for the scheme.
The Chair requested that Officers take account of the comments/ suggestions made by Members regarding:
· Ensuring consultation was undertaken with residents, particularly those that were vulnerable, and managing the scheme to ensure they did not suffer as a result of service re-provision. Also
· Maintaining progress in relation to Idea Store Strategy Action Plan.
He subsequently Moved (taking account of the additional recommendation 2.8 proposed by Councillor Jones) that recommendations 2.2 to 2.7 as set out in the report be agreed; and in relation to recommendation 2.1 “That the progress update on the Idea Store Strategy Action Plan be noted”; and it was:-
Resolved
1. That the progress update on the Idea Store Strategy Action Plan be noted.
2. That the Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture be authorised to enter into a grant funding agreement with the Big Lottery Fund (BLF) to secure the £2m of funding provisionally allocated to the project [Idea Store Local and One Stop Shop at Watney Market];
3 That the inclusion of the Idea Store Local and One Stop Shop at Watney Market within the Capital Programme be approved and a Capital Estimate for the sum of £4,101,000 be adopted for the delivery of the scheme;
4 That the Corporate Director Development and Renewal be authorised to facilitate the allocation of S106 commuted sums as part-finance for the scheme [Idea Store Local and One Stop Shop at Watney Market], as set out in the capital profile attached to the report (CAB 010/101), as a matter of priority;
5. That the Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture be authorised to proceed with building procurement in accordance with Council’s financial and procurement protocols subject to planning permission;
6 That the use of the Council owned plot of land listed in Appendix 1 for development of the new Idea Store Local and One Stop Shop be authorised; and
7 That the appropriation with immediate effect of the site for planning purposes pursuant to Section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972 be approved; and
8. That the terminology used in the report (CAB 010/101), recommendations contained therein, and going forward in respect of the next phase of Idea Stores, be revised to reflect the wishes of the Cabinet that the word “Local” replace that of “Metro”.
Supporting documents:
- Idea Store Strat & IS Metro Final CAB 070710, item 6.1 PDF 123 KB
- Idea Store Strategy Appx 1 Site Plan CAB 070710, item 6.1 PDF 217 KB
- Idea Store Strategy Appx 2 Action Plan CAB 070710, item 6.1 PDF 89 KB
- Idea Store Strategy Appx 3 Concept txt CAB 070710, item 6.1 PDF 16 KB