Agenda item
Community Buildings Report
- Meeting of Cabinet, Tuesday, 1st November, 2016 5.30 p.m. (Item 5.6)
- View the background to item 5.6
Decision:
DECISION
1. To agree that a network of community hub buildings be established throughout the borough;
2. To agree the key terms for leases as set out in paragraph 5.3 of the report;
3. To agree that where community groups are to remain in existing accommodation, that this occupation will be on the basis of a formal lease with a community rent;
4. To agree that in some cases, THH-recognised TRAs, who can demonstrate intensive use of the property, may be issued with a lease based on a peppercorn rent for their TRA activities;
5. To agree the community benefit rent reduction policy, which affords eligible organisations a subsidy of 80% of their market rent, as set out in section 13;
6. To agree the proposed criteria, independent assessment tools and process and the monitoring and reporting arrangements for the community benefit rent reduction policy as set out in paragraphs 13.8 to 13.24;
7. To agree the proposed plan and approach for implementing the community benefit rent reduction policy, working with THCVS to support the voluntary and community sector organisations; and
8. To note that the additional capital and revenue resourcing required for the delivery of the community buildings policy will be considered as part of the council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy.
Action by:
CORPORATE DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT AND RENEWAL (A. DALVI)
(Service Head, Corporate Property and Capital Delivery (A. Sutcliffe)
(Head of Benefits Service (S. Hill)
Minutes:
Councillor David Edgar, Cabinet Member for Resources, introduced the report. He explained that the report had been developed over a significant period of time and that it was important to move towards a more consistent basis for letting buildings. The report was also aiming to increase appropriate usage of the buildings available and to improve their condition where possible. He also highlighted the planned Community Hubs that could support larger numbers of groups and should prove cheaper than the current situation in a number of places.
The report set out how community rents would work and proposed peppercorn rents for recognised Tenant and Resident Associations. He thanked the Tower Hamlets Council for Voluntary Services for their hard work supporting the review.
A number of presentations were received in relation to the report. Issues noted included:
· Continued community engagement was really important.
· A desire not to close buildings that were underused but to find ways of increasing usage.
· Ensuring lease terms were fair and opening hours at buildings did not restrict provision of services.
· Whether smaller organisations had the resources to engage solicitors for legal negotiations.
· Concern on the impact on some organisations of increased rental payments.
· How the offer compared to that available to commercial organisations.
In response, the meeting noted a number of points including that:
· Discussions would take place in relation to each building and local circumstances would be considered.
· Discussions about lease terms could continue although the Commissioners would also have a view on appropriate arrangements.
· Officers would look to ensure that nurseries could still operate to the hours required and they would look at how external maintenance costs would be met at bujildings.
The Mayor agreed the recommendations set out in the report.
RESOLVED
1. To agree that a network of community hub buildings be established throughout the borough;
2. To agree the key terms for leases as set out in paragraph 5.3 of the report;
3. To agree that where community groups are to remain in existing accommodation, that this occupation will be on the basis of a formal lease with a community rent;
4. To agree that in some cases, THH-recognised TRAs, who can demonstrate intensive use of the property, may be issued with a lease based on a peppercorn rent for their TRA activities;
5. To agree the community benefit rent reduction policy, which affords eligible organisations a subsidy of 80% of their market rent, as set out in section 13;
6. To agree the proposed criteria, independent assessment tools and process and the monitoring and reporting arrangements for the community benefit rent reduction policy as set out in paragraphs 13.8 to 13.24;
7. To agree the proposed plan and approach for implementing the community benefit rent reduction policy, working with THCVS to support the voluntary and community sector organisations; and
8. To note that the additional capital and revenue resourcing required for the delivery of the community buildings policy will be considered as part of the council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy.
Supporting documents:
- 5.6 - Community Buildings Cabinet Report, item 5.6 PDF 294 KB
- 5.6a - Appx 1 - Council Owned Community Buildings in LBTH, item 5.6 PDF 6 MB
- 5.6b - Appx 2 - Community Buildings in LBTH, item 5.6 PDF 7 MB
- 5.6c - Appx 3 - TH Assessment Procedure for Community Benefit Rent Reduction AS NA, item 5.6 PDF 81 KB
- 5.6d - Appx 4 - Community benefit process v8, item 5.6 PDF 307 KB
- 5.6e - Appx 5 - AssessmentPanelTOR AS NA, item 5.6 PDF 49 KB
- 5.6f - Appx 6 - CB Report Qualty Assurance Checklist, item 5.6 PDF 75 KB
- 5.6g - Appx 7 - Community Benefit FULL_EQUALITY_ANALYSIS, item 5.6 PDF 128 KB