Issue details
Stepney City Farm Educational Facilities
PDF 78 KB• To note the improvements proposed at Stepney Coty Farm
• To note the monies secured by alternative funding (big lottery fund)
• To agree to match fund Educational Facilities
Decision type: Key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Wards affected: Stepney Green;
Notice of proposed decision first published: 06/05/2015
This decision will be taken under urgency procedures.
Reason for urgency:
The educational facility will deliver a new indoor space (Ecopod) providing a bigger teaching area and also include an outdoor kitchen area to provide an additional teaching zone and alternative resource. The new facilities need to be delivered over the summer months to allow Stepney City Farm the ability to expand the current lesson and tour programme for the new school term 2015/2016. The Ecopod classroom can only be delivered through Pod Living Ltd as they are the sole supplier of the Ecopod. However, the build date is insecure as no agreement has been signed due to the lack of written confirmation of the funding. The last possible day that the windows and doors can be ordered (they are made to measure) in order for the build to go ahead on the 15th June is the 28th of May, but formal approval is require now in order to sign the build contract and for this to go ahead.
Decision due: 20 May 15 by Commissioners' Decision Making Meeting
Lead director: Corporate Director, Development & Renewal
Department: Development and Renewal
Contact: Jonathan Taylor, (Sustainable Development Team Leader) Email: jonathan.taylor@towerhamlets.gov.uk.
Consultees
Stepney City Farm is a working farm and community meeting place and provides opportunities for children and adults a chance to meet farm animals, learn how to grow food and try out arts and crafts. The farm also hosts school groups four days a week during term time as well as activities during the holiday.
The proposed educational facility will meet an identified shortage of appropriate indoor space at the Farm to deliver the current and future educational programme. This will enable the Farm to provide an improved service to the local community, primarily school children and volunteers, but also the elderly and disabled who utilise the farm services.
The educational facility improvements works are to be funded through s106 contribution. The s106 Agreement required the Developers to provide written approval of the projects identified by the Council, prior to release of the money. Approval was granted September 2014 and the s106 contribution received by the Council October 2014.
The Planning Contributions Overview Panel (PCOP), following legal review and development of a Project Initiation Document (PID), approved the project 26th March 2015.
Has an Equality Analysis been carried out and if so the result of this Assessment?: No
What supporting documents or other information will be available?: None beyond the report.
Agenda items
- 13/05/2015 - Commissioners' Decision Making Meeting Stepney City Farm Educational Facilities 13/05/2015
- 20/05/2015 - Commissioners' Decision Making Meeting Stepney City Farm Educational Facilities 20/05/2015