Agenda item
Educational Use of Coniston Gardens
The reason for the call-in is:-
· To explore further the implications of the loss of much needed capital receipts and housing and the financing of demolition and clear up of the site.
The Executive report is attached. The Lead Member and Lead Officer are invited to the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.
Minutes:
The reason for the call-in was:-
· To explore further the implications of the loss of much needed capital receipts and housing and the financing of demolition and clear up of the site.
Councillor Butt (Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Resources) introduced the report and confirmed that the decision to revoke disposing of the site to a housing association and to retain the site within the Council’s portfolio for educational and community use would represent a potential loss in capital receipts of £150,000. However, he confirmed that the housing association identified to purchase the site had since withdrawn its interest. In addition, with less funding available for supporting social housing and Registered Social Landlords, the prospect of the site being used for such a purpose was considerably diminished. A statement by Councillor Arnold (Lead Member for Children and Families) was circulated to Members which outlined the benefits to Oliver Goldsmith school and its pupils, young people and the local community in general by the decision that had been made.
Mick Bowden (Deputy Director of Finance and Corporate Resources) confirmed that the loss of capital receipts by not disposing of the site would not jeopardise the Capital Programme as the potential loss of £150,000 did not represent a significant variation in the £400 million overall allocated to the Programme over 2009/10 to 2013/14.
Councillor Beck, a Member who had called-in this item, was invited to address the Select Committee by the Chair. He began by enquiring whether the revocation of a previous decision made by the Executive would set a precedent for other such sites in Brent and what other avenues had been explored with regard to disposing of Coniston Gardens, such as approaches to any other housing associations. With regard to the proposed use of the site with Oliver Goldsmith Primary School, Councillor Beck enquired what percentage of funds would be used from the Schools Maintenance Budget and would the school itself be making any contributions. He also enquired if there would be any future consideration of opportunities to generate revenue from the site.
Councillor Ashraf had also called-in this item and was invited to address the Select Committee by the Chair. Councillor Ashraf, in acknowledging that retention of the site would mean the possibility of providing facilities for the school and the local community, stated that there would be costs involved in maintaining the site. He enquired about the future of the site if funds could not be raised to develop the site for educational and community uses and in view of these concerns he sought further clarity as to the overall merits of disposing of the site. He also asked if other housing associations had been approached before the decision not to dispose of the site.
During Members’ discussion, Councillor Brown referred to a similar site in Sudbury that was being disposed of, stating that residents had wanted the site to be retained for allotments and he enquired why different approaches were being taken between the two sites. He suggested that other housing associations may have been interested in acquiring the Coniston Gardens site. Councillor Hirani felt that because of less funding available to Registered Social Landlords (RSLs), it was unlikely that there would be approaches from such organisations to acquire the site. He commented that the site would be in danger of falling further into decline if it remained available for disposal.
In response to the issues raised, Councillor Butt advised that the decision to revoke disposing of Coniston Gardens was due to the specific circumstances of the site. This included the fact that the housing association identified in the sale of the site had withdrawn interest and the present economic climate and less funding for RSLs meaning that prospects of selling the site were greatly reduced. No other housing associations had expressed interest in the site. Councillor Butt confirmed that Oliver Goldsmith Primary School would not be making any financial contributions with regard to demolition of the scout hut and securing the site and neither would any funding be taken from other budgets for this. He added that he would confirm the percentage of funds taken from the Schools Maintenance Budget after the meeting. Councillor Butt informed Members that if an appropriate opportunity arose, disposing of the site at a future time would be considered. He referred to paragraphs 3.4 and 3.7 report which outlined short and long term proposals for the site. With regard to the Sudbury site mentioned by Councillor Brown, Councillor Butt commented that the decision to dispose of the site had been made by the previous Administration.
Councillor J Moher (Lead Member for Highways and Transportation) also responded to the issues raised. He commented that the area in question was a small site adjacent to Oliver Goldsmith Primary School and had previously been part of the school until the Council leased the site to the local Scouts association. The site had fallen into disuse in the 1980s and had since become derelict and was a health and safety hazard. The short term plan involved demolishing the scout hut, securing the site and handing it over to the school to use. There were at present no funds identified to develop the site beyond this stage but funding sources were being sought. Councillor J Moher felt that the school and the local community had demonstrated clear reasons and support to use the land for educational and community purposes, and in view that the housing association interested in acquiring the site had withdrawn, there were sound reasons to revoke the decision to dispose of the site. In the short term, the proposed wildlife centre would benefit the school pupils, whilst it was hoped that eventually the site would also provide after school hours facilities for young people and there was much the site could offer the school and local community. Councillor J Moher added that residents had long felt the site had been neglected and had submitted a large petition against disposing of the site.
Councillor John (Leader of the Council) concurred with the comments made by Councillors Butt and Moher and added that residents and the school had shown strong support in retaining the site.
Mick Bowden added that as the site had become derelict and posed a number of health and safety risks, that it made sense to secure the site and make use of it and he advised that the Council would try and avoid sites becoming unattended. With regard to the Sudbury site, he confirmed that there would be a future report on it going to the Executive. Mick Bowden advised that Oliver Goldsmith Primary School would assume management of the site and the scout hut was being demolished following a health and safety assessment. In the meantime, longer term options were being considered.
Members decided against a proposal from Councillor Brown to recommend to the Executive that it reconsider its decision not to sell the site and investigate whether a housing association would be interested in the site. Councillor Brown added that the reasons for this were that the proposed sale of the Sudbury site clearly showed that money is still available to build and that this would bring in both capital receipts and much needed housing to the Borough.
RESOLVED:-
that upon considering the report from the Director of Children and Families, the decisions made by the Executive be noted.
Supporting documents: