Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Resources presenting the applications received to take on the lease of the social club at Tuffley Park by way of a Community Asset Transfer.

Please note that Appendix 2 is exempt from disclosure to the press and public by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person including the authority holding that information). If Members wish to discuss Appendix 2 the Cabinet will need to resolve to exclude the press and public before doing so.

RESOLVED that:

(1)    applicant 3, One Church, is chosen as the successful bidder;

(2)    authority is delegated to the Asset Manager to agree the terms of the lease.

11.1    Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Resources regarding the proposed community asset transfer of the social club at Tuffley Park.

11.2    Councillor Wilson introduced the report and advised Cabinet that the Council had reclaimed possession of the premises after the previous tenant entered financial difficulties. He confirmed that interested parties had been asked to submit a Stage One application for a community asset transfer and that following this exercise, 9 applications were received and 3 applications were subsequently shortlisted.

11.3    Councillor Wilson advised that following Stage 2 of the community asset transfer policy, One Church had been selected as the preferred applicant. He noted that a representative from One Church had attended a recent Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting to answer questions from Members on their proposals for the site, and that he had been very impressed with their contributions. He noted that works needed to be undertaken at the premises to bring the premises up to the required standard which would cost around £50k, however he felt that the One Church as the new leaseholder would return the social club to an excellent community asset. He urged Cabinet to approve the recommendations in the report.

11.4    Councillor Field noted that he was delighted that a tenant of such high calibre had been identified. He reflected on the extensive letters of support for the organisation received by the Council and noted that he was keen to see the asset restored to a community resource as soon as possible.

RESOLVED that:

(1) applicant 3, One Church, is chosen as the successful bidder;

(2) authority is delegated to the Asset Manager to agree the terms of the lease.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Resources seeking to select a community group to become the tenant of the Social Club at Tuffley Park.

6.1      Representatives from One Church, the proposed bidder to take on the lease of the social club at Tuffley Park, introduced themselves and provided an overview of their plans for the club. It was noted that it was a priority of One Church to serve the needs of the community and further information around their ideas was included in their application.

6.2      The representative from One Church advised that the organisation was keen to continue to offer help around food poverty in the community, exploring ideas such as a foodbank or social supermarket. She also provided an overview of services which the organisation would look to offer at the premises, including resource bank initiatives, programmes for children, parent and toddler events, debt counselling services, upskilling workshops, youth programmes, community events and initiatives to tackle loneliness. She stated that One Church would also look to encourage partner organisations and local people to form groups and would help them facilitate their ideas.

6.3      The Chair expressed the view that the ambitions of One Church for the building were impressive.

6.4      Councillor Castle asked how the organisation purported to raise funds to deliver their activities. The representative noted that details around this were outlined in the application document. She explained that One Church was part of a network of churches which had a generous community and volunteers forming part of that network, and that the organisation would be looking at ways to supplement that support through funding applications for targeted projects. It was noted that One Church already delivered similar projects on a smaller scale.

6.5      Councillor S. Chambers noted that One Church were a Christian organisation and asked for further information around governance. The representative from One Church explained that the organisation was part of the Assemblies of God network and also worked with the Charity Commission. She further noted that the organisation had a board of directors which included safeguarding and finance leads.

6.6      Councillor S. Chambers asked how One Church would ensure that communities from other faiths would be welcome in accessing the services at the Club. The One Church representative noted her belief that the organisation had a good record of this already, noting that people of all cultures, faiths and backgrounds currently enjoyed the pop-up café currently operated by the organisation.

6.7      Councillor Bell queried whether the premises would continue to be used as a social club which served alcohol. The One Church representative advised that the intention was for the space to be a social space, however it would be a social club of a different standing. It was further confirmed by the Investment Manager that the club needed to be for community use, however the supply of alcohol was not a prerequisite of the tender process.

6.8      In response to a question from Councillor Radley as to whether One Church planned to continue the work they were undertaking in Podsmead should they be granted the lease of the Social Club, the One Church representative explained that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6