Issue - meetings

Haringey Property Review

 

 

Meeting: 18/12/2012 - Cabinet (Item 315)

315 Haringey Property Review - Council Community Buildings pdf icon PDF 995 KB

(Report of the Director of Place and Sustainability. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Carbon Reduction). The report seeks approval of new key principles to be applied to the Community Buildings policy and the strategic framework to help achieve improvements in the suitability, condition and sustainability of buildings.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report, introduced by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Carbon Reduction, which sought approval of new key principles to be applied to the Community Buildings policy and the strategic framework in order to help achieve improvements in the suitability, condition and sustainability of buildings.

 

RESOLVED:

 

  1. That the following key principles being applied to the Community Building’s policy and strategic framework, to achieve improvements in the suitability, condition and sustainability of building and to widen access for Haringey’s diverse communities by aligning these to community needs and Council priorities, be approved:

 

  1. Community building tenures based on an assessment of community use benefit and tenant sustainability, with formal periodic reviews to be carried out at least every two years.

 

  1. Tenant sustainability and community use benefits assessed against Council priorities and criteria aligned with the Voluntary Sector Strategy and a process linked to the Investment Fund criteria.

 

  1. Lease conditions to include enforceable requirements for widening community access and promoting shared use of facilities.

 

  1. That the principle that Council community buildings that are surplus to community use and present opportunities for leveraging wider regeneration and community benefits should be prioritised for redevelopment, alternative use or wider land assembly, be approved.

 

  1. That the following reforms of circular grant funding for rent, to achieve increased community benefits from the use of available funding and to achieve fairness and transparency – a key principle in the Voluntary Sector Strategy, be approved:

 

  1. The allocation of rent subsidy to be assessed against Council priorities and the Voluntary Sector Strategy with the process aligned to the Investment Fund criteria.

 

  1. That all circular grant funding for rent be subject to formal periodic reviews every two years.

 

  1. That the methodology (point 7) and programme (point 12) for the in depth review of community buildings and tenancies in consultation with the tenants and for Property Services to bring forward any recommendations for change to Cabinet during Spring 2013 be approved.

 

Alternative Options Considered

The review has considered options with greater emphasis on regeneration outcomes, income maximisation, revenue savings and releasing capital by adopting principles based solely on best alternative use of assets. However, these options have not been developed further as the Council recognises the importance of suitable community spaces where people can meet, socialise, plan and deliver self help and other services as well as providing opportunities for community groups to lease or share suitable community buildings, which they can regard as home or a base. Consequently and in line with the Council’s Voluntary Sector Strategy, in particular outcome 5, the principles being recommended are designed to develop a supply of suitable community buildings, which meet the Council’s priorities, represent good use of resources and are managed for sustainability.

 

Reasons for Decision

In line with the recently adopted Voluntary Sector Strategy 2011-2016 (including outcome 5) there is a requirement to refocus the Council’s policy, strategy and practice in relation to community buildings and to set out recommendations and actions to make better use of the portfolio through supporting wider  ...  view the full minutes text for item 315