Agenda item

The Board RECEIVED two deputations - in response to APPCT CEO’s October letter to tenants around the Masterplan for the Grove and the Trust offering lease extensions to 2027 and then on an annual 12 month rolling basis.

The Board noted that Jason Jenkins - Little Dinosaurs Leaseholder had put forward a deputation requisition, in accordance with CSO 29, wanting to make representations on:

-       The impact and reality of recent events from the tenant’s perspective.

-       Realistic and manageable proposals to the Board for consideration prior to a third party company being engaged.

-       Seeking clarity on the preferred intentions of APPCT around the Grove plans.

Mr Jenkins was invited to make his deputation and expressed the following:

-       When he first took the business forward in the vacant building, it had been derelict and was now a vibrant indoor and outdoor play space welcoming 1500 users a week.

-       In his view, the soft play facility had mental health benefits and the business had received positive feedback about being a lifeline for many local groups and was a safe place for children to play.

-       There was no other soft play facility in Haringey that offered the indoor and outdoor fenced off play.

-       That Little Dinosaurs was still in the early stages, a start-up business, and had not planned beyond 2029.

-       During the pandemic, took forward business plan and applied for investment in this business. This was in discussion with the CEO of AP at the time.

-       During initial negotiations a restriction was placed on the maximum number of years a tenancy could be in place but the then CEO had advised that unusual a tenancy to not be renewed.

-       Needed a longer extension than 2027 to allow business to be future proofed

-       The 12-month rolling lease would not work, as events and parties, which kept the business afloat, were booked often a year in advance.

-       Crippling energy costs and need time to recover from Covid closures.

-       Hoped to continue working partnership with the Trust

-       Mr Jenkins expressed that if the board decided Little Dinosaurs could not indefinitely remain, which was his preferred choice, he sought a much improved term than 2027 to allow for a properly managed exit (which 2027 certainly would not).    

NOTED in response to Board Member questions from Mr Jenkins:

-       That all repairs, maintenance, fixtures, and fittings were the responsibility of the tenant as per the lease.

-       Invested life savings as a start-up and then through Covid he had reinvested through a bounce back loan. He was now at the crucial point of deciding whether to invest the remainder of the business loan in making this a first class facility.

-       The provision had a fenced in garden and contained an indoor and outdoor activity centre for children up to the age of 9 years old with parents, grandparents and carers.

-       -Not informed verbally or in writing by the Trust that the lease would be longer than 2027.

Clerk’s note 1940 hrs Cllr Anne Stennett arrived during this item

The Chair thanked Mr Jenkins for his representations.

Gemma Graham – Co-Chair of 345 Preschools was invited to put forward her deputation. NOTED that the purpose of the deputation was to air the views of 345 Preschools and discuss a number of issues with the proposed changes to the lease agreement. Gemma Graham wanted to ensure their organisation’s case was heard and to have a generic conversation with the Board before the master planning process in the Grove began.

Gemma Graham outlined the following:

-       Recently received the CEO’s letter, indicating potential for the masterplan to bring all the different leases in the Grove together to expire in 2027 and then to each be on a 12-month rolling renewal. This came as a shock as earlier in the year the organisation had seen a draft lease document proposing a 14-year term lease.

-       Located in the Grove for 40 years and a community nursery, a charity, with volunteer trustees  and the available places were full as the demand for term time preschool setting is large.

-       Wanted to help fulfil the APPCT ambitions in the strategic vision.

-       The organisation was confused about next steps and whether the Trust wanted the leaseholders to leave in 2027?

-       There was a need to fill places a year in advance and the 12-month rolling contract was not tenable for the preschool.

-       The deputation party were seeking transparency in the plans for the Grove.

The following was NOTED in response to questions to Gemma Graham:

-       345 Preschools was not a state funded provision and run by a small committee of parents who helped run the pre-school for pre-school service across the borough and sometimes outside of the borough.

-       Did have some visits from other preschools who wanted to use outdoor woodland space. There was a qualified staff team, and the parents volunteer as the trustees.

-       Haringey fund 3-4 year olds 15 hours a week and anything over that the parents pay fees to the organisation, which they try to keep to a minimum. The reason one parent chose this provision was because 345 pre-schools offer completely free school spaces – the 15 hours are completely free.

-       Currently have 39 children at the school.

The Chair thanked the deputations for making their representations and advised them that the Trust was still only at the beginning of the research & master planning process and, as the letter of 13 October stated, the tenants would be a part of the ongoing discussions.