Issue - meetings

The Leader of the Council introduced a report on the latest proposals for transferring the management of the Borough’s community centres to local community organisations.

The principle of transferring the management of community centres to local community organisations was established by the Cabinet under Minute 76 (21 December 2010).  Since that time the management of the majority of the Council’s community centres had successfully transferred and the latest proposal related to the Fanshawe, Galleon and Hedgecock Community Centres. 

The Leader referred to the proposed lease arrangements and the organisations that would be taking on the responsibilities of managing and maintaining the facilities.  The Cabinet Member for Environment commented that the meetings to establish the new Hedgecock Community Association had been very well attended and she looked forward to the new facility opening its doors to the whole community.

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Authorise the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance and Strategic Director of Finance and Investment, to negotiate final terms, enter into a management agreement and grant a 30 year lease for the Fanshawe Community Centre to the Fanshawe Community Association on a commercial rent and full repairing and insuring basis, and for the lease to include provision permitting the tenant to grant a sub-lease to the Dagenham Islamic Welfare Association to regularise its current occupation of part of the premises;

(ii)  Authorise the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance and Strategic Director of Finance and Investment, to negotiate final terms, enter into a management agreement and grant a 30 year lease on a commercial rent and full repairing and insuring basis for the new Hedgecock Community Centre to the Hedgecock Community Association, which shall be established by the Council to manage the facility; and

(iii)  Authorise the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance and Strategic Director of Finance and Investment, to negotiate final terms, enter into a management agreement and grant a 30 year lease for the Galleon Centre to Studio 3 Arts on a commercial rent and full repairing and insuring basis.