Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Educational Attainment and School Improvement introduced a report on the proposal to redevelop and refurbish Padnall Hall in Marks Gate into a new Youth Centre for the Borough via funding from the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) Youth Investment Fund (YIF).

Barking and Dagenham had been identified as one of only two London Boroughs eligible to apply for YIF funding.  The Cabinet Member explained that an assessment of local need identified the Marks Gate area as lacking any kind of bespoke youth facility that was fit for purpose.  Furthermore, data provided by Future Youth Zone showed that youngsters from the Marks Gate area were the most isolated from the Future Youth Zone facility in Parsloes Park. 

To meet the timescales for development under the YIF programme, the existing Padnall Hall building, which had disused for the past 15 years, was identified as the preferred site for a new, bespoke youth centre.  The overall capital cost of the project was estimated at £1.964m, to be met in full via the YIF, and the Cabinet Member also confirmed that revenue funding would be available from the YIF up to March 2025 to support running costs.  Those costs would include the engagement of a youth development / engagement worker to lead on community development and engagement with young people.  The Cabinet Member also confirmed that while it had been agreed that the Council would lead on the delivery of the building works, a consortium of local voluntary and community sector organisations, including Future Youth Zone, would run the facility and be responsible for fundraising to cover ongoing revenue costs post-March 2025.

Cabinet Members expressed their wholehearted support for the project in the Marks Gate area.

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Agree to the conversion of the derelict Padnall Hall into a new Youth Centre for the borough, subject to a successful grant application via the DCMS Youth Investment Fund to fully fund the conversion project; 

(ii)  Agree the procurement of architectural, engineering, surveying and building works contractors for the refurbishment of Padnall Hall, in accordance with the strategy set out in the report; and

(iii)  Authorise the Commissioning Director, Education, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Educational Attainment and School Improvement, the Strategic Director, Finance and Investment and the Chief Legal Officer, to agree the framework, conduct the procurement and award and enter into the contract(s) and all other necessary or ancillary agreements with the successful bidder(s).