Charlbury Community Centre
| Barry Norton |
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Tue 18 Oct 2005, 13:41 In response to numerous calls and e mails, I set out the Council’s position in relation to the above project, known also as the Spendlove Site and the Thomas Gifford Centre. Since the late 1990’s an amount for Thomas Gifford Centre Phase 2 has been in the Council Capital Preparation Pool at £250,000. This is in addition to the £100,000 in the actual Capital Programme, of which £50,000 was subsequently made available by way of loan to the Thomas Gifford Trust. These amounts were all based on the original proposals for a much larger scheme, incorporating a dedicated arts space and a sports hall. These more ambitious proposals are now unlikely to happen given limited funding. As a consequence, the Council’s Cabinet has recently recommended that the Council takes a fresh look at any scheme. The £250,000 was only ever an indicative amount being in the Preparation Pool rather than Capital Programme. Furthermore the Council is keen to work with the Charlbury Community Centre Committee and the County Council in taking this scheme forward and we have recently been pressing the County Council to progress matters. I understand that a meeting has taken place this week between officers of both Councils in an attempt to move things on. It is normal Council procedure if earmarked grants are not taken up after twelve months, to reassess the offer rather than to commit monies which have little chance of being used in the very near future. In the case of Thomas Gifford it has been six years and Council has taken the view that the scheme is no longer being pursued in its original form and does not reflect the basis on which earlier decisions were taken. However, we have agreed that when the new scheme being worked up by the Charlbury Centre Appeal Committee in conjunction with the County Council, which will now also provide County Council facilities, like a Library, then we will consider any application made to us for grant aid, based on the new proposals and what facilities the revised scheme will eventually provide. It seems to me there has been an over-reaction to our decision. We have not said we will not help but simply that we will need to base any financial contribution on what is realistically likely to be provided in the new scheme. Barry Norton. |