As
residents will be aware I was involved in a meeting of the Arundel
Youth Club, West Sussex County Council, The Learning Tree nursery and
Arundel Town Council last July to try and broker an agreement to
allow parties to co-habitat within the existing building.
There
were a number of issues regarding safe-guarding for children and
sharing space, it was one of most difficult meetings I have ever
attended in either public life or my professional life, but an
agreement of sorts was agreed in the last minutes of the meeting
Since
then I have withdrawn from the discussions, but I have encouraged the
Town Council to negotiate a possible deal to allow the Youth club to
vacate the existing premises and receive a substantial settlement.
Michael
Tu the The Town Mayor and the Town Council has worked tirelessly to
negotiate a final settlement deal where the Youth Club would receive
£20,000 to give up the lease and this took into account an
outstanding utility bill of £8k and a substantial dilapidation
settlement, but also included is outstanding rent from the Nursery
which WSCC were holding.
As
Arundel Ward member on Arun District Council I have no overall
responsibility for Youth services or Nursery education, but as a
local Councillor I think I have a legitimate right to give an opinion
and criticise when I see an issue that fundamentally affects my
constituents, particularly when it affects parents careers and
children’s education
I
believe the deal that has been negotiated on behalf of the Youth Club
is a good deal and gives a route to guarantee youth services within
Arundel, also I believe that this deal allows the Learning Tree to
continue in the building and expand as there is a waiting list.
Nursery children photo from Guardian. |
It
has been reported to me that the Youth Club Trustee's have decided to
decline the deal that has been negotiated for them and in fact extend
the existing lease that ends in March 2015.
I
believe this is the wrong decision, I believe for the Trustee's to
make this decision defies logic, it puts the Trustee's in to a
dubious legal position with a risk of up to £500k personal liability
to Trustee's as well as forcing the Learning Tree to find a new
premises as they can not continue sharing the facility with the Youth
Club.
The
resulting chaos will be detrimental to Parents and children at the
Learning Tree and also does not serve the Youth club members and I
believe this is wrong and all the Trustee's should reconsider their
position and reverse this decision.
I
would urge them to meet as soon as possible to consider the legal
ramifications to their personal circumstances as well as the
detrimental effect to Youth Club members and users of the Learning
Tree facilities.
No comments:
Post a comment