At last night’s full council meeting, Cllr Jonathan Bacon took the opportunity during question time to get an update on the transfer of public toilets and libraries to community groups.
He posed the following question to councillors George Brown, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for the Economy and the Environment and Cllr Barry Abraham, Cabinet Member for Fire, Culture and Residents’ Services
In respect of toilets and libraries proposed for closure or handing over to community ownership pursuant to the Budget decision of February 2011, how many of these facilities have been or are in the process of being handed over to community ownership?
In how many cases has the transfer been successfully completed? In how many cases, specifying which facilities, has the transfer to community ownership not yet been fully completed, including those instances where premises are currently subject to a tenancy at will rather than a full lease having been signed.
Given this was submitted as a written question, Cllr Brown was able to provide the following pre-prepared response, which he has kindly sent to VB.
Public Conveniences
Following the Cabinet decision of 1st March 2011 third party interest (town and parish councils and private individuals) was invited from those interested in taking over the operation of some of the surplus public lavatories for continued public use.15 such expressions of interest were been received (most of which was shortly after the Cabinet decision) and the Council has successfully concluded agreements to transfer all 15 to the respective third parties.
13 lavatory facilities are currently occupied under a tenancy at will pending the freehold or leasehold transfer of the facility; one has been transferred by way of a variation to an existing lease and one has transferred under a management agreement.
Tenancies at Will have been granted prior to completion of full legal documentation in order to permit the new occupiers the opportunity to open the facilities to the public during the Island’s busiest periods.
If Cllr Bacon wishes to have specific details relating to specific sites, I am happy to supply him with the information outside this meeting.
Libraries
Discussions have been ongoing with a variety of community based groups, aiming for a transfer of the following libraries to community groups by the 30th September 2011: –
- Bembridge,
- Brighstone
- East Cowes
- Niton
- Shanklin
Draft agreements have been provided to each community group and agreement on terms is being negotiated with each group. In order to ensure continuity of the library service Tenancies at Will are be used to enable the community groups to take occupation of the buildings.
Cllr Bacon pointed out that the process had been far more costly than predicted and asked whether lessons had been learnt to avoid this happening in the future.
