The long-standing dispute between the Riverside Centre and the Isle of Wight council may be a step closer to coming to an end next week, when Cabinet members are asked to approve new lease arrangements.
The dispute over payments from the council to the Centre and vice versa have been ongoing for several years, with the future of the Centre at risk on many occasions.
Subject to a community asset transfer
Based on a wider involvement of voluntary sector groups, such as Community Action and Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Cabinet members will next week be asked to agree for the council to develop a community asset transfer of the Riverside Centre.
If this is approved, Cabinet members will receive a further report at their meeting in December 2013 on the proposed final arrangements.
What led to the dispute?
In 2011, the Centre faced a massive hike in their annual rent, rising from £54,000 per annum to £100,000.
News of these plans by the former Isle of Wight council caused outcry from Islanders and the dispute has been ongoing ever since.
Beynon vetting bookings
At one point during the dispute, former council Chief Executive Steve Beynon took to personally vetting bookings, after claiming that the Centre was no longer operating on an inclusive basis.
Not long afterwards, a row broke out about the Riverside Centre sub-letting offices to the Island’s MP, Andrew Turner.
Built from public donations
The Centre was first built with money from public donations in 1988.
Less than ten years later, ownership of the Riverside Centre was transferred to the Isle of Wight council to aid VAT arrangements (in 1995).
However, paperwork presented by Vice Chair of WightMIND to OnTheWight in 2011 revealed that the council directors were keen to return ownership of Centre once matters were concluded.
This never occurred.
General manager unable to vote on item
Cllr Richard Priest, the Independent councillor who pipped former council leader David Pugh to the post in the recent local elections by just ten votes, is employed as the General Manager of the Riverside Centre.
As a Cabinet member (Children Services), Cllr Priest will not be permitted to vote on this item due to his interests.
Image: Mardio Pictures under CC BY 2.0
