Congratulations to the Ventnor Town Council (VTC), especially clerk David Bartlett, for being referred to as ‘in the vanguard of those making use of the Right to Challenge under the Localism Act’.
The reference to our local council was made in the summer edition of the National Association of Local Councils’ publication, LCR, by Communities Minister Don Foster MP.
Don Foster MP says,
Ventnor Town Council is in the vanguard of those making use of the Right to Challenge. It plans to submit an expression of interest to the local principal authority when the formal window for doing so opens in June.
Our support providers have helped Ventnor to develop its plans with a £9,000 grant to develop robust proposals. If accepted, this challenge could enable them to run the service in a way that encourages visitors to the town and boosts the local economy.
‘Community Right to Bid’
As Evelyn’s report from the June VTC meeting revealed, the VTC plan to make us of the ‘Community Right to Bid’ is being applied to Rew Valley Sports Centre, the Coastal Centre and the Town’s car parks.
Fight to save the Coastal Centre
Those who have been following the Ventnor Town Council’s bid to rescue the Coastal Centre from sale on the open market – after former CEO Steve Beynon and former council Leader David Pugh both refused to consider allowing the VTC to use to building for, amongst other purposes, setting up an enterprise hub – will already be aware of the VTC’s efforts.
In fact Eric Pickles said the former Isle of Wight council were not not embracing the Localism Act as they should do.
Best of luck to Ventnor Town Council in their pursuit to ensure the council remains the custodian of these important public buildings.
Image: La Citta Vita under CC BY 2.0
