To: Stewart Holton, Executive Director for Housing, L.B. Lambeth
Dear Stewart:
I have address this this issue to you and would ask that you request the
responsible officer within Housing Regeneration or property manage to
respond ASAP. On the basis if that response, we may need to raise this issue
through other channels.
Firstly, I have copied all the local residents who have raised the issue
with me in the last two weeks. It would be helpful if they also were copied
into the response / given a response after this enquiry has been considered.
Secondly, the issue as has been put to me appears to breach an agreement
that was negotiated back in 2000 (from my memory) when Councillor Kirsty
McHugh and I had to lobby hard to get Housing Services to accept that this
business contributes more to the local community than can be expressed in
strictly commercial rent terms.
The outcome was that, Brixton Cycles, a Brixton born and based co-operative
business, was given a lease to the current site on Stockwell Road by the
Council. This was on a rounded judgement by Councillors and officers that:-
* a subsidised rent was granted, that rent being payable to Stockwell
Park Estate Management Board (after a hefty fee by the Council!). The money
is used to fund an under-five-year-olds worker within the Community Trust
activities on the estate;
* acknowledgement that Brixton Cycles adds to the local community by
their acknowledged environmentally friendly promotion and support of cycling
within Lambeth (given the trouble with traffic and car parking, this should
be receiving higher support);
* acknowledgement that Brixton Cycles also continues to add to the
security of that end of Stockwell Park Estate and continues to work with the
Skakepark Users Group to mutual advantage in promoting a healthy activity
for young people.
In the round, a very sound and regenerative enterprise that benefits the
community of Brixton and Lambeth. However,
Third, I am told that Lambeth Council is
* seeking to put up the rent by over approx 250% without any
negotiation or rationale whatsoever;
* seeking to take the shop as an asset away from the proposed
Stockwell Park Estate Stock Transfer, when the asset has been part of the
planned transfer and business planning all along;
* by seeking to do the above, has created uncertainty and fear about
the future of (a) elements of the Stock Transfer, (b) the Skatepark, (c) the
funding for children's activities run from the Stockwell Community Centre.
Given the above, could I formally ask for a halt on all plans to alter the
current arrangements?
It would assist any decision that needs to be made (does a decision have to
be made on this?) if a report was commissioned considering both the history
of this matter that takes account of the community regeneration and benefits
this valuable enterprise makes to the locality, and the various options and
impact such a decision would have on Stockwell Park Estate and its future
stock transfer plans? I believe this would help Council officer understand
that the decision made back in 2000 was a sound one and needs to be
supported.
Thank you.
From: Paul McGlone
Labour Councillor, Ferndale Ward
London Borough of Lambeth
Direct line: 020-7738 7895
Email:
[email protected]
wtf?
