Agenda item

To conduct an inquiry into the closure of the West Park Centre in November 2012.

The Board carried out its inquiry examining the temporary closure of the West Park Centre in the autumn of 2012 and the deterioration of the Centre’s condition leading up to that time. Members were provided with a joint report from the Directors of City Development and Children’s Services as background information, and also with reports and minutes from the North West (Inner) Area Committee, which had initiated the original request for scrutiny on the centre’s closure. Two additional papers from November 2012 relating to an internal audit review were tabled at the meeting.

In attendance to address the Board and answer Members’ queries were:

-  Councillor Richard Lewis, Executive Member for Development and the Economy

-  Councillor Javaid Akhtar, Chair of the North West (Inner) Area Committee

-  Christine Addison, Chief Asset Management and Regeneration Officer

-  Neil Charlesworth, Community Assets Officer

-  Chris Coulson, Executive Officer, Asset Management

-  Sarah Sinclair, Chief Officer, Children’s Services (Strategy, Commissioning and Performance)

-  Charlotte Foley, Lead Officer for the Built Environment, Children’s Services

-  Victoria Jaquiss, West Park Centre Campaign Group

-  Lorraine Cowburn, Musical Ark.

Christine Addison introduced the report and outlined the history of the building and its maintenance since it stopped being used as a school. In particular she focused on the period since 2003 when the building was first identified as surplus to Education Leeds requirements and deemed not to be a priority for maintenance expenditure. She also explained the closure process that took place in November 2012 and the decision-making leading up to that point. It was acknowledged that, with the benefit of hindsight, there were a number of aspects of the Centre’s management that could have been handled better.

Councillor Lewis confirmed that, in his view, he had no alternative but to support the temporary closure of the centre on health and safety grounds in the light of the briefing he received.

Sarah Sinclair endorsed Christine Addison’s summary but also highlighted the absence at the time of clear procedures for closing a building, which needed to be addressed.

Victoria Jaquiss and Lorraine Cowburn outlined their views as centre users. Whilst they agreed that it was right to have taken the decision to temporarily close the building on the basis of the safety issues, their main concern was that the focus of attention had been placed on the building and its condition rather than its occupants and what the centre provided as a focus for the arts across the city. They explained the investment that various groups had made in the centre and the ongoing difficulties being faced to keep operating.

Councillor Akhtar outlined the Area Committee’s involvement in the issue, including the referral to the Scrutiny Board so that lessons can be learned for the future. He referred to examples where former council buildings had successfully become community buildings, such as Shine and Heart.

The following issues were raised in discussion:

·  The relationship between Asset Management and departments and the respective responsibilities for the maintenance and safety of buildings.

·  The history of the building’s transfer from Education Leeds and then Children’s Services to Corporate Property Management.

·  That, with the benefit of hindsight, a decision to close the centre should probably have been made several years ago.

·  An acknowledgement that the event on 3 November should not have been allowed to take place in the centre, but that the officers involved acted in good faith on the basis of the advice available to them on the day.

·  The need to have clear processes and procedures for the future where building closures may be required.

·  The potential role of the Emergency Planning service.

·  Clarification of work carried out to ensure that there are no other council buildings that pose a similar health and safety risk.

·  The limitations on funding available for building maintenance.

·  The extent to which income generation is a factor in considering the future of council buildings.

·  The extent of consultation with Area Committee members and centre users.

·  The aspirations of the community to recreate a community venue with the synergy they enjoyed at West Park.

·  The ongoing need to work with the organisations that were displaced.

·  The possibility of external funding being available to support local community organisations to develop a facility to meet their needs, and the role of community asset transfer.

Members also requested that the guidance provided to members of the public taking part in scrutiny inquiries be reviewed to ensure it was fit for purpose.

RESOLVED -  That the issues raised by the inquiry be noted and that a report be drafted including the board’s conclusions and recommendations.

(Councillor N Buckley left the meeting at 11.50 at the conclusion of this item.)