Issue - meetings

The Committee received a report from the Head of Community Development.

The report provided an update on the provisional grant award of £50k made by this committee in November 2012 to provide a community room within the Gurdwara in Kings Hedges. The Sikh community have now changed their plans. The internal space (which was to be the community room) has been improved and decorated and they have installed a new kitchen. The space is now used by their community for communal meetings and eating. Their new plans need to be worked up in more detail but include the construction of a stand-alone community facility at the rear of their car parking area. They are asking for approval of a revised grant of £100,000.

Members of the public made comments and asked a number of questions, as set out below.

1.       Mr Bond sought reassurance that the Gurdwara in Kings Hedges would be open to general community use if funding was allocated. The number of community facilities was reducing in the north area, so those that remained should be open to all.

2.       Mr Soer supported Mr Bond’s question/comment.

The Head of Community Development said that currently people were invited into the Gurdwara to learn about Sikhism, but the meeting room was not hired out as a community facility. The proposed new building would be open to Sikh and community use. If funding was allocated, the grant agreement required facilities to be available for community use or the money could be reclaimed.

The Head of Community Development was liaising with the County Council regarding an extension to the Buchan Street Community Centre. This was a separate application to the Gurdwara.

NAC commented in response to the report that funding had previously been allocated to the Gurdwara for a community scheme. This did not appear to have occurred as the community room was not open to all. If funding were allocated in future, NAC expected general community facilities to be made available.

Following discussion, Members resolved (unanimously):

       i.          To withdraw its offer of a £50k capital grant to the Gurdwara for an internal community room and to invite Dr Jagjit Singh to submit detailed proposals for his community’s revised scheme in the autumn for consideration as part of the next round of project prioritisation under the Council’s devolved decision making process for developer contributions. As set out under Option B in paragraph 3.7 of the Officer’s report.

     ii.          To support the initial proposals to create additional community space at Buchan Street Neighbourhood Centre and to ask officers to consult the Executive Councillor for Community Wellbeing. If she is supportive, to report back to the area committee with detailed proposals and a project appraisal.