Agenda item

To inform the Committee of Lancashire County Council’s Property Strategy, which includes a review of the buildings it uses to run front line services, and how this affects Hyndburn.

Recommended          (1) The Committee notes the report.

The Overview & Scrutiny Officer submitted a report to inform the Committee of Lancashire County Council’s Property Strategy which included a review of the buildings it uses to run front line services and how this affects Hyndburn.   He summarised details of the review on Council-owned properties being carried out by Lancashire County Council across the borough.  He explained that this included the closure of a number of public buildings and that Lancashire County Council had invited local organisations to submit business cases for the transfer of assets to their organisations.  He pointed out that several organisations had been invited to this meeting to give details of their business cases and their intentions for providing for the community. 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Miles Parkinson expressed delight with the business cases that the Community groups had submitted to Lancashire County Council.  He reported on the process that the cases would have to go through for approval by the County and that he had arranged to meet with the Director responsible for analysing the cases to discuss a number of issues including those raised at this meeting. 

Representatives from Hyndburn Leisure, Mercer House 1842 and Oswaldtwistle Lamp presented the Committee with summaries of their applications submitted to Lancashire County Council for consideration. 

Councillor Harrison left the room during the presentation and discussion of the application submitted by Oswaldtwistle Lamp.

The Leader of the Council reported that the timescale in which applicants had to submit their applications had been problematic.  It had been pointed out by Gayle Knight (Oswaldtwistle Lamp) that the buildings were due to close in September 2016 which did not allow any time for consideration or implementation of successful applications and which could ultimately prevent the project from happening.  She had also referred to the large number of public buildings the Council could have to transfer should applications be successful.  The Leader of the Council indicated that he would raise this issue during the meeting scheduled with the Director from Lancashire County Council. 

Resolved                            (1)  That the Overview and Scrutiny Officer forwards a letter to Lancashire County Council setting out the Committee’s recommendations, as follows:

·        That it be noted that Hyndburn Borough Council’s Community and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s preference would be to keep all three libraries in Hyndburn proposed for closure, open;

·        That should this not be possible, the Committee would urge Lancashire County Council to delay the planned closure of the libraries (Oswaldtwistle, Rishton and Clayton-Le-Moors) recommended for 30^th September 2016 until the business cases submitted by local organisations are reviewed and the potential transfer of these assets finalised.  Closure of these buildings prior to transfer does not make sense and could lead to empty buildings being damaged or falling into a state of disrepair;

·        That the committee supports the business case  put forward by the Oswaldtwistle Lamp for the management and running of a Community Library / book lending facility in Oswaldtwistle.

·        The Committee also supports some type of community library in Clayton Le Moors in either the Civic Hall building or the Arthur Wilson Centre.

·        The Committee recommends Lancashire County Council continues dialogue with interested parties around the location of Rishton Library. That the Committee’s preference in Rishton is to co-locate the Children’s Centre from the Copperhouse building to the current library building in order to keep services in the town centre.

·        The Committee also supports the business case put forward by Hyndburn Leisure Trust for the Great Harwood Young People’s Centre to expand the Health & Wellbeing and leisure offer in Great Harwood.

·        The Committee would like to support the expression of interest put forward by Clayton Boxing Club for taking over the running (transfer) of the Young People’s Centre in Clayton Le Moors on Moors Street with support from the Mayoral charity fund.

·        The Committee urges Lancashire County Council to ensure the transfer of any asset to be as smooth and efficient as possible and do not wish to see the area left with neglected buildings.

                                (2)  That the report be noted.