Plans for transfer of community centre

Calderdale’s Cabinet will meet on Monday to decide whether to allow Luddendenfoot Community Association to take ownership of Luddendenfoot Civic Institute after months of reports and debate.

A report by Robin Tuddenham, director of communities, says the building in Station Road is used by five community groups and four football teams. Although some cosmetic improvements have been carried out the state of the building is said to be poor and the cost of remedial work estimated at more than £300,000.

Last year there were bids from two groups who wished to take ownership - Luddendenfoot Community Youth and Sports Association and Luddendenfoot Community Association.

Both were considered in July and were deemed to contain “significant weaknesses and did not put forward a convincing business case for the long term future of the building.” However, Cabinet decided to give them more time to improve their presentations. Since then the Sports Association has withdrawn its bid while the Association has been busy improving its bid.

But Mr Tuddenham says because there are still concerns over elements of the Association’s revised bid he is not advising that the building be transferred on a long term lease without conditions.

He says officers are anxious about some of the financial assumptions made, the limited track record of fundraising, a high reliance on grant funding and the Association’s “ability to deliver on the ambitious vision for the centre.”

So, he wants Cabinet to establish a long term lease with a management agreement that inclusdes performance indicators around areas of concern such as fundraising and usage.