1 - Renewal of CAT Lease - Howwood Pavilion
Renfrewshire Council · 28 August 2024
Back to Community Asset Transfer Sub-committee — 28 August 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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2 ___________________________________________________________________ To: Infrastructure, Land & Environment Policy Board Community Asset Transfer Subcommittee On: 28 August 2024 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Extension of CAT Lease – Howwood Park Pavilion ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 The purpose of this report is to seek approval to extend the lease granted in favour of Friends of Howwood Park Limited for Howwood Park Pavilion under Part 5 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 (the Act). 2. Recommendations It is recommended that the CAT Subcommittee:- 2.1 Approve the extension of the lease to Friends of Howwood Park Ltd from 10 to 20 years. 2.2 Authorise the Head of Economy and Development and the Head of Corporate Governance to update the lease on such terms as required to protect the Council’s interest. 3. Background 3.1 The Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board approved a Community Asset Transfer lease of the Howwood Park Pavilion for 10 years to the Friends of Howwood Park on the 27th of January 2021. 3.2 The group had previously occupied the pavilion under a licence to occupy with the Council since 18 November 2019. 3.3 The CAT lease was finalised in March 2024 and will run to 2034.
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3 3.4 Since signing the lease in March 2024, the group have requested an extension of the lease to 2044, a period of an additional 10 years. 3.3 The CAT Officer Panel met to consider this request on the 29th of July 2024. In accordance with the revised Scheme of Delegation (September 2022), the Panel agreed to recommend the request for approval to the ILE CAT Sub- Committee. 4. The Asset – Howwood Park Pavilion 4.1 Prior to the CAT request being granted, the pavilion was unoccupied and in a dilapidated condition. 4.2 Since being granted a license to occupy in 2019 and becoming a Company Limited by Guarantee, Friends of Howwood Park Limited (FoHP) have been successful in securing over £118,000 and have transformed the asset to create an impressive, flexible and well used community space. 4.3 Named The Pavilion, it is currently being used by a variety of community groups including the Cubs and Beavers, Moonology Mindfulness Classes and has hosted birthday parties, a table-top sale and toy sale. Moreover, it is able to provide changing facilities for football clubs using the park 4.4 The area around The Pavilion has also been transformed with raised flower beds and picnic tables and a small book lending facility has been created located within a community notice board on the pathway to the pavilion from Midton Road. 4.5 The group continue to develop the facility and services and were recently awarded £25,000 from the Sustainable Communities Fund to complete the renovations. 4.6 From the end of August, The Pavilion will offer a Parent and Baby drop in and plans are afoot to create a 'Share Shed', (Share Shed – A Library of Things) where FoHP Ltd will buy equipment that people only use on occasion, such as gazebos, wallpaper strippers, power tools, tents, tables and people borrow them when needed. 4.7 A breakdown of funding and works undertaken to date as well as some before and after photographs are appended to this report for information. 5 Community Transfer Body – Friends of Howwood Park Limited 5.1 Friends of Howwood Park Limited (FoHP) was incorporated on the 1st of January 2021 and is registered at Companies House (SC716490). 5.2 The group previously operated as an unincorporated constituted group. 5.3 FoHP is fully compliant as a Community Transfer Body as defined in the Act. 6 Request to Extend 6.1 Following completion of the lease in March of this year, the group have enquired about extending their lease from 10 to 20 years. 6.2 This will provide them with greater security and tenure when seeking additional funding.
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4 6.3 The Estates Team have indicated that they would have no objection to the lease being extended in this way. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – None. 2. HR & Organisational Development – None. 3. Community Planning Our Renfrewshire is well – the CAT supports the wellness and resilience of our citizens and communities. Our Renfrewshire is fair: addressing the inequalities that limit life chances. 4. Legal (a) The CAT request and CTB comply with the requirements of Part 5 of The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. 5. Property/Assets – As per this report. 6. Information Technology – None. 7. Equality & Human Rights (a) The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report because no groups or individuals have any involvement currently at the property. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website. 8. Health & Safety – None. 9. Procurement – Not applicable. 10. Risk – None. 11. Privacy Impact – Not applicable. 12. Cosla Policy Position – Not applicable. _________________________________________________________ List of Background Papers (a) Infrastructure Land and Environment Policy Board 27/01/2021, Item 6
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5 _________________________________________________________________ Author: Sandra Inrig – 0141 487 1447 or 07974 071238. Sandra.inrig@renfrewshire.gov.uk
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1 The Pavilion Renovation The Pavilion in Howwood Park has been empty and unused for over 20 years. In 2021, Friends of Howwood Park asked Renfrewshire Council to demolish the building as it was an eyesore. Renfrewshire Council refused, and suggested we take the building over from them as a community asset transfer, which we did. We received a 10 year lease in January 2024. We plan to request to increase this to 20 years. The building was in VERY poor condition when we first viewed it. We have raised funds from various sources to renovate the building to the standard you see today. The cost of the works to date (including the outstanding work) is £118,290, which was funded from the following sources; • Renfrewshire Council Community Empowerment Fund - £50,000 • Renfrewshire Council Sustainable Communities Fund - £25,000 • Greater Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Local Action Group - £25,000 • National Lottery Community Fund - £10,000 • Renfrewshire Council Climate Challenge Fund - £2,840 • Glasgow Airport Flightpath Fund - £2,450 • Arnold Clark Community Fund - £1,000 • Renfrewshire Council Local Area Partnership Funding - £1,000 • Tesco Community Grant - £500 • Sported Foundation Barclays Fund - £500 The works we have carried out to date include; • Removal of asbestos • Rot repairs • Replacement of lintels • Replacement of roof covering • Replacement fascias, soffits, gutters and downpipes • Full electrical rewire including ventilation, lighting, power, emergency lights, smoke alarms, external lighting, hand dryers, disabled toilet alarm and installation of new oven. • Strip out and replacement of all plumbing pipework • Blocking up of windows no longer required • Installation of new windows • Cleaning out of drains
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2 • Repair of burst water main • Installation of CCTV • Demolition of internal walls – and blocking up of doorways – to create disabled toilet and to open up unisex toilet • Creation of servery hatch between kitchen and corridor • Removing all ceilings and replacing with new Gyproc ceilings • Replastering of all walls and ceilings • Installation of loft ladder • Replacement of all internal doors including door frames, facings and ironmongery • Repainting • Flooring of attic • Insulating of attic • New floor coverings throughout • Replacement of all skirting boards • Replacement of built in benches in multi-purpose room • Installation of new kitchen • Installation of new toilets • Replacement energy efficient heating • Installation of new water heaters • Installation of new high security entrance door • Cladding the exterior of the building with composite cladding • Installation of damp proof course • Installation of soakaway • Installation of new external signage Some works remain outstanding including the installation of an external access ramp and the installation of a roller shutter on the kitchen servery. We have funding in place for these items and hope to complete them soon. We are always looking for new members to join our group. If you would like to join our group, please message us at friendsofhowwoodpark@hotmail.com.
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Howwood Park Pavilion Renova�on Before and A�er Images EXTERIOR
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INTERIOR