10 Staffordshire councillors absent from meeting to save community centre

The row over the future of Park Farm Community Centre has continued, with 10 councillors absent from a meeting where a petition to save the site was due to be considered.

One councillor claimed members of the public were being ‘led down the garden path’.

The site was last used as a community centre more than 20 years ago. The Tamworth masjid group currently lease the Park Farm Community Centre and have done since 2015.

During that time there have been no concerns raised about the facility.

Recently, concerns have been raised over the potential asset disposal of the site.

It was previously confirmed by Councillor Nova Arkney, portfolio holder for infrastructure and local economy, that the building is in a state of disrepair and dilapidated and council funding would not be sufficient to cover repairs.

At a recent council meeting, held on Tuesday 3 November, opposition Reform UK leader, Wayne Luca asked whether the current lease gave the tenant an automatic right to buy, a right of first refusal, or a right to be offered the property before others. He also asked whether any other groups or organisations would be considered.

The council leader started by saying she felt like she had answered the question several times and then read a statement sent by opposition Conservative leader, Councillor Jeremy Oates, which accused some people of not being honest with the public.

The statement said: “I’m not happy with the petition element, the people invited this evening are being led down the garden path by people who know nothing more can happen tonight other than reject the petition or refer it to scrutiny.

“The public will be frustrated and disappointed again because some people aren’t being honest with them and are encouraging attendance. I won’t be a part of this.”

Acting Staffordshire County Council leader Councillor Hayley Coles then raised a point of order, citing predetermination. She also challenged the relevance of Dean’s comments, stating loudly: “Relevance, relevance. How is this relevant to the question to you as leader?”

The council leader continued: “The lease does not grant the tenant any specific rights to acquire or any rights of first refusal. In considering any disposal, cabinet agreed they would not sell a property to any third party whilst a tenant was still in occupation.

“There is no requirement to offer assets to any other party. It is really sad that there are councillors who have stated they wouldn’t come to this meeting tonight because they didn’t feel safe.”

Tamworth Borough Council’s approach to disposing of assets has already come under scrutiny. Previously, Reform UK councillors called a special meeting following concerns that assets were being disposed of without scrutiny.

Councillor Luca said that the Labour party are leading people down the garden path and not Reform. He questioned whether the council were getting the best community value from the disposal.

He said: “Given the administration has just admitted that there is no legal or moral responsibility to seek giving them the first refusal. We do have, and this is in our constitution and in local government, we do have the legal obligation to get best value and community value.

“If you’re refusing to accept a party which has actually put a legal request in, asked to meet and you are choosing not to listen to them. How is that good governance.”

Councillor Dean confirmed she had met with all parties involved and listened to them. However she added: “These asset disposals are not on the open market. None of them have been offered, only to the sitting tenant. It is not our intention for any of these assets to go out on the open market.”