THE PIPER CALLS THE TUNE

HE WHO PAYS THE PIPER, CALLS THE TUNE!

There is no doubt that in Tameside today; the steady concentration of media ownership, is, with growing frequently, seen as a problem, especially in terms of the dearth of investigative reporting or unbiased establishment scrutiny.

All we seem to be presented with are Rose-coloured 'Press Releases' printed and spouted verbatim, resulting in undesirable consequences which do nothing to serve the public interest.

For instance, you may have read that The Hattersley Hub, which includes a community centre, library, youth club, police post and café and home to owners Peak Valley Housing Association and also includes Tameside Council offices, was ‘Highly Commended’ in the Community Benefit category at this year’s prestigious Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) North West Awards.  

This building is costing £18,876 per month over the next 30 years!

All very nice!

But has anyone seen it reported anywhere that ‘This Award winning Hattersley Hub’ is now going to cost Tameside council tax payers almost £7 million over the next 30 years?

And perhaps more importantly, the reason why and the decision to agree to this vast increase in expenditure was not even approved by the full council. It was passed and approved by two councillors.

In a Key Decision Report dated 15 June 2011, regarding the delivery of the new Hattersley District Centre; known as ‘The Hattersley Hub’ you may remember that I wrote at length regarding the unpopular decision to build the TESCO EXTRA DEVELOPMENT/COMMUNITY HUB and entwined within that debacle I warned of the potential financial pitfalls of entering into a 30 year lease. I also wrote about the fact that because of the inaccuracy of financial projections a ‘Deed of Variation’ was needed and be approved by the Borough Solicitor which involved committing the council to fund the premises for 30 years, at £108,707 per annum, subject to the terms of the lease and variations in the service charge. 

This committed the council to fund the Hattersley Hub to the tune of £3.261 million over the lease period.

And who, you may ask, was responsible for steering this document through? – Well, Councillor John Taylor, Deputy Executive Leader was the senior decision maker!

According to the council’s own report issued at the time, failure to enter into this Deed of Variation would have meant that Peak Valley would not have had sufficient funds to construct the new Community Hub building and the Council, having made promises to the community regarding better facilities and job opportunities, would likely have been put under embarrassing pressure to fund the shortfall from its own resources and on that understanding they set about occupying the premises.

However, it would now appear that that initial 2011 Key Decision Agreement which recommended signing the 30 year lease had not, until this year been signed, and, as a result it was has revealed in the new Key Decision Notice of 12 March 2014, (Economic Growth Investment and Sustainability Service) that the projected leasing costs in respect of the Hattersley Hub are now nearer £226,510 p.a. plus electricity and utility costs. (Which, according to landlord, Peak Valley Housing Association, have yet to be determined?) 

Which means that the council are now committed to paying over £6.795 million spread over the remainder of the lease!

And who has approved this extra commitment? – Well, Councillor John Taylor, Deputy Executive Leader, and Councillor Jim Fitzpatrick who incidentally lists in his declaration of interests, that he is a Peak Valley Housing Board - member

Now, it’s not that this information has been kept under wraps, but it really took some routing out from the depths of the council’s web-site and I’ll bet you a pound to a penny it was not released to the local press?

Knowing that Cllr John Taylor is an avid reader of this blog, albeit not as an devoted fan, neither  I suspect is his colleague, Cllr Jim Fitzpatrick; however as those responsible for signing off this agreement, they might consider; entirely in line with their self deprecating modesty, and humble dedication to the principle of public service, condescend to write one of their regular letters to the local press,
explaning (in their own words) as to why, they, on behalf of the council, agreed to pay an extra £3.534 million to lease The Hattersley Hub from Peak Valley Housing, so we can all assess this approved overspend, in light of the many other services and community assets, currently being re-designed, sold off or withdrawn.