David Brown

Closure of Merley Youth Club

Personal Statement by Cllr David Brown to other members of the Efficiency and Effectiveness Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Members will be aware of the crisis that has happened this past week with the closure of Merley Youth Club and the dramatic effect this has had on dozens of local families in closing the popular ‘Down in the Woods’ pre school.

This decision occurred on Friday 6 November. On Sunday 8 November I submitted a request to the Chair of this committee to include this issue as an Urgent Item on the agenda for this evenings’ meeting. Following a chasing email, I finally received a one line response on the evening of 11 November, less than 24 hours before the meeting, that “After consultation with officers the matter will not be taken as an urgent item but a statement will be made at the meeting tomorrow.” No explanation or reason was given for this decision.

I am somewhat staggered by this decision. There are very serious concerns relating to Property Services, the Corporate Asset Management Plan and business continuity planning which are raised by this event. I strongly believe that the correct approach would have been to include this item on the agenda with a brief update report and an opportunity for members of the committee to consider this and highlight their initial concerns for further scrutiny at a future meeting of the Committee.

Sadly this decision does not permit what I believe is not only the Constitutional and Democratic right of elected members to scrutinise the operation and decision making of the authority, but it also ignores the expectations of many of the staff, parents, children and young people affected by this event that the Council will properly investigate the circumstances which have led to this event and the lessons to be learned from it.

Albeit the full ramifications of this event are still developing and there will be many questions which will remain unanswered for some time, there are numerous issues which I believe are of importance to the Efficiency and Effectiveness Overview & Scrutiny Committee, including:

1. Why has there been a failure to invest in adequate maintenance and proper facilities at Merley Youth Club.
2. Why was this event managed in the way that it was?
3. What is the estimated financial cost of this crisis to the Council in terms of the emergency remedial work which is being carried out, not to mention the cost of officer time in handling this crisis.
4. What are the legal liabilities of the council in terms of compensation for the ‘Down in the Woods’ Pre School and Merley Youth Club for interruption to their normal operations and loss of income, not to mention the loss of earnings of the staff employed by them. Are their liabilities for the effect on the parents and children who have suffered substantial disruption, distress and in some cases loss of earnings?
5. Why was the business continuity of the tenants apparently not considered, with an evident failure to take early steps to avoid any disruption to Down on the Woods and Merley Youth Club, and the subsequent and unnecessary disruption and worry for the staff, parents and children.
6. Are there any initial thoughts about options for the longer term provision of a replacement facility at this location?
7. Most fundamentally and of greatest concern to me is whether this crisis highlights a systematic failure in the Borough’s approach to investment in adequate maintenance of the dozens of properties it owns throughout the town? Could a similar situation happen elsewhere with all the consequences for the disruption for local residents, not to mention the financial and legal implications for the Council and ultimately Council tax payers?

This decision, without any reasons being given, appears to be little more than an attempt by the current administration to deliberately stifle proper scrutiny. If these concerns are not allowed to be scrutinised in the proper place of the council committee, then it will have to be scrutinised in the public arena and the press instead. This is not in the interests of the Council, but this decision leaves members with little option.

Cllr David Brown Merley & Bearwood Ward

Member of Efficiency and Effectiveness Overview and Scrutiny Committee  12 November 2009 

The Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference was held at the Bournemouth International Centre from 13 - 17 September this year and attracted 6,000 delegates from across the country, including hundreds of Lib Dem Councillors as well as MPs, MEPs and many party members there to have their say on party policy.

The Autumn conference offers the chance to learn more about all sorts of issues at the dozens of fringe meetings held in hotels around the town centre as well as getting involved in the conference debates on Lib Dem party policies.

The Liberal Democrats are unique among the major political parties in having real debates at conference with individual voting party members able to make their voice heard and vote to decide the party’s policy in a range of areas.

The conference also provides the opportunity to network with members from across the country and for me also means that I get to spend time with my twin brother (Vice Chair of Greater Reading Lib Dems) and older brother (Chair of Perth Lib Dems in Scotland) as we always make confernce week a family reunion week as well!!

Since Cllr David Brown, Cllr Daphne Long and Cllr Peter Maiden were elected in the May local elections, the local Lib Dem team have been listening to residents and working to ensure that Bearwood is no longer forgotten and gets a fair share of services from the Council and other bodies. In recent months we are pleased to have reported numerous improvements to make life in Bearwood better for all residents. 

• NEW Police Community Support Officers start work and deliver a much higher uniform presence

• NEW Mobile Library Van arrives with more books and more stops in Bearwood

• NEW Bridge Youth Centre opens offering better activities and clubs for young people

• NEW Children’s Centre services start at Bearwood School and soon at Bearwood Community Centre

• Refurbishment of Bearwood Community Centre continues with many more groups now running

• Better play facilities soon to be delivered after Poole Council agrees funding for improvements