Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Police & Policy Co-Ordination

Forward Plan Ref: 2011/149

Contact: Alexandra Bailey,  Corporate Performance & Review Manager Tel: (01865) 816384, Claire Phillips, Partnership Officer Tel: (01865) 323967

Report by Head of Strategy & Communications (CA10).

To consider a second bid to the Big Society Fund for the asset transfer of the Saxon Centre. This proposal is brought to Cabinet under the conditions of the cooling off period of the Asset Transfer Policy.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED:         to

(a)               uphold the decision to sell the Saxon Centre to the Oxford Boxing Academy; and

(b)              encourage One-eighty to work with the community centre in Northway and reconsider its application to the Big Society Fund in a future round of bidding.

Cabinet considered a report on a second bid to the Big Society Fund for the asset transfer of the Saxon Centre.

Councillor Darke, speaking as a local Member, regretted the loss of the youth service locally and emphasised that his concern was that any provision at the Saxon Centre should have a strong local focus for young people. He requested Cabinet to consider asking the Oxford Boxing Academy to make strenuous efforts to provide sessions at the Saxon Centre for local young people. He added that  office space was being provided to One-eighty in the local community centre.

The Leader commended the local efforts to support One-eighty.  He recognised the value of the One-eighty bid but overall local councillors had felt that the Oxford Boxing Academy  was the stronger bid. There was no need to amend the recommendations as discussions with Oxford Boxing Academy were explicit about wanting youth provision.

RESOLVED              to

(a)               uphold the decision to sell the Saxon Centre to the Oxford Boxing Academy; and

(b)               encourage One-eighty to work with the community centre in Northway and reconsider its application to the Big Society Fund in a future round of bidding.