I spoke at this evening’s
Mapledurham Playing Fields Trustees Sub Committee in support of the officer
recommendations to follow the Charity Commission’s instructions.
I welcomed the exceptionally
high response level to the consultation (about the ESFA's proposal to pay £1.36 m to the MPF Trust in order to compensate beneficiaries for a long leasehold interest of a corner of MPF) thanking:
- All beneficiaries who took the time to study the information and respond
- All resident associations and other community groups including the MPF Action Group and Parents of The Heights for raising awareness of the consultation
- Ben Stanesby and the other officer for their extensive work processing the consultation responses including much out-of-hours over weekends to deal with the thousands of answers and comments
As at previous Sub Committee
meetings I emphasised that MPF Pavilion users remain desperate for the Pavilion
to be rebuilt/refurbished as soon as possible.
I hoped that those opposed would not stand in the way of the process
moving forward as this would further delay the rebuilding of the Pavilion.
I said that the community as
a whole needs the Sub Committee to agree the officer recommendations and additionally
to urge the officers to do the required work without delay.
I said that the time has come
for those against the ESFA’s proposal to accept the outcome of this latest
consultation, to end the personal attacks and now work constructively to
feedback their views on the Masterplan which will be required going
forward. I cautioned them not to miss
this opportunity.
As the local ward councillor
and chairman of the MPF Management Committee I said that I would be working
hard to thrash out how best our community, beneficiaries of the Trust, want the
£1.36 million invested at MPF.
I concluded saying “surely the
massive support for the ESFA’s proposal makes tonight’s decision absolutely
crystal clear? The beneficiaries want
the massive investment for the MPF Trust, so let’s make it happen!”
Earlier in my comments, with
my MPF Management Committee chairman hat on, I relayed the responses to the
recommendations in the reports to the Sub Committee from the committee’s
meeting on 3 January. In particular I asked
the Sub Committee to note that when the draft consultation document was
discussed by the Management Committee there were no calls from the User Group
or Mapledurham Parish representatives for an independent consultant to assess
it. In fact, the User Group and
Mapledurham Parish representatives only raised their strong desire for
independent assessment after hearing the emphatic results supporting the ESFA’s
proposal.
Outcome of the meeting
I was delighted that the MPF Trustees Sub Committee meeting agreed the officer recommendations so the next steps including for a masterplan to be worked up; that the MPF Management Committee is consulted on the options report and masterplan; and that officers engage with other stakeholders as appropriate including the Caversham Trents Football Club.
NB The MPF Trustees Sub Committee was not allowed to take education or planning considerations into account whilst making their decisions this evening.
