Timeline
Engagement with City and County Councils and with local stakeholders for the use of Florence Park Children’s Centre - a community perspective.
Feb 2016
County Council meeting
Announcement of Children’s Centre closures and £1m Transition Fund.
April 2016
Florence Park community engagement
The Nature Effect, a locally owned community interest company, starts work liaising with staff at the centre and local groups and individuals to discuss possibility of running an open access and community owned ‘Oasis’ centre in Florence Park Children’s Centre. ‘A place where people can meet, work, eat, create, and play with nature in mind and wellbeing at heart.'
May 2016 – August 2016
Meetings with officers and local councillors
Representatives from The Nature Effect have several meetings and correspondence with City Councillors and officers and the Localities team at Oxfordshire County Council and local people using the centre.
August 2016
Business plan developed
Nature Effect CIC work continues work on the detailed business plan. Engagement with Big Lottery Big Potential. Brief for capital works needed to convert building to 24 place childcare nursery, community café/meeting place is developed. City Council Direct Works and Parks Department give quotes for conversion work. No clear response from City or County officers or members as to whether County will give lease back to City or the nature of the contract with San Remo.
27th September 2016
Launch Event of the Transition Fund process and criteria attended at Kassam Stadium.
(See under ‘Documents' for Transition Fund Criteria)
Officers of City and County asked about lease arrangements of Florence Park. City and County still not clear about how this will work and whether lease will be handed back to City Council.
2/10/2016
Nature Effect Meeting
The Nature Effect CIC held a meeting of Associates at Florence Park Children's Centre after discussion with local service users and midwives. 25 people attended to look at how the space could be used and plan further community engagement.
October 2016
Support from local groups
In principle written support for the OASIS bid received from:
Restore
Community Action
City Farm
Ark T
Good Food Oxford
Oxfordshire Parenting Forum
Local schools
10/10/16
Community engagement continues
- Oasis centre A4 Summary sheet created (See under ‘Documents')
- Filming people from the local public stating their views on the Oasis bid
12/10/16
Bid Submitted – Round One
Round One bid submitted by Nature Effect CIC
18/10/16
Email from Sarah Jelley, County Officer, saying the following people were interested in FPCC and suggesting ‘‘one of you might like to take the lead to develop joint proposal" (no mention of OCC leadership or OCVA role in this).
Annie Davy – Oasis Centre and Creative Nature Nursery
Paul Roberts – Aspire
Emma Blunt – OxPIP
Beth Knighton – Donnington Doorstep
Farzana Aslam – Aflah Nursery
Martin Gillett – Oxfordshire Play Association (OPA)
Sally Smith – Peeple
Mark Adams – Broken Spoke
Kanta Gopal – Oxford Hindu Temple
Dupe Adefala – Word Fountain Christian Ministries
County Council meeting
Announcement of Children’s Centre closures and £1m Transition Fund.
April 2016
Florence Park community engagement
The Nature Effect, a locally owned community interest company, starts work liaising with staff at the centre and local groups and individuals to discuss possibility of running an open access and community owned ‘Oasis’ centre in Florence Park Children’s Centre. ‘A place where people can meet, work, eat, create, and play with nature in mind and wellbeing at heart.'
May 2016 – August 2016
Meetings with officers and local councillors
Representatives from The Nature Effect have several meetings and correspondence with City Councillors and officers and the Localities team at Oxfordshire County Council and local people using the centre.
August 2016
Business plan developed
Nature Effect CIC work continues work on the detailed business plan. Engagement with Big Lottery Big Potential. Brief for capital works needed to convert building to 24 place childcare nursery, community café/meeting place is developed. City Council Direct Works and Parks Department give quotes for conversion work. No clear response from City or County officers or members as to whether County will give lease back to City or the nature of the contract with San Remo.
27th September 2016
Launch Event of the Transition Fund process and criteria attended at Kassam Stadium.
(See under ‘Documents' for Transition Fund Criteria)
Officers of City and County asked about lease arrangements of Florence Park. City and County still not clear about how this will work and whether lease will be handed back to City Council.
2/10/2016
Nature Effect Meeting
The Nature Effect CIC held a meeting of Associates at Florence Park Children's Centre after discussion with local service users and midwives. 25 people attended to look at how the space could be used and plan further community engagement.
October 2016
Support from local groups
In principle written support for the OASIS bid received from:
Restore
Community Action
City Farm
Ark T
Good Food Oxford
Oxfordshire Parenting Forum
Local schools
10/10/16
Community engagement continues
- Oasis centre A4 Summary sheet created (See under ‘Documents')
- Filming people from the local public stating their views on the Oasis bid
12/10/16
Bid Submitted – Round One
Round One bid submitted by Nature Effect CIC
18/10/16
Email from Sarah Jelley, County Officer, saying the following people were interested in FPCC and suggesting ‘‘one of you might like to take the lead to develop joint proposal" (no mention of OCC leadership or OCVA role in this).
Annie Davy – Oasis Centre and Creative Nature Nursery
Paul Roberts – Aspire
Emma Blunt – OxPIP
Beth Knighton – Donnington Doorstep
Farzana Aslam – Aflah Nursery
Martin Gillett – Oxfordshire Play Association (OPA)
Sally Smith – Peeple
Mark Adams – Broken Spoke
Kanta Gopal – Oxford Hindu Temple
Dupe Adefala – Word Fountain Christian Ministries
Annie Davy contacted Donnington Doorstep, Aspire, OXPIP, OPA, PEEPLE and Broken Spoke as the only community/not for profit/charity organisations meeting the grant criteria and offered to work jointly with them. Conversations with Donnington Doorstep and Aspire continued. Helen House Hospice staff were also in touch re possible joint working.
5/11/16
Bid Response from County Council – Round One
Response from Round ONE:
Working Group Recommendations
“While the working group were supportive of your bid in principle, they felt that further work is required at this stage to ensure your model is robust and meets all the eligibility criteria of the Transition Fund. As such the group will be recommending to Cabinet that you continue to develop your bid and reapply under the next round of applications.
In particular it was felt that every opportunity should be given to other applicants to put forward applications for the Florence Park site and that these should all be considered by the panel at the same time”.
('Further reasons' given by Sarah Jelley on 10/11/16 when requested by The Nature Effect - see Documents page.)
January 2017
Bid Submitted – Round Two
Round Two bid submitted by Nature Effect CIC
13/2/17
Bid Response from County Council – Round Two
Response from Round TWO:
“Working Group Recommendations
While the working group were supportive of your bid in principle, they felt that further work is required at this stage to ensure your model is robust and meets all the eligibility criteria of the Transition Fund. As such the group will be recommending to Cabinet that you continue to develop your bid and reapply under the next round of applications."
Further response about bid
On asking for further information about the reasons for deferral, the County Council gave two reasons by email:
“1. You would need to demonstrate that you would be able to underwrite the loss of any income for San Remo or
2. You would need to seek written support for your proposal from the City Council stating that a Café would be allowed on this site.”
21/2/17
Cabinet Meeting of County Council
Jane Gallagher (local resident) spoke at Cabinet meeting. Minutes of the meeting summed up her talk:
She urged the Cabinet to facilitate a meeting with the City and County to address the issues raised including the existing kiosk in the park and open access children’s services provision.”
20/3/17
Community Engagement
Nature Effect CIC spoke of Oasis bid at AGM of Florence Park Community Association
27/3/17
Meeting
Meeting at City Council attended by Cllr Lawrie Stratford, Ian Brooke, Sarah Jelley, Jane Gallagher, Paul Roberts and Annie Davy to discuss the bid and issues around the San Remo contract issue.
The main discussion was about:
- how San Remo refreshment kiosk contract gave exclusivity and did not allow another cafe in the park;
- that San Remo were not open to Aspire/Nature Effect contacting them to discuss working together or any other aspect;
- how important the San Remo contract was to the city council as they have worked hard to get them into the park and value the income they provide.
March 2017
County Council publish “Oxfordshire Together: Giving Communities Control Over Local Services”
Oxfordshire Together: Giving Communities Control Over Local Services: document available here:
https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/sites/default/files/folders/documents/aboutyourcouncil/plansperformancepolicy/equality/OxfordshireTogetherTheModel.pdf
(Oxfordshire Together programme started in Sept 2015.)
March 2017
Children’s Centre closes
Community Midwives still use the building, and the Nature Effect made it clear to the County Council that they were keen to work with them.
8/4/17
Community meeting held
Despite short notice, 26 people attend open community meeting for local people to meet the groups bidding to run the Children’s Centre in Florence Park.
April 2017
Petition set up on 38 Degrees by local resident Candida Marsh
Petition reads:
“To Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council:
Keep Florence Park Children's Centre open-access and community-owned.
We urge you, the City and County Council, to work together to keep Florence Park Children's Centre as a community asset and open to all.
Florence Park Children's Centre is a much-loved local resource for children and families in our beautiful local park. It is currently standing empty. We ask you to support the local initiative for The Oasis – a not-for-profit plan which includes a nature-orientated childcare nursery, healthy café and drop in space, that is managed by local people. The vision is for 'A place where people can meet, work, eat, create, and play with nature in mind and wellbeing at heart'. This initiative will ensure that all profit from the Centre is ploughed back into the community.”
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/support-the-proposal-for-the-oasis-at-florence-park-children-s-centre
As over 1,500 signatures were received, it was enough to trigger a debate at the city council's executive board meeting.
20/4/17
Community engagement - Update sent to community supporters
Explains Florence Park more complicated than other centres because of the County/City split in responsibilities and because the City Council has granted a monopoly on provision of refreshments in the park (the contract for this monopoly ceases in approx 18 months). Several providers expressed interest but most withdrew because they could not meet the County Council’s grant criteria.
One organisation, The Nature Effect CIC (www.thenatureeffect.co.uk) has twice submitted bids (in November and February this year). The main reason given for deferral was because the proposal included a café which conflicts with the contractual monopoly given to an existing commercial provider of refreshments and ice cream.
Aspire Oxfordshire (a social enterprise with charitable status) has now taken up the baton and will apply to the County for an interim grant to give more time to resolve the issues about the café, develop the vision, and work with local stakeholders (including The Nature Effect) to draw down external funding to incubate a new locally owned and managed model of provision for early years, families and the community.
April - ongoing
Engagement with press
No newspaper coverage despite initial strong interest from the Oxford Mail. Press release sent by community members and several calls and emails to local reporters, but no replies. (See under 'Documents').
6/5/17
Photo shoot
Over 70 people turn up for photo shoot in park (see photo at top of page).
14/5/17
Community engagement - Update sent from the Nature Effect to supporters
“HELP CREATE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL WITH THE COMMUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY
In early May over 70 local people collected for a photo shoot outside the Florence Park Children's Centre. We were sad when the centre closed earlier this year due to cuts, and we are frustrated that it remains closed to the community despite our best attempts to work with the City and County Council to find ways create something wonderful in its place. Many of the Nature Effect Associates live and work around this area. We worked with families when the centre was still open - focusing on developing the outdoors, mental health and wellbeing and connection to the beautiful park surroundings.”
5/11/16
Bid Response from County Council – Round One
Response from Round ONE:
Working Group Recommendations
“While the working group were supportive of your bid in principle, they felt that further work is required at this stage to ensure your model is robust and meets all the eligibility criteria of the Transition Fund. As such the group will be recommending to Cabinet that you continue to develop your bid and reapply under the next round of applications.
In particular it was felt that every opportunity should be given to other applicants to put forward applications for the Florence Park site and that these should all be considered by the panel at the same time”.
('Further reasons' given by Sarah Jelley on 10/11/16 when requested by The Nature Effect - see Documents page.)
January 2017
Bid Submitted – Round Two
Round Two bid submitted by Nature Effect CIC
13/2/17
Bid Response from County Council – Round Two
Response from Round TWO:
“Working Group Recommendations
While the working group were supportive of your bid in principle, they felt that further work is required at this stage to ensure your model is robust and meets all the eligibility criteria of the Transition Fund. As such the group will be recommending to Cabinet that you continue to develop your bid and reapply under the next round of applications."
Further response about bid
On asking for further information about the reasons for deferral, the County Council gave two reasons by email:
“1. You would need to demonstrate that you would be able to underwrite the loss of any income for San Remo or
2. You would need to seek written support for your proposal from the City Council stating that a Café would be allowed on this site.”
21/2/17
Cabinet Meeting of County Council
Jane Gallagher (local resident) spoke at Cabinet meeting. Minutes of the meeting summed up her talk:
She urged the Cabinet to facilitate a meeting with the City and County to address the issues raised including the existing kiosk in the park and open access children’s services provision.”
20/3/17
Community Engagement
Nature Effect CIC spoke of Oasis bid at AGM of Florence Park Community Association
27/3/17
Meeting
Meeting at City Council attended by Cllr Lawrie Stratford, Ian Brooke, Sarah Jelley, Jane Gallagher, Paul Roberts and Annie Davy to discuss the bid and issues around the San Remo contract issue.
The main discussion was about:
- how San Remo refreshment kiosk contract gave exclusivity and did not allow another cafe in the park;
- that San Remo were not open to Aspire/Nature Effect contacting them to discuss working together or any other aspect;
- how important the San Remo contract was to the city council as they have worked hard to get them into the park and value the income they provide.
March 2017
County Council publish “Oxfordshire Together: Giving Communities Control Over Local Services”
Oxfordshire Together: Giving Communities Control Over Local Services: document available here:
https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/sites/default/files/folders/documents/aboutyourcouncil/plansperformancepolicy/equality/OxfordshireTogetherTheModel.pdf
(Oxfordshire Together programme started in Sept 2015.)
March 2017
Children’s Centre closes
Community Midwives still use the building, and the Nature Effect made it clear to the County Council that they were keen to work with them.
8/4/17
Community meeting held
Despite short notice, 26 people attend open community meeting for local people to meet the groups bidding to run the Children’s Centre in Florence Park.
April 2017
Petition set up on 38 Degrees by local resident Candida Marsh
Petition reads:
“To Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council:
Keep Florence Park Children's Centre open-access and community-owned.
We urge you, the City and County Council, to work together to keep Florence Park Children's Centre as a community asset and open to all.
Florence Park Children's Centre is a much-loved local resource for children and families in our beautiful local park. It is currently standing empty. We ask you to support the local initiative for The Oasis – a not-for-profit plan which includes a nature-orientated childcare nursery, healthy café and drop in space, that is managed by local people. The vision is for 'A place where people can meet, work, eat, create, and play with nature in mind and wellbeing at heart'. This initiative will ensure that all profit from the Centre is ploughed back into the community.”
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/support-the-proposal-for-the-oasis-at-florence-park-children-s-centre
As over 1,500 signatures were received, it was enough to trigger a debate at the city council's executive board meeting.
20/4/17
Community engagement - Update sent to community supporters
Explains Florence Park more complicated than other centres because of the County/City split in responsibilities and because the City Council has granted a monopoly on provision of refreshments in the park (the contract for this monopoly ceases in approx 18 months). Several providers expressed interest but most withdrew because they could not meet the County Council’s grant criteria.
One organisation, The Nature Effect CIC (www.thenatureeffect.co.uk) has twice submitted bids (in November and February this year). The main reason given for deferral was because the proposal included a café which conflicts with the contractual monopoly given to an existing commercial provider of refreshments and ice cream.
Aspire Oxfordshire (a social enterprise with charitable status) has now taken up the baton and will apply to the County for an interim grant to give more time to resolve the issues about the café, develop the vision, and work with local stakeholders (including The Nature Effect) to draw down external funding to incubate a new locally owned and managed model of provision for early years, families and the community.
April - ongoing
Engagement with press
No newspaper coverage despite initial strong interest from the Oxford Mail. Press release sent by community members and several calls and emails to local reporters, but no replies. (See under 'Documents').
6/5/17
Photo shoot
Over 70 people turn up for photo shoot in park (see photo at top of page).
14/5/17
Community engagement - Update sent from the Nature Effect to supporters
“HELP CREATE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL WITH THE COMMUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY
In early May over 70 local people collected for a photo shoot outside the Florence Park Children's Centre. We were sad when the centre closed earlier this year due to cuts, and we are frustrated that it remains closed to the community despite our best attempts to work with the City and County Council to find ways create something wonderful in its place. Many of the Nature Effect Associates live and work around this area. We worked with families when the centre was still open - focusing on developing the outdoors, mental health and wellbeing and connection to the beautiful park surroundings.”
10/6/17
Two local residents talk to That's Oxfordshire TV about the centre and the petition.
https://youtu.be/eq_QhLYBsqo
12/6/17
County Council Cabinet Meeting – Agenda and Reports are published, including Decisions on Third Round of Transition Fund:
The cross party working group are recommending the following proposal for asset transfer:
Aflah Nursery (Florence Park Children’s Centre)
Applicant: Aflah Nursery (Florence Park Children’s Centre) Amount: £0
Proportion of proposed budget: N/A
Recommendation: The panel recommend that Cabinet approve this proposal.
Applicant: Aspire & Nature Effect (Florence Park Children’s Centre) Amount: £10,000 over 6 months to incubate community proposal and deliver some services over the summer
Recommendation: The panel recommend that Cabinet decline this bid for funding.
14/6/17
Bid group set out their objections to the recommendations in the county council report and the anomalies around due process and transparency
Objections sent to councillors in emails from various community members in response to the recommendations:
1. An option to apply for transfer of the asset without bidding to the Transition Fund was never given publicly. If it had, it may have resulted in a very different set of bids (there are other pack away nurseries in Oxford).
2. The Aflah proposal includes an apparent deal formed with San Remo providing breakfast clubs. San Remo (referred to as the ‘local cafe') is a commercial chain who have been awarded a monopoly on serving refreshments in the park. San Remo or Aflah Nursery deserve support as small businesses and special interest groups. However they do not meet the published criteria for transition grant and should not to be handed a publicly funded community building or given unfair commercial advantage. Other community owned and viable options which meet the published criteria are on the table.
3. There was originally a huge amount of interest in using the Centre from a range of worthy causes - including OXPIP, Community Midwives, Broken Spoke, Helen House Hospice staff, etc. The Nature Effect has a long list of people who wanted to work with them on developing this as a hub for the community with children, family and community interests at heart. The community bids had support from so many local organisations and were very happy to work with Community Midwives who currently still occupy the building. Council officers were repeatedly requested in writing to facilitate meeting between San Remo and the Community Bidders and the Midwives and other interested groups - but this did not happen.
4. The report was inaccurate in stating that Aspire's bid had been put forward before. It had not. It was the first time the charity Aspire Oxford had bid and the scope of work of bringing community interest together was completely different from the two earlier bids put forward by The Nature Effect - although it builds on the community engagement and original vision. It was for an interim grant to resolve outstanding issues, provide interim services from the centre and incubate the community proposal with an interim community led board.
5. As a group of local interested people who have been working on the community bids (through Nature Effect and more recently Aspire) are well placed and have the experience to set up a non religiously partisan childcare provision as part of a community hub immediately - childcare for 2, 3 and 4 year olds that really makes the most of the beautiful surroundings of the park. This would significantly add to the net number of childcare places as these would all be NEW childcare places (not replace existing provision). This was a requirement of the County Council.
6. The process has been muddled with lots of unclear communication. The capacity and role of Oxford City Council members (as Landlords) to either support or block proposals by the County Council has been unclear. Grant criteria have not been consistently applied.
15.6.17
Email from Mark Gray to local resident and petition creator Candy March, outlining the situation with the two bids
Two local residents talk to That's Oxfordshire TV about the centre and the petition.
https://youtu.be/eq_QhLYBsqo
12/6/17
County Council Cabinet Meeting – Agenda and Reports are published, including Decisions on Third Round of Transition Fund:
The cross party working group are recommending the following proposal for asset transfer:
Aflah Nursery (Florence Park Children’s Centre)
Applicant: Aflah Nursery (Florence Park Children’s Centre) Amount: £0
Proportion of proposed budget: N/A
Recommendation: The panel recommend that Cabinet approve this proposal.
Applicant: Aspire & Nature Effect (Florence Park Children’s Centre) Amount: £10,000 over 6 months to incubate community proposal and deliver some services over the summer
Recommendation: The panel recommend that Cabinet decline this bid for funding.
14/6/17
Bid group set out their objections to the recommendations in the county council report and the anomalies around due process and transparency
Objections sent to councillors in emails from various community members in response to the recommendations:
1. An option to apply for transfer of the asset without bidding to the Transition Fund was never given publicly. If it had, it may have resulted in a very different set of bids (there are other pack away nurseries in Oxford).
2. The Aflah proposal includes an apparent deal formed with San Remo providing breakfast clubs. San Remo (referred to as the ‘local cafe') is a commercial chain who have been awarded a monopoly on serving refreshments in the park. San Remo or Aflah Nursery deserve support as small businesses and special interest groups. However they do not meet the published criteria for transition grant and should not to be handed a publicly funded community building or given unfair commercial advantage. Other community owned and viable options which meet the published criteria are on the table.
3. There was originally a huge amount of interest in using the Centre from a range of worthy causes - including OXPIP, Community Midwives, Broken Spoke, Helen House Hospice staff, etc. The Nature Effect has a long list of people who wanted to work with them on developing this as a hub for the community with children, family and community interests at heart. The community bids had support from so many local organisations and were very happy to work with Community Midwives who currently still occupy the building. Council officers were repeatedly requested in writing to facilitate meeting between San Remo and the Community Bidders and the Midwives and other interested groups - but this did not happen.
4. The report was inaccurate in stating that Aspire's bid had been put forward before. It had not. It was the first time the charity Aspire Oxford had bid and the scope of work of bringing community interest together was completely different from the two earlier bids put forward by The Nature Effect - although it builds on the community engagement and original vision. It was for an interim grant to resolve outstanding issues, provide interim services from the centre and incubate the community proposal with an interim community led board.
5. As a group of local interested people who have been working on the community bids (through Nature Effect and more recently Aspire) are well placed and have the experience to set up a non religiously partisan childcare provision as part of a community hub immediately - childcare for 2, 3 and 4 year olds that really makes the most of the beautiful surroundings of the park. This would significantly add to the net number of childcare places as these would all be NEW childcare places (not replace existing provision). This was a requirement of the County Council.
6. The process has been muddled with lots of unclear communication. The capacity and role of Oxford City Council members (as Landlords) to either support or block proposals by the County Council has been unclear. Grant criteria have not been consistently applied.
15.6.17
Email from Mark Gray to local resident and petition creator Candy March, outlining the situation with the two bids
20/6/17
Cabinet Meeting – County Council
Cabinet received a petition from Scott Urban regarding Florence Park Children’s Centre, in support of the Aspire & Nature Effect bid and numerous petitions from local councillors and community members.
Cabinet resolved to:
Defer decisions in respect of the proposal relating to Aflah Nursery Aspire & Nature Effect bid with a further report to be submitted to Cabinet as soon as practicable.
3/7/17
FPCC meeting with invited Councillors and Officers
Held at Florence Park Children’s Centre. Meeting attended by Councillors Lawrie Stratford, Mark Gray, Helen Evans, Marie Tidball, Christine Simm, Officers Ian Brooke, Sarah Jelley, Maria Godfrey, Farzana Aslam and another representative for Aflah and Annie Davy for The Nature Effect and Paul Roberts for Aspire.
City officer clarified that the San Remo contract should no longer get in the way of the best community solution for the Centre and that there were options for terminating the contract or compensating the owners for potential loss of business (exact figures and timescales not given in writing).
County Councillors keen for a ‘joint bid’ to include Aflah and Community. Aspire agreed to meet with Aflah to talk further.
Annie Davy suggested an interim grant to Aspire as requested provide services over the summer and for the development needed for a solution agreeable to all. The precedent for this kind of arrangement was set in the second round when Grove and Wantage, and Friends of Brittania Road were each awarded £10K of interim grant to allow services to be provided whilst a business plan was being further developed (see public minutes of cabinet meeting 21/2/17).
No decisions made.
17/7/17
Florence Park Community Association
FPCA invite councillors to attend meeting to talk about community interest and expectation.
City Councillors state that the San Remo contract should not be an obstacle to finding the best solution for the community.
18/7/17
County Council cabinet meeting
Decision on Centre is deferred to 19th September cabinet meeting.
20/7/17
City Council Full Council Meeting
Presentation of petition with over 1500 signatures
21/7/17
Email received from Mark Gray with "previously published requirements" for the site. Private nursery and Aspire invited to put in another bid.
Cabinet Meeting – County Council
Cabinet received a petition from Scott Urban regarding Florence Park Children’s Centre, in support of the Aspire & Nature Effect bid and numerous petitions from local councillors and community members.
Cabinet resolved to:
Defer decisions in respect of the proposal relating to Aflah Nursery Aspire & Nature Effect bid with a further report to be submitted to Cabinet as soon as practicable.
3/7/17
FPCC meeting with invited Councillors and Officers
Held at Florence Park Children’s Centre. Meeting attended by Councillors Lawrie Stratford, Mark Gray, Helen Evans, Marie Tidball, Christine Simm, Officers Ian Brooke, Sarah Jelley, Maria Godfrey, Farzana Aslam and another representative for Aflah and Annie Davy for The Nature Effect and Paul Roberts for Aspire.
City officer clarified that the San Remo contract should no longer get in the way of the best community solution for the Centre and that there were options for terminating the contract or compensating the owners for potential loss of business (exact figures and timescales not given in writing).
County Councillors keen for a ‘joint bid’ to include Aflah and Community. Aspire agreed to meet with Aflah to talk further.
Annie Davy suggested an interim grant to Aspire as requested provide services over the summer and for the development needed for a solution agreeable to all. The precedent for this kind of arrangement was set in the second round when Grove and Wantage, and Friends of Brittania Road were each awarded £10K of interim grant to allow services to be provided whilst a business plan was being further developed (see public minutes of cabinet meeting 21/2/17).
No decisions made.
17/7/17
Florence Park Community Association
FPCA invite councillors to attend meeting to talk about community interest and expectation.
City Councillors state that the San Remo contract should not be an obstacle to finding the best solution for the community.
18/7/17
County Council cabinet meeting
Decision on Centre is deferred to 19th September cabinet meeting.
20/7/17
City Council Full Council Meeting
Presentation of petition with over 1500 signatures
21/7/17
Email received from Mark Gray with "previously published requirements" for the site. Private nursery and Aspire invited to put in another bid.
19/8/17
Stall at Elder Stubbs Festival to discuss the future of the Children's Centre in Florence Park. Many offers of support from the wider local community.
25/8/17
The two bids go in to Oxfordshire County Council. Councillor Mark Gray and council offers will meet to decide on recommendations to the council at their Cabinet meeting on 19/9/17.
29/8/17
See latests updates on the Home page - click on the three buttons.
19/9/17
Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet agree that Aspire and the local community can create a new centre for all.
19/9/17 until present
Aspire and the steering group of locals started immediately to do the work needed to open the centre, liaising with both city and county councils about the lease, funding and other business. Work is progressing with architects and designers to adapt the centre for its new uses. The steering group is creating a new charitable organisation called a charitable Community Benefit Society (CBS). This CBS will run the centre after the initial support and incubation period with Aspire. Plans for the public cafe, nature-focused nursery and open-access spaces are all underway. Look out for more information soon - updates are automatically available if you sign up to our email list here.
Stall at Elder Stubbs Festival to discuss the future of the Children's Centre in Florence Park. Many offers of support from the wider local community.
25/8/17
The two bids go in to Oxfordshire County Council. Councillor Mark Gray and council offers will meet to decide on recommendations to the council at their Cabinet meeting on 19/9/17.
29/8/17
See latests updates on the Home page - click on the three buttons.
19/9/17
Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet agree that Aspire and the local community can create a new centre for all.
19/9/17 until present
Aspire and the steering group of locals started immediately to do the work needed to open the centre, liaising with both city and county councils about the lease, funding and other business. Work is progressing with architects and designers to adapt the centre for its new uses. The steering group is creating a new charitable organisation called a charitable Community Benefit Society (CBS). This CBS will run the centre after the initial support and incubation period with Aspire. Plans for the public cafe, nature-focused nursery and open-access spaces are all underway. Look out for more information soon - updates are automatically available if you sign up to our email list here.