Roundhill and the YMCA
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One of the recurring issues over the life of this blog has been developing the Roundhill YMCA project. This is part of Bath YMCA outreach project and it has been very successful running a variety of courses and activities for the community and getting involved with young people to channel their energy into positive actions.
The building itself is old and tatty and we have a public convenience on the side which has often given us drug related problems. About a year ago the YMCA apoproached us with an ambitious development plan to refurbish and enlarge the site and do far more there. We are both very keen on this. Today together with reps from the YMCA we met the property department and the cabinet member with responsibility for the decision.
Basically the YMCA have been leasing the building from the Council for a pepprcorn rent. Now they want the freehold transferred to enable them to borrow from the bank to be able to deliver the project. We have solved the panning issues, the YMCA board have worked out that they can deliver. Now the Council needs to decide whether to transfer the asset with safeguards. I think it will be a win all round. The Council gets a problem building of its hands. The YMCA can build on its work of the last 10 years. Southdown gets a new invigorated asset which is much needed. The only issue will be the loos. If that is solved everyone is a winner.
We all left the meeting feeling positive and Property have said they will try and get back to us within 2 or 3 weeks on the matter.
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One of the things that I hold against the YMCA having unfortunately become a resident in one is the fact that even if they have Job's going in the building, we're told that if we're a resident we may not apply. That to me smacks of Discrimination and Bias, hardly christian is it!
