How to develop a multi use/ user community building from scratch

Question

South WonstonPC is leading an investigation to examine the feasibility of consolidating / combining an ageing pavillion come sports / general purpose building with a privately owned & run village social club & a village hall leased from church sources. I am the Project Lead & require additional expertise / direct help to progress this  along with a project team comprised of interested parties.

A few meetings have been had & there is some very basic data available from a mapping exercise of current uses/ users .

Among the obvious issues are funding / consultation/ planning/ design & operational management (if it goes ahead).

A local  City councillor is part of the team, however I am looking for an outline of  first steps/ plan on priorities to be adressed as well as sources of free / low cost expertise as this develops.

Any help / advice greatrfully received. Thank you.

Answer 1

Your first step would be to establish if you have the legal power under the local government acts to undertake the project bearing in mind your ultimate objective. The following list of powers may be useful:

Section	Act	Outline
19	Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976	Community Centres: Power to provide and equip buildings for use of clubs having athletic, social or educational objectives.
124 126 127	Local Government) Act 1972	Land: Power to acquire land by agreement, to appropriate to dispose of.
133	Local Government) Act 1972	Public Buildings and Village Halls: Power to provide buildings for offices and for public meetings and assemblies.
144	Local Government) Act 1972	Conference Facilities: Power to provide and encourage the use of facilities. Power to attract tourists and visitors.
145	Local Government) Act 1972	Entertainment & the Arts: Provision of entertainment and support of the arts.
87	Public Health Act 1936	Public Conveniences: Power to provide
111	Local Government) Act 1972	Subsidiary Powers for a local authority to do anything which helps it to discharge its functions. **Provision and support of a Community Interest Company to manage and run the building including the operation of the community centre.
	** 111 Subsidiary powers of local authorities..   (1)Without prejudice to any powers exercisable apart from this section but subject to the provisions of this Act and any other enactment passed before or after this Act, a local authority shall have power to do any thing (whether or not involving the expenditure, borrowing or lending of money or the acquisition or disposal of any property or rights) which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the discharge of any of their functions.. (2)For the purposes of this section, transacting the business of a parish or community meeting or any other parish or community business shall be treated as a function of the parish or community council.. (3)A local authority shall not by virtue of this section raise money, whether by means of rates, precepts or borrowing, or lend money except in accordance with the enactments relating to those matters respectively.. (4)In this section “local authority” includes the Common Council.

Hope this helps