Kindred Spirits

In this page you will find links of relevance and interest to Overnewton Recreation Centre's current predicament.

Where do you stand Cllr Matheson?

posted 27 Jan 2010 10:44 by Save Overnewton

Here is a transcript of an email from Yorkhill & Kelvingrove Community Council to Cllr Matheson (one of Ward 10 Cllrs) who seems to have kept a very low profile on the whole issue and which follows on from this email.

Fwd: Letter Regarding Overnewton Recreation Centre

antony ownsworth [...]

Sent: 27 January 2010 12:04

To: gordon.matheson@councillors.glasgow.gov.uk

Cc: nina.baker@councillors.glasgow.gov.uk; Braat, Philip [Philip.Braat@glasgow.gov.uk]; Mackay, Craig [Craig.Mackay@glasgow.gov.uk]; [...]

Dear Gordon

You will recall when we met on Friday you said you would look at this matter from whether the recommendation was based on ROBUST information.

The attached revision to the repairs schedule is highly questionable.

I would be obliged if you could arrange for me to have a copy of the report on this matter with a detailed make up of the costing. I would also like to receive details of expenditure on maitenance in each of the years C&SG have been running the Overnewton cetre, albeit this can follow when youreceive this information.

As a first order appraisal of the figures quoted in the attached e-mail, I suspect they will not hold up to forensic examination, and you are aware of my background.

Not withstanding all of this, I believe the closure proposal for closure is immeasurably flawed and whilst you said you were not of a mind to to adopt your own backyard approach,as the recommendation from C&SG appears to be less than robust ,we are now in a situation where as one four elected Council Members for Ward 10, I on behalf of our community seek your support to oppose the proposed closure.

I can confirm having received a letter from Baillie Liz Cameron in which she states that Councillor Bratt is working with the Friends of Overnewton (FoO) and others to consider alternative management structures. I can confirm this is totally incorrect and that FoO have replied to Baiilie Cameron to confirm at the meeting on 14thJanuary all parties asked Councillor Bratt to persue the retention of the centre as none of the groups attending were of a mind to become involved with his proposals ( which were unsolicited).

As an observation C&SG was set up to run places like Overnewton, Obtain funds for development?, yet we are now by implication being told they cannot achieve this, but maybe the users can be more successful using another model--I think it is the problem for the Administration of Glasgow City Council to sort out.

I am happy to engage in further discussion as you think appropriate, either this side of Thursday's Council meeting or recognising your schedule thereafter. I am in London Mon/Tues but I have slots latter in the week.

Regards

Tony

[Click here to read the email preceded this response.]

Press Release from the Scottish Green Party

posted 26 Jan 2010 13:58 by Save Overnewton

Greens fights to save community centre from closure [original from here]

Dr Nina Baker, Green councillor for Anderston/City ward, is battling to save the last community centre in her ward. Overnewton Community Centre, now 30 years old and feeling its age, is slated to be shut under funding cuts proposed by the Labour Party at this week's crisis budget meeting.

Culture and Sport Glasgow, which manage the hall on behalf of the council, is expecting its funding to be slashed and is going to close this facility and many others across the city.

In Overnewton's case, neither the council nor Culture and Sport Glasgow have spent much on it for many years. The essential repairs bill has started to look unattractive to managers, even though the hall makes a small profit in most years. The many sports groups and other community organisations that use the hall have been told to either take it over in 8 weeks time or go elsewhere.

"This is a complete disgrace" fumed Councillor Baker, "These tiny user groups are being asked to step up and organise themselves into a charity with legal standing, insurance, money for legal fees and a management committee, all within the space of 8 weeks and then take on the running of a hall that the professional might of Culture and Sport Glasgow cannot manage. This is precisely the role that Culture and Sport Glasgow were meant to be better at than the council and here we have them doing Labour's dirty work for them and telling the community at the eleventh hour that the last public hall in the area is to shut. "

Councillor Baker added, "The nearest school is shutting soon too. Kelvinhaugh Primary is in a poor state of repair and the only other nearby halls are an Orange Lodge and a Mosque. Call me old fashioned, but I think this is what councils and councillors are elected to provide for the public. I think we should find the funds to keep this centre open and in council management. The Greens will be putting amendments to Labours Cuts Budget that will enable Overnewton to stay open."

Editor's notes

1. Green Councillors budget proposals provide funding from a city centre parking charge increase and staff mileage reductions to cover the running costs and refurbishment of six centres proposed for closure. These centres are Ledgowan Tenants Hall, Argo Recreation Centre, Red Road Recreation Centre, West Drumoyne Tenants Hall, Lorne Street Centre, and Overnewton Community Centre.

2. Further information from:
Bailie Dr Nina Baker, 07745 894 861
nina.baker@glasgow.gov.uk

3. Save Overnewton Community Centre link at http://www.saveovernewton.org/

4. Photo opportunity 0900-0930 Wednesday 27th January 2010 at Overnewton Square

Kieran Wild - Glasgow and West of Scotland Green Party Communications
07840 863508
kieran@glasgowgreens.org

Unison tells Scots: Fight brutal cuts

posted 25 Jan 2010 06:18 by Save Overnewton

Scotland’s largest public service union yesterday issued a call for the public to oppose swingeing cuts which are expected to be approved by Glasgow politicians in this week’s budget.

From an article printed in today's Herald. To read the full story, click here.

Was the writing on the wall back in 2007? Purcell Does it Again!

posted 21 Jan 2010 11:50 by Save Overnewton [ updated 21 Jan 2010 11:59 ]

From Glasgow Lost "in January 2007, the leader of Glasgow City Council [...] announced that the management Glasgow's Common Good assets, museums, libraries, social and community policy and much more, would be transferred en masse to a private company (with [...] charitable status). The decision to transfer control of Glasgow's treasured heritage and future social policy was taken without any consultation, discussion or debate involving or including the people of Glasgow; instead Purcell and a very small number of ill-advised, sycophantic colleagues, together with paid external consultants, worked for months putting a highly questionable business plan together, while the Glasgow people had no idea anything was being planned." ...read more here.

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