16^th September 2021

Dear Ian,

I write further to the offer made by Staffordshire County Council to Shenstone Parish Council to take ownership of the Stonnall Youth and Community Centre (SYCC). Since the offer was made approximately two years ago the Parish Council has undertaken a detailed assessment of the condition of the building, existing and future demand for use of the building, as well as extensive consultation. Following the completion of this work, which has been extended by Covid restrictions the Parish Council on Tuesday 14^th September 2021 unanimously agreed not to accept the County Council offer of ownership and instead propose to the County Council that an offer of trustee ownership be made to the Management Committee of the Stonnall Youth and Community Centre. This form of ownership has, and continues to, work successfully for several other community halls in the Parish Council area.

Since 2001 the Parish Council has been the Stonnall Youth and Community Centre (SYCC) long leaseholder and the lease runs until 2031. During this period the SYCC Management Committee has undertaken the operational management and maintenance of the land and building, and the Management Committee has formally confirmed to the Parish Council that they are willing to progress trustee ownership with the County Council.

Following the above investigations, consultation and resolutions the Parish Council request that the lease is now subject to early termination. The lease states that it is for the land, not the building thereon, the only mention of the building within the lease states that it must be demolished at the expiry or early termination. The Parish Council have obtained tender prices for demolition however the SYCC Management Committee, if approved by the County Council as trustee owners, are considering retention of the building and therefore the Parish Council requests that a reduced financial contribution in lieu of demolition is considered and as there would be no actual demolition costs to the County Council the Parish Council requests that the County Council approves transferring the Parish Council financial contribution to the Management Committee to support their ongoing work.

The September 14^th Parish Council meeting also approved that any request for future financial support by SYCC trustee owners, for either a retained or a new SYCC will need to be upon application and will be transparently consistent with the Parish Council financial support requirements and timing of applications for support given to all other community organisations within the Parish.

The Parish Council want to thank you for your support and guidance all through the consideration of the County Council offer. The Parish Council request a meeting with you at your earliest convenience to conclude the early termination. The Parish Council will be represented Cllr David Thompson, Cllr David Salter & myself.

Yours sincerely,

Shirley O’Mara

Parish Clerk