Community Lettings

The request was partially successful.

Evangeline Summers

Dear Leeds City Council,

Please can you advise the paper regarding the planning. minutes and implementation of the consultation process regarding the introduction of generating income via community lettings.

Yours faithfully,

Evangeline Summers

DPFOI, Leeds City Council

Dear Evangeline Summers

Freedom of information request Ref 19128 : Community Lettings

Thank you for your request for the above information which we received 5, July 2017. We will respond to your request in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

We have passed your request onto Saleem Aziz, Information Governance Officer, Resources & Housing, [email address] who will arrange a response within the appropriate statutory time limit.

Please remember to quote reference number FOI 19128 in any future communications.

Yours sincerely

Kristin Lea
Information Governance Support Officer
Information Management & Governance
t: 0113 3787899
e: [Leeds City Council request email]
e: [email address]
w: www.leeds.gov.uk

“Information is everyone’s business and responsibility.”

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IMG.CC.requests, Leeds City Council

1 Attachment

Dear Evangeline Summers,

 

Freedom of Information Request 19128/9

 

I refer to the above and your request dated 5^th July 2017. I have
contacted the relevant services and now provide a response to the
following request;

 

The paper regarding the planning. minutes and implementation  of the
consultation process regarding the introduction of generating income via
community lettings.

 

The list of organisations who are required to pay community lettings for
council owned buildings

 

In order to support a Leeds City Council Director in making a decision,
consultation on proposals is carried out as a matter of course.

In this case 130 groups that have, or previously have had, free lettings
were contacted directly on 21st March 2017. The consultation was also
promoted on the “Doing Good Leeds” website and newsletter, targeting third
sector organisations in Leeds.

 

The new policy means that all organisations make some payment for the use
of community centres. From 4 June 2017 all groups are expected to make a
minimum payment of 25% of the community rate for any bookings that they
have in Leeds City Council community centres.

The new policy also means that fully funded statutory and private
organisations will not be able to benefit from a discounted rate.

 

Where community centres are let to internal Leeds City Council services
such as Youth Services and Services funded by Leeds City Council such as
Neighbourhood Networks, budget adjustments will be made to ensure
accommodation costs are accounted for, but financial pressures will not be
added to these services. This will allow for improved commissioning of
these services in the future.

 

Local democracy lettings such as Councillor and MP surgeries and Community
Committee meetings, along with community centre user group meetings, will
remain free of charge. (These costs will effectively be covered by the LCC
Communities Team).

Users who had regular free lettings approved by community committees in
the last round of letting renewals, were automatically put onto the 25%
rate from 4 June 2017. All regular annual lettings now run until 31 March
each year. Any new requests for discounted lettings will be dealt with in
the same way that previous requests for free lettings were handled. Ward
members will be asked to consider new requests as they arise, but will be
limited to approving a 25% charge of the community rate if they consider
that requests for discounts are justified. Consideration for discounted
rates will only be given to third sector / community groups that provide
services of benefit to local people. A renewal process will take place
prior to April 2018 to determine the eligibility and approval for
discounted rates for individual groups in the next financial year.

 

I trust that this response is satisfactory. If however you are
dissatisfied with this response you have a right to appeal to an
independent officer within Resources & Housing. They will re-examine your
request and assess whether we have adhered to the requirements of the act.
Should you wish to follow this course of action please address your
concerns in writing to Paul Burns, Resources & Housing, Information
Management and Governance, 3rd Floor, Leonardo, 2 Rossington Street, Leeds
LS2 8HD or by emailing [1]cc[Leeds City Council request email].

 

You also have a right under Section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act
to ask the Information Commissioner to decide whether we have met with our
obligations under the act.  The Commissioner has however made it clear
that he expects all applicants to exhaust internal appeals procedures
prior to making such an application. Should you wish to contact the
Commissioner’s office then you can write to the following address:

 

            Office of the Information Commissioner,

            Wycliffe House,

            Water Lane,

            Wilmslow,

            Cheshire,

            SK9 5AF.

 

You may also contact the Commissioner via his website at [2]www.ico.gov.uk

 

I trust that this is self-explanatory.  If you have any queries please
contact me on 0113 37 87891, or by return email.

 

Saleem Aziz

Information Governance Officer

t: 0113 37 87891

e: [3]cc[Leeds City Council request email]

e: [4][email address]

w: [5]www.leeds.gov.uk

 

Information Governance, Digital and Information Service

Information is everyone’s business and responsibility.”

 

[6]cid:image001.png@01D23FFE.323346B0

 

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Leeds City Council - MJ Local Authority of the Year 2016

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References

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2. blocked::UrlBlockedError.aspx UrlBlockedError.aspx www.ico.gov.uk
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3. mailto:cc[Leeds City Council request email]
4. mailto:[email address]
5. http://www.leeds.gov.uk/