Forum Topic

Isleworth Public Hall- A Valuable Community Asset

PR 2578 11 September 2013For Immediate ReleaseCouncil seeks proposals over future of Isleworth Public Hall Hounslow Council has invited interested parties to submit proposals on the future management of Isleworth Public Hall.Councillor Ajmer Grewal, cabinet member for leisure and public health, said: “Isleworth Public Hall is a much loved and valuable community asset.“We have had some interest in making better use of the hall and in its future management, which is why we are going out to the community seeking proposals from interested parties.“I want residents or community groups to get involved and make their views known over the future management of Isleworth Public Hall.”                                     Any organisations or person wishing to submit proposals on the future management of the hall should register at procurement@hounslow.gov.uk and title the e-mail ‘Submission of proposals for IPH’. An application form will be sent electronically to you within two working days. The closing date for receipt of submissions is 4pm on Friday 4th October 2013.  Cllr Grewal added: “No decision on the future of the hall will be made until we have carefully considered all submissions.” For more information click on to www.hounslow.gov.uk/isleworthpublichall Notes for editors:Two open days for parties interested in submitting proposals and who wish to view the building and ask any questions, have been arranged at Isleworth Public Hall. These dates are Tuesday, 17 September, from 1pm to 7pm and Thursday, 19 September, from 9am to 2pm.

John Todd ● 4527d27 Comments

Just a coincidence then Andy that the item on that agenda regarding the Isleworth Public Hall happens to be the only one we have to wait until mid november to read the minutes then?Hounslow at its democratic best!

Paul Fisher ● 4498d

Just to clarify matters from the council’s perspective, while the minutes of this meeting have not yet been published, the ‘decision sheet’ from the recent IBAF has been. It is available here http://democraticservices.hounslow.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=7788&T=2Minutes do take longer because officers take great pains to make them as accurate as possible.So no political pressure, just our usual administration processes.

Andy Allsopp ● 4498d

Well I am being well and truely fobbed off whenever I ask Committee Services where the minutes are and it certainly looks as though political pressure has been applied on this section of the Council not to release them

Paul Fisher ● 4499d

http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/news-opinion/playing-ball-not-man-shows-6151730

Phil Andrews ● 4500d

And the minutes from this item on the agenda are still being withheld from the public

Paul Fisher ● 4505d

That's all good  to hear.The purpose of my posting was to trigger responses like those...and so ..we have a result! Thanks Paul  for the 12th October heads up.

Jim Lawes ● 4510d

Lots of events take place here mini mes nursery everyday , Indian dance , Zumba , fit steps dance, street dancing, yoga, Pilates, workshops for the disabled , age  uk singing classes nhs back pain workshops, Muslim prayers,and soon roots drama school will be starting their Sunday workshops for children, meetings ,stopgap theatre group a local community group perform at least 6 shows a year. Quiz nights, The venue is available to the whole community young and old and I used used by a whole spectrum of people.

Michael Byron ● 4511d

Many weekly events Jim plus weddings and various parties and here is a small taster of what is coming upThursday 10 October 2013Bring and Buy - by popular demand; bring your unwanted items and buy other people's. Thursday 14 November 2013"The curious disappearance of Major Glenn Miller", an illustrated talk by Tony Eaton. Thursday 12 December 2013."Dick Whittington"  a mini-panto featuring Tricia Court. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx SINGING WORKSHOP, Mondays 2 to 4 pm restarts 16 SeptemberEnjoy singing?  Afternoon workshops on Mondays from 2 to 4 pm  These sessions are restarting on Monday 16 September.  £8.00 per session or £40.00 (in advance) for 6 sessions.  Warm-ups, fun aural exercises, vocal techniques and a good selection of songs.  Just turn up, or contact Maria for more info 07813 397608 or voiceworks12@hotmail.com.  See the first flyer attached to this email. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx FITSTEPS a new dance-fitness evening class is launched on Thursday 12 September at 6:30 pm.  £7 per session - no partner required.For more info phone Kathy Edge on 07714 899 624 or see the second flyer attached to this email. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The Thursday Club is organised by The Friends of Isleworth Public Hall.The singing workshop is supported by The Friends. The Friends of Isleworth Public Hall is a charity, registration number 1102928.

Paul Fisher ● 4514d

I recall the Opera (Isleworth Baroque?} and the occasional local history event..but what else?Ceroc dancing? Indoor Market? Old People's Club? Bridge Club? Anything?

Jim Lawes ● 4514d

Jim Lawes ● 4514d

"When I use a word," Humpty said in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less."

Phil Andrews ● 4514d

I suppose the claim is dependant on what you feel would be the alternative. As far as I'm aware there was never any danger of the hall being allowed to fall into decay, but quite what it has been 'saved' for is another matter. You would need to know what alternatives were on the table to make a judgement as to whether or not 'saved' is the correct description, it's taking liberties with the English language.

Vanessa Smith ● 4514d

Notwithstanding this our ward councillors were still delivering leaflets around the South Street area of Isleworth last weekend - two days after the shameful IBAF meeting - containing the claim that they had "saved" Isleworth Public Hall.Any person who knows the facts of this matter and still votes for these people next year would have to be completely devoid of scruples or indeed of any self-respect.

Phil Andrews ● 4514d

Saw this on Hounslow's website and thought it was breathtaking in its hypocrisy given the attitude displayed to the Friends and other locals concerned about the future of the IPH. You can only conclude that either someone has a warped sense of the ridiculous or they are taking the p*ss "Ability to work with the community" "You must demonstrate good organisation, experience of developing community activities, an understanding of diverse communities, and how the community will be involved in the management of IPH. You should outline what proposals you feel you could offer that would benefit the local community in terms of environmental projects, employment opportunities and health benefits."

Vanessa Smith ● 4514d

Well the minutes of last weeks Isleworth and Brentfors Area Forum have now been published on the Hounslow Council website but one of the items on the agenda has the minutes to follow and yep you guessed correctly its the item regarding the Isleworth Public HallIt could of course just be a coincidence but why this part of the meeting has the minutes to follow when it was mainly residents speaking to the committee rather then the councillors does make me wonder if this is all part of a planned operation to get rid of the Hall as quickly as possible by suppressing the public voice

Paul Fisher ● 4515d

"I don't care who you are or how clever you may be - when you get elected it takes time to understand how things work, who is who and what is what, as you will know."Aye that.  And the more you learn the more you realise you don't know, if that makes any sense.

Phil Andrews ● 4518d

"The Isleworth councillors may be first-termers, but they are intelligent people.  Two of them sit on the Cabinet."I think we need to look holistically at the actions of the Lead Member (I assume we are speaking here about Councillor Steve Curran, who seems to be Lead Member for almost everything), and in particular his treatment of the Hounslow Federation of Tenants' and Residents' Associations and of the G15+ group of residents.  What is happening here in fact is a broad-front assault on any manifestation of independent community activity, with a view to replacing it permanently with something more malleable and obsequious.  It is a long-term strategy which looks beyond the forthcoming election and possibly as far as the subsequent one, when political conditions may well be less favourable to the present administration than they are right now.  What better way to minimise the prospect of scrutiny and challenge from the community than to change the very nature of the community?"First - I'm not sure that the fact that two councillors sit on the Cabinet necessarily equals intelligence.Secondly I think you give another first timer far too much credit for acting of his own volition, a first timer with all those responsibilities  - oh please! It's nonsense.I don't care who you are or how clever you may be - when you get elected it takes time to understand how things work, who is who and what is what, as you will know. "Of course, I may be reading far too much into things so possibly somebody more sensible could explain the logic involved in our ward councillors not raising a murmur of protest."You possibly are reading too much into things - but I'm buggered if I can explain any logic in this whole very disgraceful episode. I can't explain it - because to my way of thinking there is no logic.

Vanessa Smith ● 4518d

I know I get called a conspiracy theorist at times but I am doubtful that this is a purely officer initiative.The Isleworth councillors may be first-termers, but they are intelligent people.  Two of them sit on the Cabinet.  They are well aware that they are months away from an election and that their ward has a particularly active community culture.Under the circumstances I just don't believe they would be cowed into silence while officers set about upsetting a significant portion of their ward's electorate.  As I see it their acquiescence in this project must logically have its foundation in some kind of political strategy.  So what is it?I think we need to look holistically at the actions of the Lead Member (I assume we are speaking here about Councillor Steve Curran, who seems to be Lead Member for almost everything), and in particular his treatment of the Hounslow Federation of Tenants' and Residents' Associations and of the G15+ group of residents.  What is happening here in fact is a broad-front assault on any manifestation of independent community activity, with a view to replacing it permanently with something more malleable and obsequious.  It is a long-term strategy which looks beyond the forthcoming election and possibly as far as the subsequent one, when political conditions may well be less favourable to the present administration than they are right now.  What better way to minimise the prospect of scrutiny and challenge from the community than to change the very nature of the community?Of course, I may be reading far too much into things so possibly somebody more sensible could explain the logic involved in our ward councillors not raising a murmur of protest.

Phil Andrews ● 4518d

Didn't Peter Carey or Theo Dennison probe further or call officers out for not answering properly - for God's sake if someone if trying to palm you off put them on the spot and stand your ground. Always remember that officers are supposed to support and advise not call the shots. What a load of drips they sound.

Vanessa Smith ● 4518d

To be fair Councillors Theo Dennison and Peter Carey asked some probing questions, which were met with bland non-answers from the officer present.The residents present completely destroyed the officer's argument but he persisted with it nonetheless, making little effort to disguise his disdain for the people in the "audience" (as the Chair described them on three occasions), which was in marked contrast to the respect and deference with which he addressed the members.I was disappointed with the three Isleworth ward councillors.  Ed Mayne's one question was a completely benign and neutral one and other than that all three of them just sat there and said nothing.  Like you say, this was particularly galling in the light of the fact that they have been and are still in the process of distributing leaflets in which they claim to have "saved" the Public Hall.Not only have they not saved it, but it appears they are not even prepared to speak up for it.

Phil Andrews ● 4519d

I understand that community groups had next to no chance of putting in a bid to run the hall, as the time between declaring an interest and actually getting the form back was far too short. The information regarding the true running costs of the hall requested two years ago has never been produced, so that stymied anything but a commercial takeover - also members seem more interested in listening to officers who obviously have their own agenda here. The Blue School representatives are still much in evidence whenever this subject is discussed - or not - as the case appears to be. Our councillors will be very, very sorry if they don't show some backbone and talk to users and friends instead of swallowing all the old guff from officers. The leaflet recently distributed just ads insult to injury.

Vanessa Smith ● 4519d

I heard that many members of the public attended last nights of the Isleworth and Brentford as one of the items on the agenda was the future of the Public Hall and it was a chance to hear what our local councillors had to say on the matter and what they were trying to do to save itUnfortunately apart from a single question by Ed Mayne to the Officer presenting the report it may have just been left of the agenda such was the lack of interest by our local representativesOf course this was all discussed at Cabinet last week and the decision has in all effect already been made behind closed doors but surely they could have at least pretended that the whole matter is nothing more then a sham and not claim on their leaflets they are the community champions when they are blatently destroying it

Paul Fisher ● 4519d

Unless, internal talks have come to some compromise? I really do think that ignoring The Friends is so stupid and insulting. after all were it not for them it is doubtful the hall would be in the condition it is. People aren't stupid - they know the financial situation that councils find themselves in and that there have to be difficult decisions made, but unless they are going to be able to find out the true running costs etc. and all the other information needed how on earth can anyone know where they stand? Let alone try and take on the management of the hall.

Vanessa Smith ● 4526d

I just cannot get my head around the local councillors leaflet claims that they have "saved" the hall as its not falling down so the claims must be made on the basis that talks have taken place where the Council seriously considered selling it off completelyEven more strange to my mind at least is that the leaflet was produced before the report posted by Cllr Todd went to Cabinet and the matter is also on the agenda at next weeks Isleworth and Brentford Area Forum so how can it possibly have already been saved by our local councillors?

Paul Fisher ● 4527d

Should the rumours that have been around for sometime that The Blue School will take over the public Hall come to fruition, then as far as the local Labour councillors are concerned this could be their electoral suicide note. It is obvious that should the school manage to get their mitts on the hall that that would leave very little left for public use, what with this and the Green School wanting to open up a boys school, are there plans for a takeover in Isleworth by the CoE?

Vanessa Smith ● 4527d

I wonder if a local bookies will take a bet on the Blue School taking it over for a peppercorn rent and perhaps a win double that it will be get dark tonight?What an absolute sham

Paul Fisher ● 4527d

Yes, two members of the Users' Group received a letter just yesterday announcing that this invitation had been sent.  Interested parties will need to submit a full, detailed, costed business plan within a 24-day deadline, however officers have then given themselves a full two months to prepare a report before it goes to Council.No prior consultation had been engaged in with the Friends of Isleworth Public Hall or with users in respect of this announcement.  Requests by the Friends for information about the property's finances, which they would need before they could make their own assessment of its continued viability, have been ignored by Hounslow Council for over two years.I am impressed though that the local authority would appear to have received expressions of interest in the property's future management before even requesting it.  This takes efficiency to a whole new level.

Phil Andrews ● 4527d