Brixton Somerleyton Road development, Ovalhouse and Brixton Green - funding, proposed rents etc

[snowy_again]

The details of the grant are in the public domain.

But what is written in an application isn't necessarily what the grant delivers. The funder might change what delivery they will pay for defined in a contract, or the grant holder might agree a variation or be entitled to vary what they do against the agreed outputs within certain limits.

for info the link above from gramsci isn't an official lottery site - it's a site which collates someone else's press releases & various lottery body published data - dcms in this case, but has miscoded it. One of the mistakes is that it's actually awards for all who have given that grant. blf gives awards for all the cash to distribute. Minor but crucial difference in the grant management.

Unless it's a case of protecting sources, I still don't see any evidence of the grant being 'investigated'.

 

[Gramsci]

for info the link above from gramsci isn't an official lottery site - it's a site which collates someone else's press releases & various lottery body published data - dcms in this case, but has miscoded it. One of the mistakes is that it's actually awards for all who have given that grant. blf gives awards for all the cash to distribute. Minor but crucial difference in the grant management.

Unless it's a case of protecting sources, I still don't see any evidence of the grant being 'investigated'.

Maybe Green Man are taking over the grant:

We’re also working on two heritage projects and will be looking for people to get involved – so please watch this space.

I think its a side matter. BG will likely regard the Number 6 issue as a little local difficulty. Just the whingers on Brixton Buzz and U75. Or that is how they will play it.

BG are not to be underestimated in the skill they have in keeping in with leading politicians in Council.

The main issue is that BG are seeking to end up managing the site ( except for Oval House section of the site). Whatever the Council officers might say. That the way they are managing Number 6 leaves a lot to be desired. The Council should think carefully how it wants the finished development managed and by whom/ what kind of organisation. It should also think more about how it is consulting people about this development.

I am out of it now. But I get tired of having to explain to people I meet that its not a Brixton Green project. The architects and consultants (Igloo) are employed by the Council for example. Ovalhouse interest in the site predated the appearance of Brixton Green. BG give people impression its all down to them.

It was one of the Councils better officers Neil Vokes who was in charge of the project as the lead officer. ( He has been promoted and a new officer has recently been put in place). My experience of dealing with Neil is that unlike Brixton Green - the "community partners" - he listened to people. He had is role as an officer working for the elected Cllrs but you knew where you were with him.

 

[Tricky Skills]

Unless it's a case of protecting sources, I still don't see any evidence of the grant being 'investigated'.

The grant is being investigated

 

[editor]

 

[editor]

Here's that street party everyone's been waiting for. Short notice, eh?

All welcome at the #Somerleyton Road Street Party on Saturday 27 June, 1 to 6pm.

So come along to:

• enjoy live music, fresh food and drink
• look at ideas for how the street could be improved and tell us what you think
• meet the people designing the new buildings and see their work in progress

The Street Party is being put on by development manager, Igloo, the Brixton Night Market and Six Brixton managers, Green Man. It is supported by the partners involved in the Somerleyton Road project.

We particularly want to hear what you think about ideas for improving the street – such as landscaping, planting and seating.

You’ll also be able to see how the five plot architects are getting on with designing the buildings. These are:

• Plot A - Oval House Creative Workshops -Zac Monro Archietcts
• Plot B – Oval House Theatre Foster Wilson Architects
• Plot C Chefs School and New Homes and F New Homes and Retail – Metropolitan Workshop
• Plot D Extra Care Homes – Mae Architects
• Plot E – New Homes, a nursery, flexible community space and children’s centre – Haworth Tompkins Architects

All the Somerleyton Road partners – Lambeth Council, Brixton Green and Ovalhouse – will be on hand to discuss the project with you.

Read more about the #Somerleyton Road project here.

http://futurebrixton.org/somerleyton/somerleyton-street-party-2015/

 

[Tricky Skills]

I'm still not sure what the occasion is for the 'party.' Is it celebrate Green Man now managing No.6 "on behalf" of Brixton Green? I see that the Brixton Green logo is still being associated with official Council promotional material, so there must be some involvement.

If the 'party' is simply another part of the consultation process, then why not call it that? Yeah, I'm being a kill joy, but a party for me is a piss up and a reason to celebrate something. I haven't seen any reason to celebrate anything at No. 6 over recent weeks.

 

[Gramsci]

I'm still not sure what the occasion is for the 'party.' Is it celebrate Green Man now managing No.6 "on behalf" of Brixton Green? I see that the Brixton Green logo is still being associated with official Council promotional material, so there must be some involvement.

If the 'party' is simply another part of the consultation process, then why not call it that? Yeah, I'm being a kill joy, but a party for me is a piss up and a reason to celebrate something. I haven't seen any reason to celebrate anything at No. 6 over recent weeks.

I was trying to explain to some people yesterday the difference between all the different entities that are part of the Somerleyton Road project.

Also that this is a Council led project. Its not a Brixton Green project. Again. I keep having to do this. And this street party is not the Brixton Green street party.

I had a lot of puzzled faces. Asked if I could sit down and spend some time explaining it.

Made me think that something else the Council could do to get a grip on this project is to explain who is part of it, what there role is and how the decision making process works. Or should work. Its not been helped by BG trying to make out its all down to them what is happening on Somerleyton road.

Secondly I , who was kicked off the site , should not have to explain to locals how this project is organised. Not at this stage.

And I would like to know who decided on Green Man coming to Number 6. Was it Council that wanted Green Man or Brixton Green.

One of the things I said to the people i was trying to explain this all to is that the use of third parties to manage Council property and manage schemes like this causes a problem of who is accountable. ie who do you complain to?

Take Number 6. whatever the rights and wrongs of what has happened, there is no clear way for joe public to understand who is responsible for what and who to complain to.

 

[CH1]

I'm still not sure what the occasion is for the 'party.' Is it celebrate Green Man now managing No.6 "on behalf" of Brixton Green? I see that the Brixton Green logo is still being associated with official Council promotional material, so there must be some involvement.

If the 'party' is simply another part of the consultation process, then why not call it that? Yeah, I'm being a kill joy, but a party for me is a piss up and a reason to celebrate something. I haven't seen any reason to celebrate anything at No. 6 over recent weeks.

Maybe it's by way of being an "update"? Seems things to do with the council and Igloo have to be wrapped in a way that makes them appealing to the locals. Maybe something as dry as a meeting addressed by a councillor and showing a few slides might be a bit dry - and empty?

 

[editor]

It's almost like it's designed to confuse and disengage the locals!

 

[CH1]

It's almost like it's designed to confuse and disengage the locals!

Yeah well its a bit like how they used to have constant singing of "Doing the Lambeth Walk" in old peoples homes - when they had old people's homes. They give us what we are supposed to want I suppose.

 

[editor]

Yeah well its a bit like how they used to have constant singing of "Doing the Lambeth Walk" in old peoples homes - when they had old people's homes. They give us what we are supposed to want I suppose.

So there's Lambeth. And then there's Brixton Green. And Igloo. And Streets Concept. And Green Man. And No 6. And Brixton Come Together. And Future Brixton. And the architects. And stakeholders. And Social Life (are they still around). Have I missed anyone?

 

[editor]

Did these Brixton Green scratch cards ever materialise?

Four years ago they said the were aiming to "recruit at least 5,000 new members" but their site still has the figure around 1,000 which suggest something of a catastrophic failure to engage.

 

[ViolentPanda]

So there's Lambeth. And then there's Brixton Green. And Igloo. And Streets Concept. And Green Man. And No 6. And Brixton Come Together. And Future Brixton. And the architects. And stakeholders. And Social Life (are they still around). Have I missed anyone?

B.I.D.

 

[Gramsci]

B.I.D.

Is BID part of it? Please no.

 

[Gramsci]

So there's Lambeth. And then there's Brixton Green. And Igloo. And Streets Concept. And Green Man. And No 6. And Brixton Come Together. And Future Brixton. And the architects. And stakeholders. And Social Life (are they still around). Have I missed anyone?

Its the "Chefs School" that keeps popping up on the posters that really irritates me.

Does Brixton really need a chefs school? What with all the eateries catering to the well heeled I suppose yes.

Might go down after Reclaim to see the architect for Mansions.

Apparently the Council want it to be made clear this is not a Brixton Green event. From what I have heard.

 

[equationgirl]

Brixton green possibly falling out of favour with the council?

 

[Brixton_Green]

In recent weeks there appears to have been a lot of misinformation about Brixton Green and the Somerleyton Road Project published in the Brixton Buzz, Urban 75 and the Brixton Come Together Facebook pages.

For the record, Brixton Green is a community benefit society set up by Brixton residents so Brixton people can be at the forefront of the redevelopment of Somerleyton Road. We are proud of the work we have done, we have nothing to hide, and welcome questions, challenge and scrutiny. The latter is one of the good things about Brixton and the Brixton Buzz does a great job in making Brixton an informed community. At the same time, the Brixton Buzz also has a responsibility to report facts. In recent weeks, it has reported a number of false statements about Brixton Green, which are potentially damaging for the success of this community-led project.

View full statement here

 

[Brixton_Green]

What is Brixton Green?

• Registered community benefit society: We started in 2008 and registered as a community benefit society in 2009.
• Non-profit & voluntary: Brixton Green has no paid staff. Our director and trustees give their time to the project on a voluntary basis.
• Democratic & inclusive: We set up as a community benefit society to ensure a proper, inclusive, democratic structure was in place.
• National community share pilot: In 2009 we become one of the Department of Communities and Local Government and Cooperatives UK's ten national pilot schemes for community shares. They provided support and legal advice to help ensure we had a robust, democratic structure. The £1 community shares represent a stake-holding in Brixton Green, and are not a way of investing for a financial return.
• Owned by Brixton people: Anyone over 16 years old who lives or works in one of the five wards of Brixton can become a member of Brixton Green (community benefit society) by buying a £1 share. One share per person. One vote per person.
• Board elected from the community: Only members can be elected to the board. This ensures the trustees are accountable to the membership (who have to be local people) and ensures the trustees keep to their contract with the membership. The board can chose to co-opt a few trustees who have useful skills.

Over 1,200 members of the Brixton community are members of Brixton Green

Over the past seven years we have all worked hard on a voluntary basis to make sure a wide cross section of our community are aware of the project and able to become members. We have distributed over 60,000 leaflets, held many community events (some attended by over 1,000 people), held workshops in schools & community groups, run a series of deliberative workshops, held many consultation events dealing with all aspects of the project and carried out door to door discussions in the immediate area of the project. Over 1,200 members of the Brixton community have become shareholders, including one of the founding members of the Southwyck House Resident Association.

Owned by Brixton people

Brixton Green is owned by Brixton people. Brixton Green has achieved the rare success of keeping a wide cross section of the community involved in a long term project. Many community projects succeed in getting short term interest, but few can maintain democratic representation over the long term. Our view is that the democratic representation is essential and our rules set the high bar that at least 10% of our membership have to vote at our annual general meetings. We have achieved in excess of this at each of our AGM's since we started. Few community organisations (or local political groups) can boast such success - especially working on a voluntary basis and with such a large membership.

View full statement here

 

[Brixton_Green]

Somerleyton Road

Somerleyton Road is important to the Brixton community. It divides our town. The only access to the 1,600 (approx) homes in the Moorlands Triangle is via Coldharbour Lane or Somerleyton Passage (an unwelcoming alley). Somerleyton Road sits in one of the most deprived wards in the UK. The aim of local people is for a development that helps connect our town, provides truly affordable homes, jobs, sustainable development and improves quality of life.

7 years working hard to make this happen

In 2013, after 5 years of campaigning, Brixton Green convinced Lambeth Council to develop the road in partnership with the community. This was a hard slog. There were dozens of meetings and a lot of lobbying and work to prove what the community wanted was viable. It was touch and go at times. But we succeeded. Early next year construction is due to start.

Shaped by Brixton People

This is a development shaped by Brixton people:

• The project will pay its own way, and over its lifetime, and will not be a cost to Lambeth taxpayers
• There will be no 'poor doors'. The social and market rent housing will be mixed throughout.
• There will be over 300 new homes all for rent and all owned by a new housing cooperative.
• At least 60 of the homes will be part of an extra care scheme for older people
• 40% of the homes will have genuine low cost rents, the kind of rents that the Council sets. 50% of all the homes will be Affordable Homes, as defined by the government.
• The homes will be built to meet, and if possible exceed, the London Housing Design standards, with an aim for 100% of the homes to have dual aspect.
• There is an ambition for a high level of environmental sustainability in the build and use of resources.
• The layout of facilities and access to services is being structured to make it easier for people to look after each other.
• The scheme includes real job opportunities for local people.

Great organisations coming to Somerleyton Road

We've convinced some great organisations to locate on Somerleyton Road.

• The Ovalhouse Theatre will be moving to the Coldharbour Lane end, along with a creative hub for other Brixton creative and cultural organisations.
• One of the best chef’s school in the UK will be opening a satellite school and training restaurant on the site (98% of their graduates go straight into work in all types of catering, and business management).
• There will be an outside gym run by Blockworkout (a great business set up by some young entrepreneurial Brixton residents who were previously involved in gangs).

There will be a children's nursery, extra care housing for older people, hair training salon (a key community hub), and a community facility including café, rooms for health visitors and a flexible hall built in a way that its use can be maximised throughout the day.

The aim is to make sure that the maximum benefit is gained for the community from the development.

View full statement here

 

[Brixton_Green]

250 year lease to a new community body

• The whole development (apart from the theatre) will be leased to a new overarching community body for 250 years.
• The board of this new body will be elected from the residents, wider community, non-residential occupiers (e.g. the chef’s school) and Lambeth Council. This structure makes sure this public asset continues to benefit the community throughout the 250 years and its management is publicly accountable.
• The objectives of this new overarching community body are being developed from the community’s feedback during the many engagement events/workshops we’ve held and they will continue to be developed during the next few months.

Brixton Green’s role:

• Brixton Green will not be the new overarching community body, and have never sought to be.
• Brixton Green was set up to help make sure the community were at the forefront of the development. We've succeeded in doing that and continue to work to make sure the community remains at the forefront.
• When the new overarching community body is up and running, Brixton Green will have completed its role for Somerleyton Road. The task of making sure the project meets the community objectives will be the responsibility of the new community body.

The Somerleyton Road Project (No private developer)

• The Somerleyton Road Project has a steering group which includes Lambeth Council, Brixton Green and the Ovalhouse Theatre.
• Rather than have a private developer deliver the project, Brixton Green encouraged Lambeth Council to develop the site directly themselves.
• Lambeth is getting the funding for the project, and this will be repaid from the rents over time.
• Lambeth have employed Igloo who provide their development experience, but receive a fee not a share of the profit.
• Some great architects, who are each known for their specific expertise, are working on the project, including a local Brixton architect. It's looking fantastic - see below:

http://www.brixtongreen.org/wp-content/uploads/Brixton-Green-Meet-the-Architects-boards-1.pdf

• None of the 1,200 members of Brixton Green can profit from their shares. We are a voluntary, non-profit community benefit society. Brixton Green is not a private developer.

Jobs for local people

We are committed to making sure local people get jobs and skills from the project. Building starts next year, but we are working now to make sure we get real skills for our young people, not just tick boxes. The Green Man Skills Zone taking over management of Number Six is part of this. We want to make sure we have a group of young people ready to benefit from the apprenticeships.

Number Six (meanwhile space – a ‘pop-up’ space)

Brixton Green is currently leasing Number Six from Lambeth Council, on a short-term basis, until the building is demolished to make way for the new development. Brixton Green agreed with Lambeth to turn the old kitchen building into a space which could be used constructively by the community during this period, until it is demolished. It has taken a lot of effort to turn this near-derelict building into a vibrant space. We have asked other organisations to manage the building on our behalf because, as a volunteer run organisation, we do not have the capacity to manage it. We recognise that there have been a number of changes in management since it opened which have perhaps been confusing for groups wanting to use the space.

View full statement here

 

[Brixton_Green]

Brixton Green is fighting against gentrification

We have worked hard to find a viable solution where public land can be about people, not profit. Local authorities have a duty to get best value and there is the temptation for them to go with a private developer. It was a huge task to convince Lambeth Council to take a new approach from 2011 to 2013.

This project is not just important for Somerleyton Road, if we can prove a viable model it will be important for the whole of London. Public assets used to build homes for local people, provide jobs, empower local communities and improve their quality of life. Not sold off to developers.

There are plenty of private developers in London who are creating developments with 'poor doors' or no social housing. There are plenty of developments which cause all but the richer members of the community to move away from their family and friends. It is amazing that Mike Slocombe, Jason Cobb, Boyd Hill and Maria Santos are working so hard to discredit and spread rumours about a community project that aims to solve many of the challenging issues our community faces. They are spending their time and money attacking a community project rather than working to support the project and helping to make sure more of the community can be involved.

View full statement here

 

[Brixton_Green]

Responding to specific rumours and allegation appearing in social media, online and on posters made by the Brixton Buzz, Boyd Hill and Maria Santos, we set out the facts:

1. The community have not been locked out of No.6:

1) There has been community activity at Number Six throughout this period when they've made accusations that the building was locked, including continued activity from Boyd Hill, a volunteer of Small World Urbanism and Maria Santos.

2) Brixton Green sent an email to the various members of Brixton Come Together to let them know that the building was still available for them to hire when the accusations were first made. Brixton Come Together had done some great work for the project and we wanted to ensure there continued to be a positive, supportive relationship.

3) Maria Santos's initial frustration when she got back from spending the winter out of the country was that she wanted to use office space in the building, instead of hiring space.

4) At the time, we spoke to Green Man Skills (the new management) and they were agreeable for Maria Santos to have an office.

However on the 15th June, Maria Santos and approx 20 other people including Mike Slocombe, caused a disturbance in the building. There was a community youth project at the building at the time. The young people had to be sent home for their own safety. Boyd Hill and Filip, one of the other volunteers of Small World Urbanism, have been aggressive to the Green Man Skills team making it impossible for them to keep their staff and attendees safe while working the building. All bookings have been postponed until this matter is resolved. Brixton Come Together and Small World Urbanism have now been informed they will not be permitted to hire the space following their recent behaviour.

We need to make sure this space is available for the whole community and ensure that it is not dominated by a small group who wish to exclude others. The cost of running the space needs to be shared fairly by all users.

View full statement here

 

[Brixton_Green]

2. Brixton Green’s trustees are always willing to answer questions, if information is not clear on our website:

Brixton Green does not have an office, as we do not have the finances to rent one, so most of our communication is through meeting people face-to-face, emails and providing information on our website.

Comments on Urban 75: A few years back Brixton Green spent half a day on the Urban 75 forum answering all the questions regarding the project. When all questions had been answered and errors put to right Mike Slocombe, the editor of Urban 75, deleted our answers then posted comments asking ‘why won’t Brixton Green our answer questions’.

Other users of Urban 75 have gone further and have contacted politicians and organisations we work with in an attempt to discredit this community initiative.

View full statement here

 

[Brixton_Green]

3. Brixton Green’s Finances are transparent, and show how any money that is raised is then spent – these accounts are shared and approved at each AGM by the membership of Brixton Green: -

No one from Brixton Green can take a profit from the development.

The accusations regarding Brixton Green's finances are also untrue.

1) Jason Cobb questioned why Brixton Green's accounts show a deficit for the year ending 2014. The only substantial funding Brixton Green has received was funding we raised from the GLA's Community Right To Build programme. This GLA funding programme was structured so that community organisations had to spend the money before the GLA would pay the funds. This is quite common with funding programmes. Therefore Brixton Green had to raise a loan from Big Issue Invest against the initial funding approval. The funding was not paid until the following financial year which is the reason for the deficit in the 2014 accounts. The funding helped provide the evidence which Brixton Green used to convince Lambeth Council to work in partnership with the community to develop the site. The funds were used for legal advice on the community trust, architects, planning & cost advice, community engagement (the deliberative workshops & consultation events) and marketing.

2) Jason Cobb has also made accusations that Brixton Green has been "pocketing" money from Lambeth Council. The only funds Brixton Green has received from Lambeth Council were to pay for the Blockworkout gym equipment, an upfront hire fee for use of Number Six and repayment of costs Brixton Green incurred for engagement and events we carried out on behalf of Lambeth Council.

3) Boyd Hill has made many accusations regarding the Awards for All funding for activity at Number Six. Again these are untrue. Brixton Green has been in touch with the Big Lottery to inform them of the nature of Boyd's accusations. The Big Lottery is not "investigating" Brixton Green. The programme period finishes on the 8th July. £5,000 was paid for a sessional project manager (Boyd Hill and Maria Santos saw the work that this project manager carried out and on occasions worked with her). The gardening project budget was paid to Small World Urbanism. The Brixton Stories and enterprise elements were to be led by Aculco but were not able to go ahead, so they are now being led by the Green Man Skills Zone. It was part of the Brixton Stories project that was disrupted by Maria Santos and Mike Slocombe last Monday when they stopped the young people in their workshop.

Our trustees are happy to meet anyone to discuss the Somerleyton Road project, but we will not engage in any online debate on Urban 75 or Brixton Buzz, because when we tried to do this in good faith, the information has been taken down or misrepresented.

Please feel free to contact us via our website, or speak to one of our trustees.

This statement is from the Board of Brixton Green, 24/06/2015

View full statement here

 

[equationgirl]

How can you claim to engage with and work with the community Brixton_Green when you have just said you won't debate on urban?

How can the community engage with Brixton green when emails and phone calls trying to raise issues are ignored?

 

[ViolentPanda]

Brixton_Green
Pity it's taken you,in some cases, more than 2 years to answer some fairly basic enquiries about what you are, and what you do.
Two issues (it would be more,as each of your posts are full of...well, the usual faecal stuff):
In post 174 you claim "Brixton Green spent half a day on the Urban 75 forum answering all the questions regarding the project.". If you're as fond of accuracy as you claim, then you'd have stated that Brad Carroll, not "Brixton Green", made a handful of posts one afternoon that answered some questions, and ignored others.

In post 173 you claim that "Maria Santos and approx 20 other people including Mike Slocombe, caused a disturbance in the building". A "disturbance" so serious that police called by your stooge refused to get involved.

What you've written are a series of press releases, unimpressive and laden with interpretations of events that favour your narrative. A sixth-form "Media Studies" student would find them callow.

 

[ViolentPanda]

How can you claim to engage with and work with the community Brixton_Green when you have just said you won't debate on urban?

How can the community engage with Brixton green when emails and phone calls trying to raise issues are ignored?

Urban won't toe their line/isn't amenable to how they/Brad Carroll did/does business (Brad has historically preferred to schmooze people privately than debate publicly), so we're "the enemy" as far as these leeches are concerned.

 

[teuchter]

So why were their posts, a couple of years ago when they answered questions on U75, deleted?

I've seen enough of how the "moderation" works here to fully understand why they might want to stay away.

 

[ViolentPanda]

In recent weeks there appears to have been a lot of misinformation about Brixton Green and the Somerleyton Road Project published in the Brixton Buzz, Urban 75 and the Brixton Come Together Facebook pages.

For the record, Brixton Green is a community benefit society set up by Brixton residents so Brixton people can be at the forefront of the redevelopment of Somerleyton Road. We are proud of the work we have done, we have nothing to hide, and welcome questions, challenge and scrutiny. The latter is one of the good things about Brixton and the Brixton Buzz does a great job in making Brixton an informed community. At the same time, the Brixton Buzz also has a responsibility to report facts. In recent weeks, it has reported a number of false statements about Brixton Green, which are potentially damaging for the success of this community-led project.

View full statement here

If the statements are provably false, then you could very cheaply bring action.
That you haven't indicates that either you have no resources to do so (unlikely), or that you've sought advice and been told that while the statements may be contentious, they're not provably false.
So, which is it? Are you skint, or are you bullshitting?

 

[ViolentPanda]

So why were their posts, a couple of years ago when they answered questions here, deleted?

Why don't you ask one of those with the power to delete,if you believe that's happened? You could even have done so privately, if you actually gave a fuck.