teuchter
je suis teuchter
Same guy as did the house next to Brockwell Park that was on Grand Designs.
Brixton Somerleyton Road development, Ovalhouse and Brixton Green - funding, proposed rents etc
- Thread starter ViolentPanda
- Start date
Same guy as did the house next to Brockwell Park that was on Grand Designs.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
Yes one of my ex Coop members said they saw him on that.
editor
hiraethified
Sorry if I'm a bit late with this, but who are Fielden Clegg Bradley Studios and why are they calling the entire development Brixton Green?
http://fcbstudios.com/work/view/brixton-green
http://fcbstudios.com/work/view/brixton-green
editor
hiraethified
Hahaha. And the second, more relevant part of the question?
teuchter
je suis teuchter
editor
hiraethified
Stop this please.
Twattor
Well-Known Member
The noticeable absence of Brixton Green on Saturday was rather pleasant. Normally they around trying to push the BG shares and generally being irritating.
Just met some in the pub. Really enthusiastic. BG may be Brixton's answer to scientology.
organicpanda
cat herder extraodinaire
they seem to have completely demolished Carlton Mansions in that pic
eta just realised they've also knicked the tree from my garden!!!
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Gramsci
Well-Known Member
This is now out of date. I know its confusing. I have just tried to remember last Saturday and checked online. Its from a few years ago. Its when BG had the idea they would get whole site off Council to build there little empire.
As I have said before the Somerleyton Road project is now a Council led project. With Brixton Greens role to wind people up and cause arguments.
The architects appointed by the Council for the theatre are now Foster William William architects. Who have experience of designing public buildings.
More info here on which architects are appointed
I did have a bit of a chat with them and OvalhouseDB
The theatre will not just be a theatre. It will have rehearsal space. So Ovalhouse can do more of the work they do at Oval with young people etc. Most theatres in London do not have this. So if I get it correctly the new building will be partly public space and theatre. Ovalhouse reckon the new building will give them more space than at Oval.
The only irritating thing is that there is now a new floor on top of theatre for our old friends "Livity"
The hip media agency who some posters may remember.
At least one of BG pet projects the Chefs School will no longer be in the Mansions. Though its now planned to have building behind the theatre. Really need youth to be trained up to serve the needs of Nu Brixton eateries.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
New doc out on Scientology.
Scarily there are parallels.
I really hope the debacle over Number 6 will make the leading Cllrs think seriously about BG role in this project.
Though as in Scientology BG are not to underestimated.
Twattor
Well-Known Member
OK. So, the chap I met seemed like a lovely bloke - my sort of age, my sort of quantity of hair, quite easy going and affable. He did tell me his name, but I'm hopeless with names so it could be anything; wasn't Phillipe or Brad or anything unusual. He did say he had met someone from Buzz recently, had been harangued and didn't think they listened.
I'm really unclear about the purpose of BG; have wanted to ask here but didn't fancy being referred to pages 1-..., so took the opportunty to ask for it to be explained to me.
Am still none the wiser tbh. I understand that Lambeth want to develop the site. I know from experience that LBL don't have the expertise to do it themeselves. BG chap (let's call him Fred) told me that they have employed Igloo as consulltants on a fixed price, and they have then appointed their own architects. I'm guessing this is the Igloo which is essentially a fund which invests in urban regen, but i've never head of them providing solely consultation and design services. This makes me slightly suspicious, irrespective of "Fred's" exhortations to the contrary.
"Fred" told me that 1,800 local people had joined BG for a registration fee of £1 each. For that princely sum he told me that they get occasional emails and are able to comment on plannig matters. He seemed very excited about this, as if non-affiliate brixtonites don't have this ability. He told me that BG had no goal other than ensuring that there would be 40% affordable in Somerleyton (although seemed unaware of SPG, PPG, local plans and MoL), and that it wouldn't go along the lines of e.g.: Myatts. He seemed to think that BG had no future designs after achieving these aims, and professed to having no knowledge of PC or BC's agenda, but didn't know what would happen to BG once their dreams were realised.
I still don't entierly understand how it all fits together, as i have still not found anyone to explain why the council would engage a pension fund and bunch of random locals to manage a regen; i don't understand where anyone has demonstrated the necessary expertise or commercial/construction acumen to be appointed to this role. I don't understand the family tree of responsibilty and accountability, and i don't understand what is trying to be achieved. If anyone can do me a simple picture i'd be most grateful.
I'm really unclear about the purpose of BG; have wanted to ask here but didn't fancy being referred to pages 1-..., so took the opportunty to ask for it to be explained to me.
Am still none the wiser tbh. I understand that Lambeth want to develop the site. I know from experience that LBL don't have the expertise to do it themeselves. BG chap (let's call him Fred) told me that they have employed Igloo as consulltants on a fixed price, and they have then appointed their own architects. I'm guessing this is the Igloo which is essentially a fund which invests in urban regen, but i've never head of them providing solely consultation and design services. This makes me slightly suspicious, irrespective of "Fred's" exhortations to the contrary.
"Fred" told me that 1,800 local people had joined BG for a registration fee of £1 each. For that princely sum he told me that they get occasional emails and are able to comment on plannig matters. He seemed very excited about this, as if non-affiliate brixtonites don't have this ability. He told me that BG had no goal other than ensuring that there would be 40% affordable in Somerleyton (although seemed unaware of SPG, PPG, local plans and MoL), and that it wouldn't go along the lines of e.g.: Myatts. He seemed to think that BG had no future designs after achieving these aims, and professed to having no knowledge of PC or BC's agenda, but didn't know what would happen to BG once their dreams were realised.
I still don't entierly understand how it all fits together, as i have still not found anyone to explain why the council would engage a pension fund and bunch of random locals to manage a regen; i don't understand where anyone has demonstrated the necessary expertise or commercial/construction acumen to be appointed to this role. I don't understand the family tree of responsibilty and accountability, and i don't understand what is trying to be achieved. If anyone can do me a simple picture i'd be most grateful.
editor
hiraethified
Thanks for posting this. It pretty much sums up my total confusion with BG, and I've been trying to work them out for years on end.
Good luck trying to find someone who can make sense of it all.
ViolentPanda
Hardly getting over it.
In our brave new managerialist world, idiots the like of which populate the council's cabinet tend to believe that management skills are transferable - that if you can manage a sweetshop, you can manage a construction project, given the right staff.
I think you'll find it difficult to find anyone who can do you "a simple picture", too. I'm not sure that even those on the inside of the project have a full grasp, let alone any "concerned citizens".
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
As I said previously I was asked before to explain how it all worked.
Its a good question. I really think the Council should do this. The Future Brixton website contains info mixed in with Council PR for the project. ( Not all of which I agree with with). So its an effort to disentangle the PR fluff to make a clear picture of what you are asking. Also there are so many pages of info you have to trawl through a lot of stuff. Some of which is now out of date.
The project has a steering group consisting of reps from Ovalhouse and Brixton Green along with Cabinet member for Housing (Bennett) and senior officers.
They are (supposedly) the top of the tree. They agree how the project will move forward in true Cooperative Council style. Whether this always works in practise is another matter. The Council - senior officers in Regen and top Cllrs have the most clout imo.
However despite the appearance that this is a "Cooperative" project run by the Steering group its not that simple.
Key decisions will be taken by Cabinet member for Housing along with Leader of the Council if necessary. Other key decisions will be taken by senior officers using authority delegated to them by Cllrs. This is because the Local Authority has powers and responsibilities it must keep to. The senior Cllrs have a duty to take responsibility for major decisions. As on Council owned Somerleyton road. They cannot just delegate or give away power to make certain decisions. Its their legal duty as elected representatives. Particularly in the case of this project as the Council will be raising the funds to build it. ( Ovalhouse are raising there own funds to build the theatre).
The Steering group will take all other decisions by vote. Each partner having one vote with the Council having two votes.
So in the end its a Council that takes the key decisions.
The Council in conjunction with the steering group choose Igloo as a development management team. Igloo will not be investing in the scheme. They are providing a team with the skills to manage the day to day work of design and development. Reporting back to the Steering Group. Councils no longer have inhouse development teams ( architects etc. ).
I also believe Igloo were chosen as they have experience of dealing with local communities. Igloo for example have hired Social Life to do a study of peoples views on the project so far.
( Makes me wonder in that case what is the point of BG in this project as Council have appointed Igloo. The Saturday event was run by Igloo for example. Also I know the some senior officers have been thinking of doing a Council led and funded scheme on the site for some years. This was separate from BG who give the impression it was all there idea.)
Accountability- its such a complicated structure that its hard to know who to complain to or ask questions about the scheme if you are just a local resident.
The Steering Group meetings for example are not open to public.
The debacle around Number 6 shows the shortcomings of the structure. Who does one ask for info when there is a dispute around use of centre? As Tricky Skills found its not that easy.
In the end the senior Cllrs are accountable.
This is first go at explaining this. Does this help? Any questions?
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editor
hiraethified
It seems a decent stab but I still can't work it out, and for an organisation that is supposed to be all about community engagement it seems horribly tangled and complex, and - I imagine - utterly unfathomable to most local residents.
Why would anyone have to pay a £1 to a third party group with vague aims just to have a say in community issues? It makes no sense.
Rushy
basically a scrotum
I seem to recall he made a fuss about the craftsmanship of the simple 50s house and a big deal about preserving parts of it. And then knocked it all down.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
Yes it is tangled and complex. And also there is a difference between the structure and the informal influence of a group like BG who are politically well connected. The debacle around Number 6 has dented there political clout from what I heard on Saturday. Dented it for the moment.
What I am saying is that according to the structure BG role is limited (in theory).
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
It does make no sense as Cllrs are elected to be accountable. You should not have to fork out a pound to have a say.
This is part of the problem with the idea of a Coop Council.
Rushy
basically a scrotum
I should add that, having inspected the property several times, I did not think it had any features of significant importance. Lack of quality aside, the design was also highly incongruous. I would have knocked it flat myself. (Which they effectively did after a lot of expensive farting about).
Tricky Skills
Well-Known Member
The Brixton Green statement said:
"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."
An FoI [pdf] to the Big Lottery adds:
"We are currently reviewing information in respect of the project progress. Until that review has concluded we do not hold the information that you have requested."
"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."
An FoI [pdf] to the Big Lottery adds:
"We are currently reviewing information in respect of the project progress. Until that review has concluded we do not hold the information that you have requested."
OvalhouseDB
Well-Known Member
Thank you, Gramsci, for your (as always) accurate account of the Somerleyton Rd Development structure.
The Steering group is chaired by Cllr Jack Hopkins, who took over from Cllr Pete Robbins.
So ward Cllrs, along with the relevant Cabinet members and the Steering group chair remain the ultimate accountable face for LBL for residents. At officer level Stuart Dixon has now taken over a lot of what Neil Vokes did at the beginning, and he is, in my opinion, very experienced, wise and of the same outlook as Neil. Some people may have met him on Saturday.
The management of SixBrixton is a separate agreement between LBL and BG - it was agreed at Steering Group that any 'meanwhile use' on the site would be a good thing, and BG, (with a lease from the council) took on the refurbishment of the building, bringing in BlockWorkout etc. It is not part of the Steering Group or Igloo's management remit, but it has been a good base for consultation meetings - I would say the ward councillors are the best route wrt accountability.
The Steering group is chaired by Cllr Jack Hopkins, who took over from Cllr Pete Robbins.
So ward Cllrs, along with the relevant Cabinet members and the Steering group chair remain the ultimate accountable face for LBL for residents. At officer level Stuart Dixon has now taken over a lot of what Neil Vokes did at the beginning, and he is, in my opinion, very experienced, wise and of the same outlook as Neil. Some people may have met him on Saturday.
The management of SixBrixton is a separate agreement between LBL and BG - it was agreed at Steering Group that any 'meanwhile use' on the site would be a good thing, and BG, (with a lease from the council) took on the refurbishment of the building, bringing in BlockWorkout etc. It is not part of the Steering Group or Igloo's management remit, but it has been a good base for consultation meetings - I would say the ward councillors are the best route wrt accountability.
CH1
"Red Guard"(NLYL)
I think the salary costs are the most interesting part. Why is this private?
editor
hiraethified
I'm looking into taking legal action against BG. Their statement is peppered with lies and inaccuracies, but the suggestion that I caused a disturbance and endangered young people is seriously defamatory.
I popped in for about three minutes in my capacity as a journalist to take two photographs of the police talking to Ms Santos some time after this supposed "disturbance" had happened. I was there for about 4 minutes and left. The children had already been sent home. This was witnessed by several people - including the police - and the photo timestamps will back this up.
Has anyone an active, working email address for BG?
I did not enter the building with "Maria Santos and approx 20 other people." I did not disrupt a youth project or endanger any young people because I was not there when any of this happened.
I popped in for about three minutes in my capacity as a journalist to take two photographs of the police talking to Ms Santos some time after this supposed "disturbance" had happened. I was there for about 4 minutes and left. The children had already been sent home. This was witnessed by several people - including the police - and the photo timestamps will back this up.
Has anyone an active, working email address for BG?
snowy_again
Slush
So they're not "under investigation"
Tricky Skills
Well-Known Member
Investigation / review...
editor
hiraethified
Sounds like they're "under review." Some may say that it adds up to the same thing. Others may not. I guess it all depends how you want to read the phrase, but BG are proven liars.
