In my last post I dealt with the "unusual" circumstances in which a huge town centre car park is to be demolished at public expense and handed to Planet Ice (or one of their associated companies). This prompted someone to contact me and advise that at the private Tesco opening function in West Bromwich - back in July 2013, Sandwell Council (SMBC) "leader", Cooper, was bragging about a big new central regeneration project (this just one-month after announcing the closure of a big central regeneration project - The Public).
This caused me to check back and I am ashamed to say that, in my bumbling amateur way, I had missed the elephant in the room! On 15th July, 2013 the Express and Star did an article on the ice rink project (or published a SMBC press release whichever you prefer) and it makes very interesting reading indeed. Please go to the E&S website if you want to read the full article.
I have put this up in two posts already but must give you the exact wording from the minutes of the Cabinet Committee meeting of 18th December, 2013 (SIX MONTHS AFTER the E&S article):
"The Council has been approached by company xxxxx xxxx, who wish to develop an ice rink within West Bromwich....."
But hang on, what's this from The Express and Star: "He (Cooper) added the talks started after HE initiated the idea with a number of companies." They then directly quote motor-mouth as saying, "I put the feelers out there with one or two organisations....."
First big question - And so what, in a time of austerity and "cuts" - and at the same time as The Public is being closed (allegedly for financial reasons) - is Cooper doing going round offering up Council assets for the use of a private company?
In the same E&S article he is also quoted as saying that the site (in July 2013) was "yet to be confirmed" but then says, "it requires some demolition to take place." And so it appears, if the Tesco function story is true, that Cooper was talking about a central site which, by his own admission required demolition, but which was unable to be confirmed!
Second big question - why was rent-a-gob so anxious to have an ice rink in West Brom - is it some pathetic attempt at leaving a "legacy" because he is certainly doing that already!
Third big question - did Cooper contact "one" or "two" or more developers as he stated. Who were the others? Why were THEY not interested? Who chose the car park site?
Council employees and "strategic finance" were then ordered to investigate all this at taxpayers' expense - presumably authorised by "independent" £165,659 per annum Chief Executive, Jan Britton. Interestingly, and as previously, the scheme got a low score of only 54% but a little thing like that isn't going to make any difference to Cooper & Co.
Fourth big question - what was the cost in time and resources for Council officials to investigate this scheme? Once again (and as with The Public) why was none of this put out to tender or open competition? How much revenue will be lost from closure of the car park?
The matter then came to the Asset Committee of the "cabinet" (see above and last blog post). We must conclude that either the E&S got their story and quotes wrong in July 2013 (highly-unlikely and no trace of Cooper asking for a correction), or that whoever drew up the minutes made a fundamental "mistake", or that someone is lying.
As previously stated the three committee members, Hussain, Crompton and Ealing managed to get through the minutes of the previous meeting, THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE and NINE other agenda items in just 30 minutes. We must assume, surely, that Cooper did not exercise any influence on these three councillors which makes it all the more surprising, noting the 54% score, that they should not only very quickly resolve to abandon the original lease idea but then resolve to SELL the publicly-owned site to Planet Ice!
Fifth big question - why was decision made - what will the terms be - why is SMBC only dealing with one party?
As I said on Twitter @bcrover - there is a bad smell here. Someone has farted but we don't know who!
AND FINALLY:
Funny how outside organisations always approach SMBC isn't it? Remember para 6.9 of The Public fundamental review: "In September 2012 Sandwell College APPROACHED THE COUNCIL and initiated discussions concerning the conversion of The Public to a 6th form centre." Is THIS true?
ALL INFO GRATEFULLY RECEIVED:
VERNON GRANT, BOX 374, 27 COLMORE ROW, BIRMINGHAM B3 2EW
Twitter - @bcrover (#icestink for this story)
http://www.expressandstar.com/business/midlands-business/2014/02/12/100-jobs-on-way-in-west-bromwich-ice-rink-plan/
ReplyDeleteResponse to Express and Star
Wednesday 12 February 2014
100 jobs on way in West Bromwich ice rink plan
Contracts not signed, and No Planning Permission! - But, 100 Jobs! No doubt Sandwell Council will give itself Planning Permission, and then do the deal with Planet Ice Property Leisure (Unlisted Company). However, Planet Ice is listed currently as a Non-Trading Company. Planet Ice is a subsidiary of The Arena Group (UK) Limited which is a Dissolved Company. So what status do any negotiations have? Some of us didn't come down with the last shower of rain, Mr Cooper! – However, it does look as though a few people at Sandwell Council did! – Or did they?
The loss of the Car Park to the Sandwell Centre will be the final nail in its coffin; and will have a knock-on effect to the rest of the town centre, in terms of parking, access, and convenience. Yes, the building is ugly and needs repair (What building wouldn't after 45 years?) However, it serves a purpose.
With their usual ineptness, the Butcher, Baker and Candlestick Maker, will 'Play' at being Property Developers again – Pay all fees, will probably pay for the Demolition of the existing Car Park, and lease the land at a 'Bargain Basement' price, or give it away! - Only to find that they have paid for a 'White Elephant!' Then they can do it all over again, or convert it into a Sixth Form College.