Regular readers will know that the rapacious Sandwell College moved into its brand-new taxpayer-funded £77m Spon Lane Campus in or around September 2013 but, according to Sandwell Council (and they never lie), in precisely that month the College decided it wanted to take-over another £70M building in central West Bromwich, The Public. Of course, they were never going to get the money for this via the usual channels - having just had a shiny new campus - but the Labour Group of Sandwell Council, with their hatred of The Public project, were only too happy to assist and hence the still-secret multi-million pound taxpayer-funded "Concordat" deal between these two public bodies (still secret despite a Freedom of Information Act request).
Sandwell Council then had its own Chief Executive, Jan Britton, appointed to the Board of Governors of Sandwell College. His first full Board meeting post-appointment was on 9th December, 2013 but, at the time of writing - 2nd MAY 2014 (!!!!) - the College has not published the minutes which should show whether Britton was at the meeting or not (and no-one will tell me if he was there or not despite repeated requests). It is not as if he is hard to miss! (Incidentally, there is another FoI request in for the minutes now).
(NEW INFO 03/05/14: Since posting this I have now had a response to my Freedom of Information Act request which confirms that Jan Britton WAS at the meeting when this agenda item was discussed, did not see fit to declare an interest and was, presumably, happy to see public money channelled to his political masters!)
(NEW INFO 03/05/14: Since posting this I have now had a response to my Freedom of Information Act request which confirms that Jan Britton WAS at the meeting when this agenda item was discussed, did not see fit to declare an interest and was, presumably, happy to see public money channelled to his political masters!)
Although West Bromwich is awash with empty (and cheap) commercial offices the Board of Governors of 9th December, 2013 just happened to decide to take what is alleged to be a six-month only lease at Terry Duffy House - happily (sic) owned by Labour Party Properties Limited.
Following my FoI request we now know that the net rental is £3,000 per month into the pockets of Labour ie £18,000 if the lease does only last for 6 months. I understand these offices have had empty space for some considerable time but The College was happy to use your money to pay Labour a generous (for West Bromwich) £9.11p per square foot*. They have also had to use our money for legal fees and other ancillary costs.
Unbelievably, The College has also paid £4,300 ex vat of our money - yours and mine - to buy Labour some brand new carpets which they say they will leave in Terry Duffy House when (if) they leave after 6 months (which will also be after the election)! Sorry for the pun but Labour are getting PILES of cash!
Of course, none of this things can possibly be related can they?
* The "Con"cordat deal is still being kept secret but the strong rumour is that The College are only paying back the multi-million pound costs of conversion of The Public and that they are paying little or even NO rent for 25 years! As an iconic landmark building the converted Public should be capable of achieving a tidy rental. Even at just the £9.11 psf The College is paying Labour for bog-standard offices this would equate to a net rental for The Public of £1.1 million per annum to Sandwell Council (£27.5m over the 25 years plus inflation-linking). That is based on pre-conversion square footage.
THE SANDWELL SKIDDER - A COMMUNITY BLOG
All info welcome concerning Sandwell Council, Sandwell College and Interserve.
e thesandwellskidder@gmail.com t @bcrover (Vernon Grant)
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