Angry residents voice fears over the future of Immingham Resource Centre
PROPOSALS to hand back the running of Immingham's Resource Centre to the community have been met with scepticism by those campaigning to secure its future.
As reported, North East Lincolnshire Council had earmarked the building for closure, after an eight-month review revealed it was no longer financially viable.
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ANSWERING QUESTIONS: Councillor Chris Shaw addresses the Immingham residents, as Mick Burnett, Mark Lait and Janice Carter look on.
Last year, the centre ran at a £170,000 loss, with £160,000 of the deficit being spent on what NELC leader Chris Shaw described as "crippling" charges from other council departments, such as human resources and IT.
While NELC had previously been able to fund the centre, cuts in the amount of money it receives from central Government have meant it has had to cut costs, with the council looking to save £43 million over the next four years.
The decision sparked outrage among users – which include community groups such as Brownies, dance clubs, and local football clubs.
At a meeting at Immingham Civic Centre on Thursday, NELC and the Labour leader's proposal to hand over the running of the centre to them for a "peppercron rent" of £1 per year, was not well received.
"We don't want to close it, we don't want to see people with nowhere to go. We would much rather hand it over to the people of Immingham," said Mr Shaw.
He also pledged to carry out more research into concerns raised over the condition of the building, adding the centre seems "well looked after".
However, he and deputy leader Mick Burnett were heckled and booed by residents, who said they should have been told about the proposed closure when it was first approved – subject to review – in February last year.
Although NELC wrote to many of those who used the centre, campaigners said this was "not enough" claiming Immingham was "losing everything".
After the meeting, campaigner Chris Charlton, 40, of Lydia Court, said: "I just hope he is true to his word."
Lynda Dolby, division commissioner for Rainbows, Brownies, and Guides, added: "Without this centre, I don't know where we will go. This meeting was well-needed as we have not been told the truth throughout this whole process. The only way forward is to get together and try to save it.
"Time will tell whether our efforts will make a difference. I will reserve my judgement until it actually happens."
Chris Renardson, 67, of Thornton Place, said: "I wanted to find out why we weren't told before, but I still don't have any answers. They care about Grimsby and Cleethorpes – they don't give a damn about Immingham."
17 Comments
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by fedupimmres
Monday, February 06 2012, 7:26AM
“WELLWELL PILGRIM2010
Thank you for your positive comments regarding the public meeting I also attended. As i know the chairpeople who as you quoted were not very good can i just say in their defence these people are not town councillors nor do they have public meetings in their day to day jobs... but they are passionate about the facilities are are going to be losing in Immingham.These people should not off been put in this position, after also attending the last Immingham town council meeting i did hear them try to ask questions of their council regarding the closure of the resource centre . Not sure why Dave Jackson isnt the mayor as the mayor obviously cannot say anything without being directed to by him... The mayor said this is nothing to do with Immingham Town Council and that they should speak to the NELC portfolio holder which they did and got nowhere.
How can our council say they knew nothing about it when they suddenly last year started planning on relocating the museum to the civic centre. Why is this nothing to do with Immingham Town Council they should know what is happening in the town of Immingham at all times, after all what are we paying them for if it isnt to look after the interests of Immingham.
Its about time they got off there backsides and stood up and supported people like the 3 campaigners are doing, maybe there not perfect but they are passionate about what is happening in Immingham and Im sure if they can keep it on and save it they will do that...
Some reason I cant help but feel you are a councillor and it is you that should be holding meetings in Immingham and fighting for what are are about to lose not local residents....”
by pilgrim2010
Sunday, February 05 2012, 2:16PM
“Well do the residents of the town want to run the centre or not, one gent, I think he was a Mr Morrison offered his pound but no one else supported him. In reality room hire rents need increasing because £7:50 per hour is not high enough, it is no wonder the place loses money. It is clear with the budget cuts by the Tory Government services run by councils need looking at closely and I for one do not want my council tax pumped into a loss making facility. So come on people of Immingham get together and take up Councillor Shaw's offer and run it yourself unless despite the protest I think it will have to close.”
by Shenfield
Sunday, February 05 2012, 12:07PM
“So which officer at Nelc missed the tenant with a 25 yr lease?
Once again Cllr shaw you have been fed dud information by your officers
In your own words you state this has been badly handled for the sake of our local area GET A GRIP on your over paid officers who seem to be able to do what they want Will little or no concern for the local community”
by Immingham79
Sunday, February 05 2012, 11:10AM
“Dear Davex66
Hear hear! An excellent and factual comment regarding what actually transpired. I was disappointed to note that all three of our current NELC Immingham ward councillors (two are Labour and one is Conservative) were not speaking out at the meeting as passionate advocates on our behalf, and have not raised this NOISILY with the people they were representing a long, long time before now.
~Why did none of them try to do something before the eleventh hour so it had to come to this?
~Why were they not making a noise at the meeting?
~Prior to this why have we not being reading about them making waves and waving facts and impassioned arguments back at the NELC leadership as the decisions were being made from June to December for us?
~Why did they not work with the community and the NELC Leadership to come up with alternatives to closure, long before this?
As for the meeting, I'm not even sure any of the NELC Immingham Ward Councillors were there (I'm happy to stand corrected if in fact they were there and just keeping quiet). I don't care about party politics at local level, I care that elected individuals act on our behalf as Immingham residents and vigorously defend our interests as decisions are being made. This clearly didn't happen. It was also evident that communication between our NELC Ward Councillors and the Town Council was poor, as a united front to defend our interests in this (and other matters) could have been made there.
On a positive note it was lovely to see Immingham people out in force united on this. I was prouder than ever to be an Imminghamite that night.”
by notworthit
Sunday, February 05 2012, 10:28AM
“Chris Shaw is a little out of date with his reference to "recharges" is is now known as "Internal Trading" sounds so much better after all (even if it does create unnecessary work and costs). When you consider services as a business you will inevitably come unstuck and that is already happening. Congratulations for recognising that Chris - but what are you going to do about it.
Many of the over-inflated and over paid egos at the council are in denial about their role in life. They do not conduct business - they provide services. The end user has no choice, there is no competition, there is no "Compare the Council dot com" for the taxpayer.
Of course in the great "pecking order" I suppose that the title "business manager" warrants higher salaries than a "service manager" and heaven forbid that the job title actually suggests that the job involves the management of cleaning drains or emptying bins.”
by Davex66
Sunday, February 05 2012, 10:21AM
“There has been the usual amount of misinformation from Labour people on here, but given their record that's not at all surprising, but there are some facts that have emerged that need restating:
1) The decision taken by 40 of the 42 councillors was to CARRY OUT A REVIEW of Immingham Resource Centre - a few apologies to Cllr Swinburn wouldn't be out of place here would they!
2) The LABOUR administration MADE THE DECISION TO RECCOMEND CLOSURE of the resource centre - they should take responsibility for this!
3) The fact emerged that one of the users of the centre holds a 25 year lease on the premises (OOPS!!!)
4) LABOUR NOW WANT THE COMMUNITY TO TAKE OVER THE CENTRE - which is currently running at a loss of £170,000pa - wow thanks! This is the only way for Chris Shaw to get out of the problem of the lease!
5) THE BULK OF THE £7MN THAT LABOUR SUPPORTERS KEEP GOING ON ABOUT HAS BEEN RETURNED TO N E LINCS BY THE RECEIVERS OF THE BANKS,AND THE REMAINDER WILl ALSO BE RETURNED AS THE PROCESS TAKES IT'S COURSE
Immingham pays plenty in local taxes but still has little in the way of local facilities.
It has a Labour controlled town council, three Labour Ward Councillors on NELC and Labour control NELC.
The people of Immingham need to wake up to this and do something about it at election time BECAUSE LABOUR ARE NOT DOING YOU ANY GOOD!!!”
by Immingham79
Sunday, February 05 2012, 9:42AM
“Dear Pilgrim 2010
Were you not at the meeting like I was? Were you not paying attention? In February 2011 Cllr Shaw confirmed that 40 out of 42 Councillors agreed to a REVIEW. The actual decision to close the centre (plus alleged 'consultations') was taken post election June through to December. This was said at least twice. Cllr Shaw was very honest and confirmed that it had been 'handled badly' and apologised about this. So please go and grind your axe and nurse your personal grudge somewhere else or else stick to the facts.”
by Shenfield
Sunday, February 05 2012, 8:39AM
“Pilgrim interesting thing on that recharge thing
Did you get to the bottom of the question as to actual operating costs against income
We are told that irc cost £170,000 to run
How much income came in last year ? Take one from the other and should give a true picture of the real running costs
Also if this recharge thing is such an issue can our councillors explain why there appears to be £2.4 millon ( yes million ) outstanding with Nelc partners Balfour over internal charges as reported in the last scrutiny report on the Nelc web site ?
With Kent street resource centre likely to miss it's revenue targets this year ( as reported in the same document) will Nelc be off loading this building as well
If Nelc can close Immingham then surely they have to do the same across ALl Centres in all areas that are not breaking even”
by p_rhana
Saturday, February 04 2012, 11:55PM
“Incidentally Allun, if you don't want Cllr. Shaw as council leader after May, which of the duo who had their hands jostling around the controls as our £7,000,000 was lost, are you supporting?
£7,000,000 WOULD DO A LOT OF GOOD TODAY.”
by p_rhana
Saturday, February 04 2012, 11:42PM
“Come on Allun, you have Cllr Shaw down as Midas (sorry as Sadim – a copied and pasted story) now as a reverse Robin Hood. You aren't half reminded of some funny things and you seem to be too obsessed with Chris, so I was going to advise you to take it easy. However, this would be a golden opportunity for YOU (being as UBER PENSIONER hasn't laid finger on keyboard) to offer your great expertise and skills and show everyone how to make it all work, but let me guess, your first action would be to sack the CEO of NEL and that's not very imaginative or realistic.”