Editor's choice September 2008

Friends Institute Future In Jeopardy

Tenants, users and the local community were given shocking news recently when Council Officers informed them that their building, the Friends Institute would have to be closed. This surprising news followed an inspection of the building’s boiler by a city council engineer that resulted in it being turned off. The cost to replace it was then estimated to be in the region of around £25,000, which according to the Hall Green Constituency Committee was too costly. Due to a lack of heating and hot water a decision by the committee was taken to close the building.

Not so Expensive

With the Friends Institute being home to over 40 arts and community organisations, the news was a dreadful blow. As a result a campaign was started to save the over 100-year-old building. Shortly after a further inspection by a different engineer revealed that the true cost to reinstate the boiler would in fact be considerably less at just below £3,000.

Fiasco

A recent meeting by supporters of the centre put pressure on Council Senior Officer for Hall Green Constituency, Peter Hobbs to provide heaters for the building while the boiler was out of action. The next day portable coolers were sent to the building by bungling council workers.

Decision

At the same meeting Council Officer Mr Hobbs when pressed about the decision to close the building revealed that the decision regardless of the boiler had been made in July by members of the Hall Green Constituency Committee. With yearly losses of around £40,000 the closure of the building would help to limit the constituencies over spend which for last year was at £254,000.

More Work

A further twist to the story was recently revealed when a request to resurface the buildings car park was given the go ahead at a cost of £8,000 despite the constituencies’ financial difficulties.

Petition

A petition to save the building from closure was presented at the council house by Councillor Yaqoob at a recent council meeting. In support users from the Matchbox Café and friends of the Friends Institute applauded. When quizzed about the future of the building by Councillor Yaqoob at the same council meeting Councillor Cox reiterated the importance of the £40,000 overspend but did not show any support for the future of the building.

When asked about the situation Councillor Yaqoob said, “The fact is that because the building was donated by the Quakers the Council don’t have to pay any rent. The tenants pay the council rent, which should then be used for the maintenance of the building. So if they can’t manage the building under these favourable circumstances then what can they manage?”

Matchbox

Clients of the Matchbox Café have been particularly affected by the upsetting news. A cooperative run for adults with learning difficulties, the closure of the centre would be a powerful blow. The clients’ involvement in the day-to-day running of the café provides a means of meeting people, building confidence and earning money. However the proposed closure would be a devastating blow to the group who have been regularly used by the city council as a prime example of a successful cooperative.