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<body class='hmmessage'><div dir='ltr'><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><b>The future of Meersbrook House and the Pavilion</b></p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Meeting called by Meersbrook Park Users Trust on 4 June 2014</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><b> </b>Chair<b> Liz Martinez</b></p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Present: about 60 people most of whom joined an email list now managed by Chris Croome. There were representatives from MPUT, playgroups, After School Club, Wild Life Watch, Carfield Choir, Friends of Bishops House, Heeley Development Trust, residents from Brook Road, Cliffefield Road, Burcot Road, Meersbrook Park Road, Meersbrook Avenue, Leeshall Road, Upper Valley Road, Albert Road, a governor from Meersbrook Bank School.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Councillors Cate McDonald and Steve Jones.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">No attendance by Council officers.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><b>Points made </b>(it was hard to identify all the speakers, so none except the councillors have been named. There is a gap between each speaker)</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Introduction by Kaktus Leach from MPUT</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Meersbrook Vestry Hall, a busy community building, was sold about 20 years ago by SCC with no benefit to the local community.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">The Parks Department offices will be moving sometime to the Moorfoot building from Meersbrook House. The house, dating from 1760's (and later) is Grade II listed. It stands within the park, which is itself protected by the 1906 Open Spaces Act. SCC is the 'guardian' of the park.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Meersbrook House and park were bought by Sheffield Corporation in 1885. There is a restrictive covenant on the building and other buildings in the park, on subsequent owners, that they should be for use by the public, eg for a free library.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">The Parks Department Archives are housed at Meersbrook House, though there is no longer an archivist.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">The Pavilion was built as a temporary nursery during the war. It is at the end of its life and has to be inspected annually. It is very well used by several groups.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">The Community Buildings Team are maintaining it at present</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">The meeting has been called to begin planning ahead, over the next 2-3 years, though as yet there is no time scale for the Parks Department's move.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">The worst that could happen is that the building is unused and left empty.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">The Accomodation Committee is considering community use among other options.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">There is new lottery funding for communities to buy or renovate buildings. This takes 2-3 years to prepare applications for.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Example of Unstone Grange which was bequeathed to the city with a restrictive covenant specifying educational uses. This was enforced by a successful local campaign.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">If Meersbrook House is sold, would the money be earmarked for rebuilding the pavilion?</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Who would buy?</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Councillor Cate McDonald said no decisions have been made yet, there are no specific plans at present. There is no way the building would be left empty. Meersbrook House and the Pavilion will be considered in tandem.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">We need time to take on any building. </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">We need liaison with the Local Authority and a first point of contact. </p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Cate McDonald, there will be consultation with the community.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Will this group be part of the shaping of the future of these buildings?</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Steve Jones, the council is committed to voluntary groups and partnerships. The aim is to keep and improve a beautiful park. We want to work with people, but local government is in a very difficult financial situation. It will not be easy, and there is a long lead time.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Easier if we start now.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">We want to be part of the decision making process. We want a commitment to having a discussion.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">The ownership of two buildings could conflict. Who would retain ownership of Meersbrook House? At the moment it is a liability to the Council. If it is sold this would release capital to the Council, and an option would be another community building.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Bishops House -the Council retain ownership.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">After school club in the pavilion is viable and successful without any grants. Groups that use the pavilion could be accomodated in Meersbrook House.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Maybe offices could be rented out, maybe a cafe.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15.0px"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Mixed use is an idea, as the house is too big, but not for private housing or offices.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">There is open park around the house, we would not want the house fenced off.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">What is the time scale?</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Cate McDonald, the council will start to talk next year. The council has looked at all the buildings it owns over the last two years.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">How can we formalize our input?</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Cate, 1) Council is moving staff to a smaller number of buildings</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">2)Community buildings, there will be a large scale consultation, likely to be in the next financial year.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Concerned that decisions will be made very quickly, and we need time to prepare.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Fund raising takes 2-4 years.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><b>We must establish a steering Group.</b></p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Cate, all buildings in M. Park will be looked at together.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15.0px"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Is the review city wide?</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Cate, area wide.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Steve, the focus is is on the best result, this park is valued.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15.0px"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">What is our vision? What do we want? We mustn't wait for the Council, we could set up a charity, or a coop....</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">At Mountpleasant, there are people living there as caretakers till solutions are found.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Cate, one option, sale of the house to fund buildings in the Walled Garden and the Pavilion, but there are other options.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Would a council officer be nominated for contact and advice?</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Cate, will consider suggestions, and contact me or Community Buildings.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">An option is that the pavilion is demolished at some stage.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15.0px"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">It would be useful for us to liaise with a Council Officer.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">What are the costs of running the house?</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Cate, that is commercially sensitive information.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">To improve this building is a huge undertaking, do we want to take it on?</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">If M. House is sold we would lose a bit of the park.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Parks Dept running costs are £110,000</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">How much money does the Council want to recoup?</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Cate, the Council mainly wants to reduce liabilities.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">This is an immense opportunity, but would need fund raising etc</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Cate, cant commit not to sell to a private developer, but would consider a community proposal.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><b>Steering Committee</b></p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><b>About 12 people indicated interest in being on the Steering Committtee.</b></p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><b>Use attendance sheet from this meeting, Chris Croome to set up an open email list.</b></p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><b>All meetings would be open meetings.</b></p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><b>Need a brief.</b></p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><b>List of skills among the people who attended eg in fund raising</b></p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><b>Need a Chair etc</b></p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><b>A Trust for fundraising.</b></p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Is Meersbrook Park Users Trust the umbrella? No, would need to be independent. Mput has been the 'midwife'.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><b>Next meeting 18 June at 7.30pm in the Pavilion.</b></p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">From my notes of the meeting, apologies for any omissions and errors, there were so many people it wasn't an easy task.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Naomi Brent</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px 'Times New Roman'"><i>Meersbrook House</i></p>
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