Dear Councillors,
I was very disappointed to read the recommendation by Council officials that the Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre should be demolished because "The financial proposals [put forward by the Bonnyrigg Centre Trust] are so fundamentally flawed that the Panel felt that, without regular external funding, the venture would inevitably fail."
I have since read the business plan presented by the Trust in support of their proposal, paying particular attention to the financial projections. While there are undoubtedly some flaws in both presentation and content, this is only to be expected when professional support has not been available.
However, what is impressive is the amount of research that has been done into detailed costings and income streams, and the ambition for real community benefit that comes through on every page.
If immediate issues around working capital can be overcome, then it seems to me that there is every prospect of securing significant grant funding for the proposed community hub which would contribute to its viability in due course. I also believe that it may be possible to indentify additional income streams, e.g. through a community share issue to fund solar panels on the roof (as City of Edinburgh Council is proposing to do).
I really cannot see the logic of constructing an expensive skatepark and then demolishing the only adjacent building that can provide it with the necessary support facilities (toilets, cafe, etc.). The report by officials doesn't even make any reference to this.
The process undertaken by the Council to date has verified that the Trust's bid "would support key Council priorities of enhancing early years and promoting positive destinations, as well as having the potential to contribute positively to the equalities agenda".
Rather than moving to immediate demolition of the building, I would suggest that a more satisfactory procedure would be for the Council now to award preferred bidder status to the Trust and establish a joint working party to examine how the current flaws in the financial projections can be addressed to secure long-term community benefit. I would be prepared to offer my services to such a working party on a pro bono basis if this was considered to be helpful.
Please consider this option before making any final decision.
Yours sincerely,
Martin Meteyard
Co-operative Business Consultants
I was very disappointed to read the recommendation by Council officials that the Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre should be demolished because "The financial proposals [put forward by the Bonnyrigg Centre Trust] are so fundamentally flawed that the Panel felt that, without regular external funding, the venture would inevitably fail."
I have since read the business plan presented by the Trust in support of their proposal, paying particular attention to the financial projections. While there are undoubtedly some flaws in both presentation and content, this is only to be expected when professional support has not been available.
However, what is impressive is the amount of research that has been done into detailed costings and income streams, and the ambition for real community benefit that comes through on every page.
If immediate issues around working capital can be overcome, then it seems to me that there is every prospect of securing significant grant funding for the proposed community hub which would contribute to its viability in due course. I also believe that it may be possible to indentify additional income streams, e.g. through a community share issue to fund solar panels on the roof (as City of Edinburgh Council is proposing to do).
I really cannot see the logic of constructing an expensive skatepark and then demolishing the only adjacent building that can provide it with the necessary support facilities (toilets, cafe, etc.). The report by officials doesn't even make any reference to this.
The process undertaken by the Council to date has verified that the Trust's bid "would support key Council priorities of enhancing early years and promoting positive destinations, as well as having the potential to contribute positively to the equalities agenda".
Rather than moving to immediate demolition of the building, I would suggest that a more satisfactory procedure would be for the Council now to award preferred bidder status to the Trust and establish a joint working party to examine how the current flaws in the financial projections can be addressed to secure long-term community benefit. I would be prepared to offer my services to such a working party on a pro bono basis if this was considered to be helpful.
Please consider this option before making any final decision.
Yours sincerely,
Martin Meteyard
Co-operative Business Consultants