Moseley Community Development Trust Highbury Hall and Grounds Concept Plan A vibrant future for a historic resource Tony Thapar 24 February 2010 Highbury Coalition • The Chamberlain Family, Moseley Forum, Kings Heath Forum, Moseley Society, Residents’ Associations, Friends of Highbury Park, Moseley Community Development Trust, etc • Campaigning for five years Highbury Coalition Vision • A locally representative and independent Charitable Trust managing Highbury to “benefit the citizens of Birmingham”. • A Charity – furthering the aims of education, health promotion, poverty reduction, community service and environmental benefits in a sustainable way – preserved for future generations whilst being used for education, employment, health and environmental enhancement – playing a vibrant role in the surrounding communities of Moor Green, Kings Heath and Moseley, as well as providing a focus for tourism, political and historical studies and education for the City of Birmingham. Brief history • 1932 Trust formed for the ‘benefit of the citizens of Birmingham’ • Garden and Buildings used for – Offices for Social Services – Day centre and horticultural project for persons with learning disability Page 1 of 4
Moseley Community Development Trust – Events (Wedding Fayres, Dinners etc.) • BCC is sole trustee of Trust and the tenant Intervention by Charity Commission In the 1990’s the Charity Commission pointed out that there was not enough charitable activity by the Trust and it was not acting as an independent charity Current situation • Hall and Chamberlain House in urgent need of renovation - £3.85M for the Hall. • Grounds need a landscape restoration project • Need to become financially independent • Need to increase charitable activity Considerations • Hall is a grade II listed building • The grounds are listed in the register of historic parks and gardens • 'A quality Victorian house and a quality Victorian garden surviving together is an extremely rare occurrence, not only in Birmingham, but in any major industrial centre'. Phillida Ballard A new start • To have a new and prosperous future new and firm foundations are required. • To attract grant funding from public bodies there needs to be change. Page 2 of 4
Moseley Community Development Trust Coalition Proposals (1) • Clear objectives for the charity – furthering education and employment – reduce poverty – Advancing citizenship – Conservation • Operate as a social enterprise through a trading company and produce social accounts • New Board of Trustees administering an updated Memorandum and Articles of Association. Potential trustees � representatives from City Council � representative from the Chamberlain family � local community groups � individuals such as (Peter Marsh- historian) � representatives from other interest groups, the wider community e.g. the Civic Trust, University, the Victorian society, the Garden Society Recent Charity tribunal • Dartford Council as sole Trustee – ordered to resolve the conflict of interest for Councillors • Must have a quorum of independent Trustees • Charity Commission says"might ultimately serve as a model of good practice for local authorities acting as charity trustees". Page 3 of 4
Moseley Community Development Trust Coalition Proposals (2) • Continue the day centre and the horticultural centre, under contract to the Council • Preserve the Hall and grounds for future generations and make them a focus for tourism, and political and historical studies of Victorian and Edwardian Birmingham. • Repair the links between the Hall, the grounds and Highbury Park providing recreational and community facilities Coalition Proposals (3) • Museum similar to Aston Hall, Sarehole Mill etc. for education and tourism • Re-establish the gardens for saleable produce as well as work for 4 Seasons • Establish community orchard and a teaching farm • Utilise Chamberlain House to host – a cluster of small businesses to generate employment – Charities linked to social welfare, horticultural therapy, green gyms and wildflower nursery The future • Must remove the conflict of interest • Must have a business plan for charitable activity and revenue generation through an Operating Company • Must involve the local community and amenity groups in the governance of Highbury Trust • BCC must comply with the Compact and pay the full cost of its activities • Now BCC has left Chamberlain House it must remedy dilapidations like any departing tenant Page 4 of 4
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