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HAWKINGE YOUTH AND COMMUNITY SPORTS COUNCIL RESPOND

Dear Ed,

Re: J Cullen 21/10/05 : Who are the HY&CSC and What do they do?

It was in response to a request from the Hawkinge Parish Council for a charitable organisation to take the Spitfire Leisuredrome off their hands that the Hawkinge Youth & Community Sports Council  (HY&CSC) was established in September, 2003.

Our charitable objectives were correctly quoted by Mr. Cullen but his information about officials is now out of date. Councillor Peter Smith was instrumental in setting up the charity and served as its secretary for the first 6 months. His close involvement in the affairs of the charity meant that he was obliged to declare an interest whenever the Spitfire Leisuredrome was discussed at Parish Council meetings and earlier this year he resigned his position as a charity trustee so as to be able to vote on matters concerning the future of the building.  

HY&CSC trustees first met with representatives of the Parish Council to discuss leasing the Spitfire Leisuredrome in January 2004, so it was incorrect for HPC Chairman David Callahan to say that negotiations lasted for 3 years ( see Minutes of September HPC meeting). In May the HPC withdrew their lease offer, 17 months after negotiations began!

It took the Parish Council 5 months to provide the charity with a Draft Lease document and a further 3 months to reply to our response to clauses found unacceptable. Nevertheless the HPC complained that the process was taking too long and costs were spiraling.

Although they had spent a considerable sum on solicitors fees (both theirs and ours) they withdrew the lease offer without warning. One might have thought that a meeting with us would have been demanded to explain their concerns but it didn't happen.

This is why the HY&CSC trustees find it so difficult to understand how the same Parish Council can deal with the Football Club in an entirely different manner rightly allowing them time to develop their project gradually with continuing assistance and financial support as and when required.

We fully support the activities of the Hawkinge Football Club and wish them every success in their development.

It is the action of their officials who also hold office as Parish Councillors that we question.

This may sound like sour grapes but our trustees didn't sit on their hands waiting for the Parish Council to agree the lease for the Spitfire Leisuredrome. While they frequently changed their minds on matters previously agreed and instructed us to communicate only via solicitors we made plans for the conversion of the building and had it surveyed; obtained funding for the work; gained grants for sports equipment; developed programmes of activities; sought advice and considered alternative recreational options for the buildings use; drew up a business plan, and attempted to assist the Parish Council with agreed improvements they had undertaken to complete before the intended hand-over.

Since the HPC withdrew their lease offer we have set up Basketball and Football clubs at the Churchill Primary School where we are spending some of the £7000 donated to the charity for sports and recreational equipment. We have recently applied for permission to use £2500 originally intended to finance modifications at the Spitfire Leisuredrome, for football, athletics and fitness programmes at the school. 

When these projects have been developed and are running to our satisfaction we shall assist with the establishment of similar clubs elsewhere in the village and continue our search for a regular base in which these clubs can successfully operate and thrive in the future.

If Mr. Cullen would like to find our more about our activities he might attend the HY&CSC Annual General Meeting to be held in the Hawkinge Partnership Neighborhood Offices on Thursday 10th November, at 6.30pm. Members of the public are welcome!

Don Veale and Derek Murrum
Trustees, Hawkinge Youth & Community Sports Council.