© Bishop’s Stortford Town Council Bishop’s Stortford Sportshall Trust Briefing Note: further detail will be available at the F&GP meeting following a meeting with Bishops Stortford High School scheduled for 18 th July

Position Summary Bishop’s Stortford Sportshall was purchased jointly in 1983 by EHDC, HCC and BSTC Bishop’s Stortford Sportshall was purchased jointly in 1983 by EHDC, HCC and BSTC HCC share now vested in Bishop’s Stortford High School HCC share now vested in Bishop’s Stortford High School A tri-partite agreement sets out the management of the hall for a period of 50 years. A tri-partite agreement sets out the management of the hall for a period of 50 years. School – exclusive access 9-4 M-F, first call 4-6 up max 40% of total time subject to payment of 40% of operating expense School – exclusive access 9-4 M-F, first call 4-6 up max 40% of total time subject to payment of 40% of operating expense Remaining 60% - public use Remaining 60% - public use Under tri-partite agreement hall is managed by a trust or alternative body Under tri-partite agreement hall is managed by a trust or alternative body On 25th April Council notified that the Trust would wind up on 31st August 2013 On 25th April Council notified that the Trust would wind up on 31st August 2013 Claimed Insufficient public use, No longer viable Claimed Insufficient public use, No longer viable Documents and response reviewed by F&GP May 20 (attached); CEO stance approved Documents and response reviewed by F&GP May 20 (attached); CEO stance approved Financial position of trust unclear at time, since clarified somewhat Financial position of trust unclear at time, since clarified somewhat Accounts to 2011 only, showing a position very close to viable and >100k in assets Accounts to 2011 only, showing a position very close to viable and >100k in assets Accounts to 2013 now available showing declining revenue Accounts to 2013 now available showing declining revenue no evidence of changes to operating model to take account of declining revenue no evidence of changes to operating model to take account of declining revenue Assets of 95k including a building believed essential to the use of the hall Assets of 95k including a building believed essential to the use of the hall School had made a conditional offer to take over management School had made a conditional offer to take over management Conditions not met Conditions not met Details of offer not clear –may become clearer by the time of the F&GP meeting Details of offer not clear –may become clearer by the time of the F&GP meeting © Bishop’s Stortford Town Council

Significant Concerns Trust assets Trust assets Trust advises that the assets will be transferred to the School – potentially puts school in a position to deny the use of the hall Trust advises that the assets will be transferred to the School – potentially puts school in a position to deny the use of the hall Trust assets cannot be disposed of without Charity Commission Permission Trust assets cannot be disposed of without Charity Commission Permission Charity Commission advise that has not been sought or given Charity Commission advise that has not been sought or given Uncertainty in how any outstanding debts of the trust (principally to employees and it is said to the school) will be settled on windup Uncertainty in how any outstanding debts of the trust (principally to employees and it is said to the school) will be settled on windup Eg by disposal of assets essential to the use of the hall Eg by disposal of assets essential to the use of the hall Trust communication Trust communication Trust has been unresponsive to requests for information Trust has been unresponsive to requests for information Incentive for School to maintain public use Incentive for School to maintain public use Recently the hall has barely been advertised Recently the hall has barely been advertised How strong have attempts to grow use been How strong have attempts to grow use been Does the School have sufficient incentive to grow public use? Does the School have sufficient incentive to grow public use? East Herts Council position East Herts Council position Uncertain, probably want to exit but to facilitate solution Uncertain, probably want to exit but to facilitate solution © Bishop’s Stortford Town Council

Options – Questions for Council Establish new trust? Establish new trust? Manage like a community centre, attempt to turn it round Manage like a community centre, attempt to turn it round Bookings and administration through Council (fee payable) Bookings and administration through Council (fee payable) Would probably require evening caretaking staff Would probably require evening caretaking staff Advertise through Council website, Community centres etc. Advertise through Council website, Community centres etc. Would require (temporary) cash injection (several 10s of K?, perhaps a loan?) Would require (temporary) cash injection (several 10s of K?, perhaps a loan?) Negotiate with School with view to possible acceptance? – need detail on: Negotiate with School with view to possible acceptance? – need detail on: Treatment of outstanding/residual debts to school, Current trust employees Treatment of outstanding/residual debts to school, Current trust employees Proposed operating & on-going financial model Proposed operating & on-going financial model hours/advertising/charges/offers/business development/staffing hours/advertising/charges/offers/business development/staffing Monitoring, review and reversion Monitoring, review and reversion Act quickly or in a more measured timescale? Act quickly or in a more measured timescale? Under extreme pressure from School to act quickly Under extreme pressure from School to act quickly Potential void exists if no agreement by 31st August – possibly resulting in hall closure Potential void exists if no agreement by 31st August – possibly resulting in hall closure © Bishop’s Stortford Town Council