Council sells off its assets to reduce council tax bills
Buildings in Hammersmith and Fulham which are used by community groups will be sold off by the council as a cost-cutting measure.
Among those to go will be the Hut Association building at 59 Godolphin Road, the South Lodge of Margravine Cemetery, the Castle Club in Broomhouse Lane and Wormholt Community Centre.
Also up for sale will be three buildings in Hammersmith Road which currently house the council young persons service, MIND and the Carers Centre. The Hut Association has provided a community centre to the Shepherds Bush area for the past 20 years.
And the Friends of Margravine Cemetery group have posted on their website: "We are concerned that any new development should be appropriate to the situation and should not encroach on open space or the views."
Former Labour leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, Stephen Burke said: "Some of the most historic public buildings in Hammersmith and Fulham, including many that house voluntary and community groups, are to be sold off by the Conservative council. Selling these properties may help the Tories make a one-off council tax cut, but once sold, these valuable buildings and community facilities will be lost to the borough forever."
However, Cllr Mark Loveday, Hammersmith and Fulham Council's cabinet member for strategy, said it was not just a short-term solution. He said: "This is not just about a one-off council tax cut - this is about reducing our debt and council tax bills over the long term.Every £1million we can reduce that debt by saves us £100,000 per year in repayment charges, which means 0.15 per cent off council tax forever. We have already reduced our workforce by five per cent overall and have several buildings which are now not fully occupied.
"That's why we are reviewing the use of underused and expensive buildings and looking for the most cost-effective options for our staff and local community groups. We are currently informing and liaising with community organisations affected and are confident that many of the groups and services can be moved to suitable locations nearby."
May 28, 2007