Kent County Council has confirmed it is going ahead with the sale of the Pie Factory Music HQ in Ramsgate after rejecting an offer for the building from the group because “it was significantly less that the value of the property.”
Last September, The Isle of Thanet News revealed that the youth charity discovered KCC’s plan to ‘dispose’ of the Ramsgate Youth Centre, which has been Pie’s headquarters since 2013.
A notice of intention to sell the building in St Lawrence High Street, which was listed as an asset of community value in 2022, was received by Thanet council.
The disposal was part of KCC’s efforts to balance its budget by delivering £108.8m savings over the next two years.
It was put on hold until after the May 1 elections and there were hopes that the new Reform administration would U-turn on the proposals but this has not been the case.
A letter from East Thanet MP Polly Billington to KCC leader Linden Kemkaran asked whether cuts to the Millmead Community Centre in Margate, Pie Factory Music in Ramsgate, and the Sarah Thorne Theatre in Broadstairs planned under the previous Tory administration would now be reversed.
But Cllr Kemkaran has confirmed that there is no change to previous decisions.
Pie Factory Music’s HQ is likely to go to auction as KCC no longer commissions youth services at the site.
A Kent County Council spokesperson said: ““The listing of Ramsgate Youth Centre as an Asset of Community Value (AVC) expired in March and as KCC has no operational need for the building, it is looking to disinvest of the property, most likely via an auction.
“KCC will be follow its asset disposal policy and any proceeds from its sale will be reinvested into KCC services as set out in KCC’s capital plans such as the provision of school places
“The 6-month moratorium which was required under the ACV legislation expired in March. This period is designed to allow community groups time to develop proposals and prevents the sale of the property whilst this in place. The Pie Factory made an offer during this period, but it was significantly less that the value of the property.
“If a decision is made to progress to auction, the Pie Factory and others that may be interested in the property will be able to bid in an even handed and transparent way. In the meantime, we understand that the Pie Factory is working to put together a revised proposal for consideration by the council.”
Pie Factory Music CEO Zoë Carassik said the decision is ‘short-termist’ and the fight to retain the building will continue.
She said: “We continue to fight for a reversal of the decision to dispose of Ramsgate Youth Centre and to evidence to KCC that the argument that it will save them money is short-termist and a false economy.
“For every £1 invested in youth work, between £3.20 – £6.40 is generated in benefits to the tax payer. This return on investment is scored by the government’s own benchmark as between ‘high’ and ‘very high’.
“Ramsgate Youth Centre is now the last dedicated youth centre in Thanet. If this facility closes, we will have to significantly downsize our provision. Our community is concerned about increased anti-social behaviour, record levels of youth unemployment, and decreasing mental health and wellbeing for young people – does KCC really think selling Ramsgate Youth Centre is the solution to those problems?”
Pie Factory is raising funds to help it to buy the building. Find the fundraiser at: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/save-ramsgate-youth-centre
Sarah Thorne Theatre
The East Thanet MP also queried the proposed sale of the Broadstairs Memorial Hall and Pottery, which is home to the Sarah Thorne Theatre and adult education classes.
Kent County Council, which owns the building, plans to sell it as part of its asset disposal programme.
A Notice of Intention to Dispose of Broadstairs Memorial Hall and Pottery, was served to Thanet council last year. As an Asset of Community Value (ACV), an Interim Moratorium had to be observed to allow a competitive bid from a community interest group. That time has now expired.
In the letter from Cllr Kemkaran it says KCC will no longer be delivering adult education services from the property in Fordoun Road and so the authority no longer requires the building.
The letter says a bid from the theatre was less than the property value and so declined but a five year lease with break provisions has been offered.
Michael Wheatley-Ward, who was formerly at the helm of the Theatre Royal, founded the Sarah Thorne Theatre which was incorporated as a community interest company in 2008.
It is the town’s only theatre and hosts shows including the annual pantomime, charity events, Broadstairs Folk Week performances and more.
Mr Wheatley-Ward said: “KCC has halted any sale of the site for the foreseeable future. I did make a bid for the freehold but it was declined. I have however agreed to take out a five year lease as an interim measure.”
He adds that legal matters have been delayed due to the death of his solicitor but added: “In the interim as we have cross party support, the Town Clerk at Broadstairs is arranging a meeting with KCC about the future of the building.
“Being 100% positive I have already announced Dick Whittington for this Christmas and next year’s will be Jack & the Beanstalk.”
A full show programme continues for the Sarah Thorne Theatre and can be found at https://www.sarahthornetheatre.co.uk/
Millmead Community Centre
Ms Billington also raised the ‘family hub’ funding cut at the Millmead Community Centre (formerly children’s centre) and asked whether it would be reversed.
In March a one year £27,000 contract was offered to Millmead Family Hub for the coming financial year – some £206,000 less than its previous funding.
The aim was to reverse a decision to axe the contract completely after a huge outcry from the public and councillors across the political spectrum.
However, Millmead centre turned down the contract. It has instead rebranded as a community centre, been awarded £40k Healthy Living Centre funds for public health activities and teamed up with Age UK Thanet to provide broader services. The nursery continues to run at the venue.
Age UK Thanet was looking for a new base while also preparing for possible cuts to funding. Delays to opening the health hub at the former university campus in Broadstairs meant the plan to relocate there could not go ahead in time.
A new partnership was sealed between the community centre and Age UK Thanet, which moved into the Dane Valley Road building in May.
The move has involved much reorganisation, the installation of a commercial kitchen and the launch of a community café.
Ms Billington says Reform UK are “continuity Conservatives” and pledged to continue to fight cuts to vital Thanet services.
She said: “Reform UK can try and bury the bad news in legalistic jargon and talk of ‘priorities’ all they like, but that can’t disguise the fact that they are going ahead with all the planned Tory cuts to public services in Thanet.
“Despite promising change, Reform UK have proven themselves to be continuity Conservatives in Thanet.
“The Millmead Children’s Centre in Margate, the Sarah Thorne Theatre in Broadstairs, and Pie Factory Music in Ramsgate are all vital services that some of our most vulnerable and deprived communities rely on. Reform UK might not think that’s important, but I won’t stop fighting to protect these vital services and standing up for those who use them.”
In her letter Cllr Kemkaran says: “The financial situation for KCC is such that the council cannot subsidise services which it does not deliver.
“With the funding it has available, it must focus its resources on the most vulnerable in our communities.”
How much did the charity cycle ride raise? Just curious.
As a kid i loved going to the youth centre in broadstairs run by ‘Dutchy’.
Feel sorry sorry for our young kids nowadays. The adults in power just want to close everything for kids, than moan the kids are anti social. When society doesn’t care to hoots about the kids.
Never been to a youth centre in my life. Always kept busy cycling, exploring, etc, even in rain and snow. Each to their own.
Could Ms Billington explain why in the last year the Government that she is part of has not overturned every bad decision the last Government made? She makes it sound so easy.
This isn’t cost saving, it’s selling capital assets (owned by us) to fund ongoing spend. What are they going to sell next year? This is the fault of the previous government’s austerity continued by the new government. More taking from the poor to give to the rich. How about Farage putting his hand in his pocket? He’s not short of a bob or two.
Nor is Corbyn.
Phil, Coutts famously disagreed!
Reform carrying on Tory policies, no difference.
Well done KCC ,a good move
And people wonder why children and young people find themselves in trouble, engaging with antisocial behaviour and/or struggling with mental health issues and lacking a sense of purpose?
Shame on you KCC.
They could always join the Scouts or something. I did, at least until I decided I’d rather be out on my bike or listening to music.
Well said Peter
While I sympathise to a degree, making out young people have nothing constructive to do without it is total nonsense (give ’em some Lonnie Donegan records and a guitar!).
My comment was not intended to suggest that young people have nothing to do without Pie Factory. I am a teacher in Thanet and have worked with young people for the last 12 years. I’m well aware that there are fantastic organisations (including the Scouts as you mentioned) that they can get involved in should they wish to, and that some young people are more able to self-start or have the support or knowledge from others to help them do so (learning an instrument, playing sport, etc).
What I’m driving at is that this is a long established, local youth service provision that is enjoyed and used by many. They offer a range of activities and for some, their experiences at Pie have unlocked something within them to help them with their mental health and general sense of wellbeing.
Just as you find the idea that young people would have nothing to do without Pie, I find it a little hard to believe that the ‘well it was different for me in my day/there’s loads to do/why can’t they just (insert alternative here) attitude is helpful when the article is about saving a service from being sold off.
I just find it sad that youth services are beholden to cuts and then some wonder why we have some young people disillusioned and despondent. While I’m not saying Pie is a fix-all, I would have thought the value it brings to the local community is plain to see.
So Reform don’t care about the future of children just as the Tories didn’t. They and their supporters are quick to complain and call for Birching of youths who recently caused problem across Thanet. However, when it comes to actually doing something constructive to give children an alternative to joining gangs and standing on street corners they show they don’t care just love to moan.
I’ve suggested “something constructive to give children an alternative to joining gangs and standing on street corners” above.
Yes, you have, but this is grounded in your own personal experience which not everyone will share.
I wonder if KCC have considered consulting with the young people who use Pie as part of their plans? Apologies if this has been covered previously and I’ve missed it.
So, in effect , we have a new national government (called Labour) which replaced a previous government ( called Conservative) but carried on with the same policy of defunding local councils so that the councils struggle to afford even basic services. And , locally , we have a County Council in Maidstone ( called Conservative) replaced by a new Party ( called Reform) but the same cuts to local services have been continued. All this “change”. All the furious debate, the headline-grabbing landslide elections etc. But everything carries on as before ( except some nonsense about changing the flags on the Maidstone offices). No wonder barely 60% of the electorate bothered voting at the last General election. They all have the same policies!!! Just marginal differences about how nasty they will be to refugees!