Avenue Centre, The Avenue - Following the money



In November 1999 the site and building, was sold by Biggleswade Town Council  to Acorn Homes, for the sum of £200,000.

I am given to believe that when BTC sold The Avenue Club, an undertaking was given, particularly to organisations using the Club premises, that the sale money would be ring fenced and be held towards meeting the cost of a town community centre. At The Town Assembly Meeting of 23rd May 2006, when Vic Brunt asked what had happened to the monies from the sale he was told by Councillor Vickers that it was no longer ring fenced !

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I have recently discovered that an amount of £200,000 is shown in the BTC accounts in the reserves for year ended 31^st March 2003, and is shown as EMR (Ear Marked Reserve?) – New Office Provision.

On Tuesday 15th February 2011, I sent an email to the BiggleswadeTown Clerk asking:

1.     Can you provide me with a copy of the minutes around the time of the sale in November 1999 that mentions anything about the sale and the purpose of the proceeds?

2.     Can you provide me with a copy of the minutes which show the minuted decision (between November 1999 and 31^st March 2003) which changed the designation of the £200,000 in reserves to New Office Provision?

If you consider this task too onerous, I am quite prepared to search for this information myself, if you would give me access to your archived minutes. 

The 20 working days, by which time the information should be provided,  will expire on Tuesday 15th March 2011.