Board meeting

Good day to all.

The Board of ASK Hive Limited met last night to discuss the forthcoming meeting with Notts County Council.

As the Council have rejected our January 2024 application, they offered a meeting to discuss the issue. The main one is that our application followed their criteria in acquiring an Asset of Community Value. We were unable to have the site registered as we (the community) have not had access or use for the last three years! Two of these were Covid and latterly the site has been locked up, so no access.

We are hopeful that they are willing to discuss a way forward, whilst meeting their need to raise monies by selling off assets to reduce their deficit, as well as probably having to cut back on services.

We looked at the benefits that this ambitious project will bring to the area around our 3 villages, the direct benefits to the Council itself.

One of the calculations indicated Social Return on Investment over our first five years to be conservatively £2,000,000! WOW!

Other factors considered, and the main one, is ‘What can we realistically afford?’

This is considerably more ponderous because although we can have a reasonable estimate of what we can expect to raise from a Community Share Issue plus donations. The bulk of funding is likely to come in via grants with one of the largest (The Community Ownership Fund) having been suspended upon the announcement of the General Election. We take heart from this government’s commitment to doubling our section of the market during their tenure. The main reasons for this are:

The success rate of Community businesses at 94% in their first five years vs std business success of 42%! part of this success story is that they involve and engage their Community and increase volunteering.

This in turn helps reduce isolation.

It also helps older members in terms of health information and advice, and offers the opportunity for employment as well as volunteers.

Therefore we trust the Council will recognise the medium and long term benefits to our Community and to the wider area and take a sympathetic attitude to helping find a solution that suits their short term financial position.

Our meeting with Nottinghamshire County Council is scheduled for 17th December. Thereafter, it will be all hands to the pump for 2025, to raise funds, increase awareness and organise repairs etc. Alternatively, if it’s not viable for financial reasons, we will have to consider alternative options and at this moment in time there are not many places remains within our three villages to site a Community Hub as well placed as the former school. We will cross that bridge if absolutely necessary.

Until January 2025 then.

Have a super Christmas and a wonderful and exciting 2025.