A report to Cabinet on 18 March 2015 proposed that the Allen’s Centre was declared surplus to council requirements. The building was vacated in August 2014 when social care and inclusion staff were relocated to the Civic Centre. The move was made as part of the Smarter Workplaces office rationalisation programme agreed by Cabinet in 2011. It is proposed that the Allen’s Centre site is marketed for sale by informal tender in Spring 2015 to a achieve a capital receipt in 2015/16. Prior to this it is proposed that the main building is demolished which will reduce void costs and the risk of malicious damage and anti social behaviour at the site. In January 2014 the former caretaker’s/ assessment house on the site was renovated to enable use by Lighthouse Children’s Centre for daytime activities and by the Youth Support Service for positive activities. It is also used for meetings by the Allen’s Rough Residents Association. Prior to this there had been no community use of the site. The budget reductions agreed by Cabinet in February 2015 for Children’s Centres and Youth Support Services mean there is no funding to continue or develop provision at the Allen’s Centre so, to enable some form of community provision to continue officers are exploring a transfer of management/ ownership to a partner organisation or community group. One of the interested parties, Age UK, are willing to take over premises management responsibility and have requested a breakdown of running costs. They are also willing to act as an umbrella organisation and make the premises available to other partners/ groups on a sessional basis. As the range of activities proposed will meet local residents needs as identified in the Area Community Plan for New Invention, Age UK are currently Community Development’s preferred partner. The Cabinet’s decision was called in for scrutiny by the Business, Employment and Local Economy Scrutiny and Performance Panel. The panel met on 25 March 2015. The Panel resolved to support the Cabinet decision of 18 March 2015. Officers are now progressing the demolition of the main building and working with Age UK to develop a business case for a transfer of management/ownership of the former caretaker’s/assessment house.