You will be aware from previous communications that the Community Ownership Fund was “paused” prior to the General Election, on the very day that we were ready to submit our application.
On December 23rd, the Government announced the closure of the Community Ownership Fund. In its place will come strengthened measures to enable communities to purchase Assets of Community Value. This is a blow to our efforts as the new proposals currently lack clarity and timelines. As you will be aware, the Black Lion is a registered Asset of Community Value (ACV), so all is not lost, but it is clearly new complexity.
There is a parliamentary meeting on January 13th between Angela Rayner and members of parliament with an interest in protecting ACVs, we have briefed Markus, our MP, on the specifics of our case in the expectation that he will attend. We hope that Angela Rayner may outline new plans and systems to protect community assets and aid community purchases.
We also await to see if an exception will be made for organisations like ours who have received COF support and funding, had complied with all of the measures required by COF for a successful application and were in the process of submitting the final application in the presence of the COF Adviser when the scheme was suspended without notice. This doesn’t seem to have followed any form of appropriate due process and we are in the process of an appeal to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.
We are meeting with Markus Campbell-Savours, our MP, this week to discuss the situation and hear his feedback from the meeting.
Whilst the news regarding COF is disappointing, we will assess all of our options before deciding upon our future course of action.
There will be an AGM of the Black Lion Community Group on Thursday, March 27th at 7.30pm. We are aiming to have motions prepared to aid our future planning, and, in line with our constitution, all shareholders will have a vote on these crucial matters.
Kind regards
The Black Lion Community Group
The Black Lion stands at the crossroads as you enter the peaceful fell village of Ireby from the Keswick / Bassenthwaite direction.
It is on the northern border of the Lake District National Park and is popular with locals and tourists alike. It has close ties with the adjacent Globe Hall for arts and entertainment. The plans for its future as a community owned pub include opening as a café and offering a range of other services.
To be able to purchase the Black Lion we need a total share pledge of £165,000
Price of pub purchase has been agreed at £395000
We have already raised an incredible amount locally and are poised to spread the investment net wider.
Watch out for our advertisement in regional media and our imminent Crowdfunder campaign.
DON’T DELAY – INVEST TODAY
The more money we have raised before our Community Ownership Fund application goes in, the higher our chance of success.
Every £400 is worth £1000 in COF money.
We have just been awarded the Community Shares Standard Mark
Ireby is the oldest market town in Cumberland with a charter dating back to 1236 and a market cross dating from 1275.
