❓ Hon Sue Ellery questions the Minister for Community Services regarding the City of Canning's delay in lease arrangements for Willetton Child Care Centre and the Department's involvement with consultants. The Minister confirms no contact or submission.
AnsweredQoN 473Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WILLETTON CHILD CARE CENTRE — CITY OF
CANNING
473. Hon SUE ELLERY to the Minister for Community
Services:
I refer to the decision by the City
of Canning to further delay a decision on the lease arrangements for Willetton
Child Care Centre while it engages consultants to develop a master plan for the
Burrendah precinct.
(1) Has the
Department for Communities been contacted by the consultants Hester Property
Solutions seeking the department's views?
(2) Does the
department intend to provide a formal submission to the consultants; and, if
so, will the minister table a copy of that submission once it is completed?
CANNING
473. Hon SUE ELLERY to the Minister for Community
Services:
I refer to the decision by the City
of Canning to further delay a decision on the lease arrangements for Willetton
Child Care Centre while it engages consultants to develop a master plan for the
Burrendah precinct.
(1) Has the
Department for Communities been contacted by the consultants Hester Property
Solutions seeking the department's views?
(2) Does the
department intend to provide a formal submission to the consultants; and, if
so, will the minister table a copy of that submission once it is completed?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of this question.
(1)–(2) No.
For a bit of background, Willetton Child Care Centre is a
department asset on land leased to the department by the City of Canning. The
department has been advised that the city could not provide a long-term
solution until the city's land and property asset plan was finalised.
The department has not received a formal lease offer in writing from the City
of Canning. Currently, the department leases the land the building is on for a
peppercorn rate, in line with other community-run centres. The department does
not have a budget to pay for commercial rents for any childcare centres it
manages. The department has been in discussions with the City of Canning as it
is seeking a new lease agreement prior to it undertaking required maintenance
on Willetton Child Care Centre. It came to the department's attention
on 24 May that the City of Canning had resolved to appoint a developer to
provide services associated with the development of land in accordance with the
property asset action plan for the city. This includes the land currently
occupied by Willetton Child Care Centre. The council's website includes
the statement —
''In making this
announcement, I want to re-iterate that it is not Council's intention
to take any services away,'' the Mayor said. ''It is our
intention to maximise services and facilities for the local community as a
whole.''
Subsequent to that, on Tuesday night, I believe—I
have not been given this officially—the City of Canning voted not to go
with a three-year lease with the Department for Communities, despite council
officers' recommendations that it should. Councillors voted instead to
offer a three-year lease to Willetton Child Care Centre direct. That is what I
believe happened but I have not had proof of that.
of this question.
(1)–(2) No.
For a bit of background, Willetton Child Care Centre is a
department asset on land leased to the department by the City of Canning. The
department has been advised that the city could not provide a long-term
solution until the city's land and property asset plan was finalised.
The department has not received a formal lease offer in writing from the City
of Canning. Currently, the department leases the land the building is on for a
peppercorn rate, in line with other community-run centres. The department does
not have a budget to pay for commercial rents for any childcare centres it
manages. The department has been in discussions with the City of Canning as it
is seeking a new lease agreement prior to it undertaking required maintenance
on Willetton Child Care Centre. It came to the department's attention
on 24 May that the City of Canning had resolved to appoint a developer to
provide services associated with the development of land in accordance with the
property asset action plan for the city. This includes the land currently
occupied by Willetton Child Care Centre. The council's website includes
the statement —
''In making this
announcement, I want to re-iterate that it is not Council's intention
to take any services away,'' the Mayor said. ''It is our
intention to maximise services and facilities for the local community as a
whole.''
Subsequent to that, on Tuesday night, I believe—I
have not been given this officially—the City of Canning voted not to go
with a three-year lease with the Department for Communities, despite council
officers' recommendations that it should. Councillors voted instead to
offer a three-year lease to Willetton Child Care Centre direct. That is what I
believe happened but I have not had proof of that.
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