Timeline

October 2007

News starts to filter out that Staffordshire County Council is planning to sell its Youth & Community Centre in Cornmill Lane, Tutbury.  No official notification is received by the resident groups.

January 2008

The resident groups are invited to a ‘Workstream Negotiation Group’ meeting with Gillian Wright from Staffordshire Youth Service.  Representatives from Tutbury Scouts, Tutbury Pre-school, Tutbury Parish Council, the Community and Learning Partnership and some concerned residents attend the meeting.  These meetings continue during the following months, and it becomes clear that an independent group needs to be formed to negotiate with SCC.

July 2008

TOSCA is formed to preserve the Old School as a community building.

August 2008

SCC agrees to postpone the sale of the building for one year to give TOSCA time to make plans and raise funds to purchase the building.

November 2008

TOSCA becomes a registered charity.

December 2008

Representatives from TOSCA meet with Graham Bott, Deputy Head of Youth Service and Eric Drinkwater, County Councillor charged with implementing the Asset Management Plan.  TOSCA is invited to make the Council an offer for the building and submit it with a business plan.

December 2008

TOSCA employs a surveyor to give an independent valuation and survey of the Old School.

January 2009

The valuation and survey is completed and presented with a draft business plan to the TOSCA committee.  It is agreed that we should formally request a Community Asset Transfer before making an offer to purchase the building.

January 2009

A letter is sent to Ron Hilton, Chief Executive of SCC, requesting a Community Asset Transfer.  A copy is also sent to Janet Dean MP who expresses her support and forwards it to Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for Communities.

7^th March 2009

TOSCA’s first fundraising event, a ‘Family Fun Night’ is held at the Old School.