Staple Tye councillors Lorna and Su were both at the latest meeting to progress proposals for the redevelopment of the Maunds Hatch community building. Representatives of Berecroft, Longbanks and CABRA residents associations were also there, along with GPCA, the Chinese Centre, Moat housing and interested residents.

Under the current proposals, Harlow Council would continue to be the owner of the building, and GPCA the tenant. Two Harlow sporting groups have expressed interest in being considered as GPCA's sub-tenant - the meeting asked for them to be contacted, shown round the building, and invited to the next meeting in a month's time.

There was a lot of discussion about the best way to proceed with the project; although the money is available for the building itself, there isn't a budget for the all-year-round running costs, such as rates, energy and maintenance.

Lorna suggested that council officers should come back to the next meeting with figures showing three different sizes of building (as - subject to planning permission - the building could be extended outwards but also upwards) and three different budgets showing the running costs for each size of building. The meeting could then talk to potential sub-tenants about how much space they would want, what would be left for other activities, and how to raise the necessary income.

She also suggested a list of organisations - such as Adult Education, Essex Youth Service, Harlow College, the health service - that we should be approaching to see if they were interested in renting space in the building or paying to run specific sessions.

The meeting agreed this as a way forward, and will be meeting again in about a month.