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The ChangeUp dispute
In 2006 a dispute arose between Community Base and one of its licencees, Brighton and Hove Community and Voluntary Sector Forum (CVSF), over CVSF's decision to host Brighton and Hove ChangeUp Consortium, a cross-sector partnership, in the space it licenced at Community Base without the permission of Community Base.
The Community Base board took the view that Community Base's identity as a home for not-for-profit, non-governmental community and voluntary groups would be diluted if cross-sector partnerships were allowed to move into the building. It also took the view that licencees do not have the right to sublet or host other organisations without permission from Community Base as this would not be fair to the many charities and community groups wanting to move into Community Base. CVSF took the view that it it had a right to host cross-sector partnerships at Community Base whether Community Base agreed to it or not.
After lengthy correspondence, Community Base gave notice to CVSF that its licence agreement would be ended if it did not stop hosting Brighton and Hove ChangeUp Consortium in the space licenced to it. Brighton and Hove ChangeUp Consortium referred to this notice as ChangeUp being evicted from Community Base despite Brighton and Hove ChangeUp Consortium never having a licence to occupy space at Community Base.
CVSF responded to the notice by challenging the legality of its licence agreement with Community Base. You can read Community Base's legal advice on the serious implications of this challenge for Community Base and Community Base licencees here.
In November 2006 Community Base withdrew the notice ending CVSF's licence and set up a review to look at the issues raised by the dispute in a non-confrontational and consensual manner.
