Decision details

The Cabinet will be asked to consider proposals for future arrangements for the management of community centres

Received a report from the Cabinet Member for Culture and Sport on proposals to transfer the management of a number of community centres within the Borough to the local Community Associations.

In addition to the potential for the Community Associations to realise significant benefits for their local communities by taking on the management and ownership of the centres via long-term leases, the transfer of responsibility will also deliver financial savings to the Council.  Noted the reasons why the Fanshawe, Gascoigne and Marks Gate Centres are not included in the current plans.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council to achieve the Community Priority “Fair and Respectful” and a balanced budget, to:-

(i)  Authorise the Corporate Director of Adult and Community Services, in consultation with the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources and on the advice of the Legal Partner, to agree the terms of and enter into registrable long leases and management agreements with the respective Community Associations for the following Community Centres:

·  Abbey

·  Hatfield

·  Heath Park

·  Ted Ball

·  Teresa Greene

·  Village

·  Wantz

(ii)  Authorise officers to advertise more widely the opportunity to enter into a registrable long lease for the relevant Community Centre in the event that it is not possible to enter into a lease agreement with any of the relevant Associations at (i) above.