Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Heesom and Loades.

Councillor June Walklate declared an interest as the Borough Council’s representative on Whitfield Community Centre’s Management Committee.

To agree as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting held on 1 October, 2015.

Resolved:              That, subject to the inclusion of Councillor Heesom’s apologies,  the minutes of the meeting held on 1 October, 2015 be agreed as a correct record.

Members received an update from officers on the Community Centres:

Audley

There had been significant progress in terms of a lease.  A meeting had been held and terms had been agreed in principle.  These would be issued at the end of March.

Bradwell Lodge

Bradwell have had a lease for three years and a new one is currently being discussed – this time for a fifteen year lease.  This would hopefully be completed by April, 2016. 

Butt Lane

Butt Lane were operating well as a management committee and in accordance with the handbook.  Their accounts were ;last received on 31.3.15.

Clayton

Clayton has good governance arrangements.  They are willing to look at a long term lease with the Football Club.  Their accounts were received on 31.8.15.

Harriet Higgins

The management committee here had been struggling.  However, a local scout group had now taken it on a thirty year lease.  The Centre had also been given a Signal SOS Award.  Works had been carried out with a complete internal refurbishment.

Marsh Hall

Marsh Hall has good governance arrangements and the Centre is very well used both for community activities and private hire.  The Centre is adhering to the guide book and they wish to take on a lease.

Ramsey Road

Ramsey Road have still got a functioning management committee.  St John Ambulance are using the Centre.  When their building on Liverpool Road closed, they asked if Ramsey Road could be their permanent base. They would be taking on a full repairing lease from the outset.

Red Street

Red Street has a very strong management committee.  Chesterton Amateur Football Club use the Centre and are willing to take on a long term lease.  It  is anticipated that the lease will be taken on from May this year.

Silverdale Community Centre

This Community Centre has a good functioning management committee.  The Centre is predominantly used for dance and private functions.  The possibility of a lease will be explored and a stock condition survey would be required prior to any lease being signed.

Whitfield Community Centre

Whitfield Community Centre is well used.  It has a strong management committee and they have adopted the handbook.  The existing arrangements would be maintained for this year and long term arrangements for a lease would be explored.  Accounts had been received in March 2015.

Wye Road Community Centre

This Centre has good governance arrangements and a business plan.  They do a lot of work for the community.  They would like to explore the opportunity for a lease in the future.

Silverdale Social Centre

This does not operate as a community centre at the moment but has a boxing club and table tennis club using it.  The boxing club are willing to take on a lease of the entire building, using it all for boxing.  This would need consideration as to whether the lease would be for a community centre or a sports centre.  Andrew Arnott would check this.

Knutton Community Centre

The governance arrangements here are good and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To discuss a petition received on the above.

Members were advised that a petition had been received to keep Crackley Community Centre open.

The Centre, now called Holly Road Community Centre had been struggling to attract new committee members.  They had originally asked if they could remain open until Christmas 2015 before handing back the keys.

The Council’s Sport and Active Lifestyles Manager had met with the Management Committee – a Chair and five other community representatives.  They were a new Committee but had no governance arrangements in place and therefore not a constituted group.  The Committee had been advised to contact VAST for help.

The Centre currently has a cookery group and a youth group meeting there, it was not a very well used building.

Councillor Turner advised the Committee that the Council had not made a decision as to the future of the Community Centre.  The keys would be handed back and it would be put on hold until the Council were satisfied that a Committee can be formed.  A list of the regular bookings would be required so that arrangements could be made for them to go ahead.

In terms of the petition, A letter would be sent out advising that it had been looked at and that the Centre is not going to be closed but a successful Committee is required to run it.

Resolved:              That the information be received and the comments noted.

Resolved:              That the public be excluded from the meeting during

consideration if the following matter because it is likely that there will be disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1,2, and 3 in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972

Consideration was given to a report regarding insurance for community centres for which Newcastle Borough Council acts as administrator.

Resolved:    That the information be received and comments noted.