Minutes:
A discussion took place regarding the review ending. However, it was felt that there was still a need for the Cabinet Panel in order to ensure that the governance and repairs were maintained.
Members received data sheets on a number of Community Centres within the Borough. Each building was discussed separately:
Audley
This Community Centre was used for a wide range of activities. The Centre operated a charity as well as a management committee.
The Community Centre had plans to increase the size of the building for a nursery and also to have a first floor constructed. However, this was not pursued as the building is in the Green Belt and there is an existing children’s nursery nearby.
Audley Community Centre are looking to take on a lease and have adopted the new handbook.
Bradwell Lodge
This Community Centre had a full programme of events is a well used centre. Members felt that this information was required regarding the reserves.
The Management Committee had raised concerns in respect of repairs to the building. They were happy to do any internal works but not the external ones as it was a listed building.
Butt Lane
This was still a fairly new management committee.
Members pointed out that their accounts had not been seen for eighteen months and needed to be chased up.
Clayton
This Community Centre was used for a wide range of activities. The building did have a bar but it was never used with no alcohol on the premises.
They were currently exploring a lease arrangement.
Harriet Higgins
The St George’s Scout Group had taken out a lease on the building. The building had recently won a Signal Radio Community SOS Award to refurbish the building both internally and externally. In addition to gaining the award, the building was also gaining publicity through it.
The project had been launched two weeks ago and local businesses were being recruited to commence work from 19 October, which was expected to last for three weeks.
Community use of the centre will still be available.
Marsh Hall
This Centre had an active Committee and it held a lot of activities. Each weekday morning it was used as a Play Group.
A compromise was required to make the hall look more like a multifunctional room.
Ramsey Road
St John’s Ambulance are currently taking on a lease, which will still allow community use of the centre.
Red Street
This Centre holds a wide range of activities and is a well used building.
A full refurbishment had recently been carried out and the Committee are discussing taking on a lease.
Silverdale Community Centre
This Centre also had a full programme of activities and was a well used building. However, the Management Committee have no current desire to enter into a lease agreement.
Members were advised that parts of the building did have structural issues and that the repairs were due in 2019.
Whitfield
The Management Committee had no desire to enter into a lease agreement.
Members were advised that a grassed area, which was going to be converted to a car park had now got a memorial garden on it.
The Handbook had been adopted.
Wye Road
The Management Committee had a business plan but had no desire to currently enter into a Lease Agreement at this stage. They had done a lot of work refurbishing the inside.
The building may need roof repairs in 2017.
Silverdale Social Centre
The Handbook had not been adopted as there was no active Management Committee in place and there was no desire to enter into a lease agreement.
This building had two main users – a boxing club and table tennis club.
Knutton
This building was split into two parts. It had a Community Centre on the right which held several activities and was well used and on the left was a permanent out of school club.
The Handbook had been adopted but there was no desire to enter into a lease agreement at this stage.
Holly Road
The informal Management Committee has expressed an interest to withdraw from the Community Centre at the end of 2015.
The building is not well used.
Chesterton
The Handbook had been adopted and the Management Committee had expressed an interest for a lease. The first floor had a permanent use as a pre school nursery and downstairs held a lot of other activities.