Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Eastwood, Councillor Mrs Heames, Councillor Sweeney and Councillor M. Taylor.

To receive Declarations of Interest from Members on items included in the agenda.

Declarations of interest were received as follows:

• Councillor Cairns – Park Road, Silverdale Community Centre Management Committee and Silverdale Social Centre Community Centre Management Committee.
• Councillor Mrs Johnson – Red Street Community Centre Management Committee.
• Councillor Matthews – Marsh Hall Community Centre Management Committee.
• Councillor Miss Walklate – Harriet Higgins Community Centre Management Committee and Whitfield Community Centre Management Committee.
• Councillor Mrs Williams – Treasurer, Ramsey Road Community Centre Management Committee.

The Chair had sought advice regarding pecuniary interests from the Council’s Head of Central Services. The membership of a community centre committee was likely to be a non-pecuniary interest. However, it would ultimately be the decision of Members where they have such an interest, to declare it if they considered it necessary.

To agree as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 2012.

RESOLVED:                        That the minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 2012 be agreed as a correct record.

To consider a draft report to Cabinet regarding the Community Centre Review. The report includes the project management structure, the project brief for the review and the consultation programme for the review. There will be a presentation from the Council’s Head of Leisure and Cultural Services and a scrutiny brief will also be considered.

The Committee considered a draft report to Cabinet regarding the Community Centre Review and received a joint presentation from the Head of Leisure and Cultural Services and the Portfolio Holder for Stronger and Active Neighbourhoods. The presentation covered the main points from the draft report that would be considered by Cabinet on 17 October 2012.

The budget for community centres would remain, there was no question of it being cut and it was important to provide this service for the community. There had been misleading press reports previously regarding community centres closing down that had caused panic amongst people who had booked rooms. There was a desire for transparency and openness during the Community Centre Review.

Financial sustainability was one of the main aims of the review. It was necessary to gain an understanding of why some centres were doing better than others. With regard to governance and lease arrangements, some community centres were very reliant on Council involvement, whereas others managed these areas on their own. There was no legal lease between the Council and community centres. An agreement from the mid 1990s was still in force and due to legislative changes many agreements were no longer fit for purpose. A representative from the Legal department would sit on the officer working group.

There were practical building problems associated with the community centres, such as the upkeep and modernisation of buildings. Standards varied dramatically across centres and there were unique issues. There were also security issues, which were mainly at the less used centres.

There would be three phases to the review. The first would be a quantitative research phase from October 2012 to March 2013. There would then be a qualitative research phase from April 2013 to July 2013. Finally there would be an interim report at the end of July 2013 and then a final report in September 2013.

There was external funding available that the Council could access. Management committees could sometimes feel isolated and it was hoped that the review would bring all of the management committees together with the possibility of a federation of management committees. For example, the cost of heating was very high and it was questioned if all of the community centres could come together to buy fuel and save money. It was asserted that the volunteers did an excellent job and as part of the review the management committees would be invited to a meeting to inform them of the progress of the review and to ascertain their ideas. The aim of the review was to get more local groups into community centres and to ensure nice, clean and well maintained buildings for community use.

Members considered that the review was a positive step and were pleased to learn that management committees would be spoken to as part of the review. Many management committees were at different stages and had differing levels of experience. It must be ensured that the less experienced were not at a disadvantage. Some management committees  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider any business which is urgent within the meaning of section 100(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There was no urgent business considered.