Community Centre update
Encouraging progress is being made on a programme of work aimed at keeping community centres open.
Community Centres are important for many people within communities supporting services led by local people and businesses through their management committees.
Earlier this year, the council launched a consultation with centre Management Committees on the future of community facilities to look at different ways in which committees can take on the ownership and management of centres in future. The council is looking at a number of issues including costs, potential income, as well as working with management committees to identify what their role will be and what support they will need now and in the future.
The vast majority of management committees have met with council officers and taken part in information sessions aimed at supporting committees through the various options available. The sessions were well attended and more are planned for the near future.
Ralph Bell, the council's Customer & Community Service Manager explains: "Our key objective is to work with Management Committees to ensure that facilities remain open. That is the outcome we all want to achieve.
"That's why we are looking at options that would allow the Centres to not just survive but to flourish, led and supported by the management committees.
"The focus of our review is to work with management committees to identify new models that will support local communities with options. These options include Community Asset Transfer, lease agreements and recharging, however we would also welcome any practicable and feasible proposals that the consultation may bring.
"People know that local services are changing. The council will do its best to deliver future services around the needs of local residents with the funding that we have available to us, but the funding we receive to deliver services is not enough to pay for the services we currently deliver. Councils simply do not have enough funding to stand still and this is not something that we can ignore.
"Community centres are one example of change as we look to the future to ensure services are sustainable.
"Historically, individual Management Committees receive all the income generated via community centres and village hall lets but the council incurs all of the costs for staffing, heating and electricity, maintenance and upkeep of the facilities. This is no longer sustainable. Like all organisations and businesses, we need to find a long term and sustainable way of working and ensure that the income generated from a community centre's use funds the running costs of the centre itself.
"We need support from both the Management Committees, the centre users and the wider community to achieve this.
"Many of the committees that I've met with are fully understanding that we need to move towards a more sustainable way of working.
"We've been really encouraged that several Committees have already indicated to us that they are actively pursuing alternative options and we are now working with them to support and advise them on the next steps.
"I think it's important to repeat what we've said previously. By January 10, we only need each committee to indicate to us what alternative option they would like to progress with, so to have some committees already pressing ahead at this stage, is really positive.
"Different committees will choose the model that is right for them and there's a lot for them to consider. However, once they choose a way forward, we will be able to work directly with committees on a tailored plan that will allow them to progress with their chosen alternative model.
"Our advice to Management Committees is to get in touch and speak to us about the way forward and the support we can provide."
How do I find out more?
Should Management Committees and centre users wish to attend future Information Sessions or speak to us about how to move forward with new ways of working, council officers are happy to meet with them either as one group or on an individual basis. Visit: https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/communitycentres
Or email CommunityCentreReview@westlothian.gov.uk
