Issue - decisions

Matter for Decision

In October 2015 the Executive Councillor for Communities, Arts &

Recreation made a decision to undertake a strategic review of community provision. Subsequent decisions have been taken to agree progress at each stage (refer to section 8 of the Officer’s report).

 

Following a review of existing provision and a needs assessment, a draft Community Centres Strategy has been developed with the overarching theme of ‘Building Stronger Communities’. A review of community development resources and funding would follow. The Council was now in a position to consult more widely on the draft Community Centres Strategy, and to begin detailed work to develop specific, deliverable proposals.

 

The draft strategy was attached to the Officer’s report. It contained recommendations affecting a number of current centres and proposals to enhance facilities in certain areas (pages 32-45).

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Communities

       i.          Agreed to consultation with stakeholders and the wider community on the draft Community Centre Strategy (Appendix A of the Officer’s report) and the recommendations in section 3, pages 32-45. The Executive Councillor for Communities, the Chair of the Community Services Committee and the Opposition Spokesperson would be consulted on the design of the consultation.

     ii.          Agreed to further work and detailed feasibility studies of individual sites where changes are proposed in the draft strategy. This work would also seek to mitigate against any instability that could be caused as any changes are implemented.

   iii.          Agreed the feedback and findings from (i) and (ii) would inform further recommendations which would be brought back to the relevant committee for scrutiny before any final decisions are made by the appropriate Executive Councillor.

 

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

The Head of Community Services updated her report by referring to amendments published on-line and tabled at committee.

 

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

       i.          Residents asked for more community centre provision in the city centre to aid community cohesion.

     ii.          Asked if community facility details could be signposted through social media.

   iii.          Councillor Gillespie offered his data visualisation skills to help compile information if this would help officers.

   iv.          Green space needed to be protected around community facilities.

    v.          Asked for their thanks for Officer’s hard work to be put on record

 

The Community Funding and Development Manager said the following in response to Members’ questions:

       i.          Strategy recommendations were not set in stone. Having completed analysis work, and developed draft proposals, officers wanted to hear people’s views. The responses received to the consultation would help inform the final strategy which will be brought back to Community Services in June for consideration.

     ii.          The proposals were based on population and deprivation analysis and were ‘future proofed’ as much as possible at this stage with new centres planned on major growth sites as detailed in the report. Growth will need to be considered in the future with master planning on larger sites and S106/CIL contributions on smaller developments. Alongside the centres strategy we will be reviewing our community development resource to be flexible to meet future needs.

   iii.          The review was not expected to lead to any loss of provision and service level agreements could be put in place to protect community use if voluntary sector partners took on the management of a centre.

   iv.          The strategy proposed to look at appropriate ways to promote the facilities identified for wider public use.

    v.          The consultation would be designed then comments sought from Chair, Executive and Spokes.

 

The Strategic Director said the following in response to Members’ questions:

       i.          General details were put in the consultation document, not detailed information, so it had a broad and accessible format. It was felt detailed information would be unhelpful. Officers would respond to any specific questions.

     ii.          The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mayor would come into effect in May 2017. Department for Communities and Local Government housing proposals were expected in February. Proposals would be considered by the Housing Scrutiny Committee. A briefing was pending for councillors on the 500 homes expected for Cambridge. Community Services Scrutiny Committee would look at community centre provision. Officers would try to link the two subjects, but they would be considered at the 2 scrutiny committees.

   iii.          Undertook to liaise with Councillors post meeting about concerns regarding walking time to access community centres. Housing and community facility needs were considered through planning policy.

   iv.          The Council would liaise with community centres if the consultation highlighted they could provide more services (higher demand than expected, gap in local provision etc).

 

The Community Review Manager said the following in response to Members’ questions:

       i.          Officers have audited and verified 107 community facilities across the city. Within this are 25 dedicated community facilities which are available for community use at all times, and 8 of these are the City Council’s community centres, which are the focus of this review.

     ii.          Only the 25 dedicated community facilities were included within the evidence base for the catchment analysis work to assess whether the city council community centres are targeted at areas of greatest need.

 

The Sport & Recreation Manager said the following in response to Members’ questions:

       i.          The County Council owned the land Cherry Hinton Village Centre was built on, but the City Council owns the building and is leased to GLL under the Leisure Contract.

     ii.          ii.       Provision of community facilities at Cherry Hinton Village Centre was a council priority.

 

The Committee resolved by 6 votes to 0 to endorse the recommendations.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.