Budget could impact on our community facilities

Three Monklands community centres could be under threat if a budget option to cut fees to Culture NL and North Lanarkshire Leisure goes ahead.

Chapelhall senior citizens’ centre, Caldercruix community centre and Old Monkland community wing are among a list of eight facilities where there could be“potential service withdrawal based on usage”.

Reducing the management fees paid to Culture NL could save £690,000 and would also result in a review of opening hours at libraries and museums.

The culture organisation had a £1.5m cut in its fee from the council in last year’s budget – which led to the closure of Whifflet and Bargeddie community centres, Old Monkland and Petersburn libraries and shortened hours at Chapelhall.

Savings options included in this year’s public consultation also include a potential £444,000 reduction in the fee paid to North Lanarkshire Leisure.

The impact of that cut could result in the closure of Kirkwood sports barn, reviewing the opening hours of three North Lanarkshire facilities including newly-refurbished John Smith swimming pool in Airdrie, and a review of membership fees.

Decisions on the impact of reduced fees would be made by the organisations’independent boards; council chief executive Paul Jukes told councillors the options are“included in this consultation to be holistic – if budgets are reduced, these are the potential implications.”

Also set out for consideration is closure of the council’s Kilbowie outdoor education centre, to make a saving of £714,000.

The centre, in Oban, hosts every local Primary Seven pupil for a week of activities such as gorge walking, canoeing, orienteering and rock climbing.

Further savings options to be considered by councillors are a “redesign of community learning and development“worth £1.6m, and an 11 per cent reduction in grants to community groups and organisations, including Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire, saving a potential £164,000.