Centres shut for summer

Calltoreverseplan

A call to reverse the holiday closures at eight Monklands community centres was defeated at North Lanarkshire Council’s latest meeting.

SNP members Mark Kerr and Claire Barclay proposed overturning the Culture NL policy, which came into effect two weeks ago and now means 26 facilities across the authority close outside term time.

They include Calderbank, Caldercruix, Glenmavis and Rochsoles in Airdrie; Calder, New Townhead and Old Monkland community wing in Coatbridge; and Salsburgh community centre.

Their motion asked the council to “support facilities to be used for public good all year ... given the negative effect on usage and the needs of [user] groups”.

It added: “We have to put our most vulnerable constituents’ needs ahead of corporate decisions.”

The Labour administration put forward a successful amendment attributing the “hard decision to reduce 26 centres to term- time opening” to “funding cuts by the Scottish Government”.

It noted that “Culture NL is an arm’s-length external organisation and registered charity and has a properly constituted board”; and that councillors are “sympathetic to those groups affected”.

The new policy came into effect in late June following a usage review, and is intended to save £400,000 with centre users being offered other venues for 14 weeks per year.

Culture NL chief executive Jillian Ferrie said: “This change allows us to protect highly valued services such as libraries, community centres and vital frontline services.” Book a test drive today°, call us on 01698 711610 MACKLIN MOTORS MAZDA

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