Centres set to have funding slashed
PLANS to slash funding to two community centres look set to be approved this week.
Wardleworth and Castlemere community centres face a 20 per cent cut in their budget from the council.
As the Observer reported in January it comes after a review of the town hall grants given to community centres across the borough.
It found that Wardleworth and Castlemere were the ‘least effective’ of the 16 centres which receive council funding, based on the number of people using them and their proximity to other centres.
Initial proposals were for Wardleworth to lose its £46,700 annual grant and Castlemere to have its funding slashed by £13,100.
But following a consultation, bosses at Wardleworth put forward an alternative proposal for its budget be cut by £9,340.
This has now been accepted by town hall chiefs.
A report, which was set to go before Cabinet last night (Tuesday), said: “There is no statutory duty to fund community centres.
“However, community centres provide a valuable service to the communities they serve.
“They should meet the needs of their individual communities and have a significant impact upon the health and wellbeing of individuals and the quality of life of people in the community.
“Members have carefully considered the alternative proposal submitted by Wardleworth Community Centre and have agreed that a 20% reduction would be appropriate in the circumstances.
“In the spirit of fairness, it is considered appropriate to also reduce the grant paid to Castlemere Community Centre by the same 20%.”
The report also reveals the results of the consultation.
A total of 378 people gave their views on the proposals, the majority of which related to Wardleworth.
More than nine in 10 disagreed with the plans.
In regards to Wardleworth the objections raised included that other centres locally do not have a purpose built hall and that its funding was ‘relevant to the level of deprivation and is therefore necessary’.
Of Castlemere respondents said the scoring system used to rate community centres ‘excludes social, educational and recreational needs of the community’ and that it is the largest centre in the borough.