Issue - meetings

To consider the Community Services budget funding for the current financial year.

RESOLVED to approve:

i. The release of the current budget provision of up to £94,500 to support delivery of community services on an interim basis through day centres

ii. That the guidance as attached to the report will form the framework for considering requests for interim budget support.

The Leader moved to Item 9 on the agenda as Councillor Freeman, Portfolio Holder for Public Services, was required at another meeting. He invited Councillor Day to present the report.

Councillor Day said there was a perception within the local community that Day Centres were to be closed. He said this could not be further from the truth and there was no intention to close Day Centres, but rather re-imagine their purpose to ensure they were of value to a wider demographic. He said he could foresee them becoming Community Centres or ‘drop-in hubs’ and this work would be progressed by the Community Services Working Group (CSWG). Funding would be made available to support the community framework but each individual centre would be required to make a bid. 

Councillor Freeman reiterated that Day Centres would not be closing. Each Centre would be managed locally and independently of the Council, although the Council would support each hub in reimagining its purpose through the work of the CSWG. He said it was important to get each Centre up and running as quickly as possible. He proposed approval of the recommendation.

Councillor Day duly seconded the proposal.

Councillor Caton welcomed this report and thanked Councillors Day and Freeman for providing clarity.

            RESOLVED to approve:

i. The release of the current budget provision of up to £94,500 to support delivery of community services on an interim basis through day centres

ii. That the guidance as attached to the report will form the framework for considering requests for interim budget support.