The strategy will reflect the current position on Community Centres, detail what world class community facilities, delivery and access will look like in 2020, with a clear action plan developed.  The draft strategy went to CEB in December 2015.  Adoption after public consultation in spring 2016 – scheduled for CEB in May 2016.

The Head of Community Services submitted a report which requested the approval of the Community Centres Strategy which had been updated following consultation.

Cllr Simm, Board Member for Communities and Culture presented the report. She highlighted the high levels of responses to the consultation (Appendix 4) and thanked all the consultees.

The strategy focuses on facilities, in particular, making sure Rose Hill is used extensively and supporting Blackbird Leys and Barton.  The Council has also carried out a feasibility study for the East Oxford site - the consultation will begin soon.

The strategy also draws up a 5 year maintenance plan, as several community centres were built after WW2.

New leases for all community associations and recruitment and support of volunteers, especially on-going training is also a priority.

Cllr Fooks endorsed the consultation done.  Having two community associations in her ward, she would prefer new leases to be available before November 2017. Cllr Simm said that the Council has trialled a lease with one community association to get the model right and once this is finalised, the rolling out to the other associations won’t take long. 

Cllr Price said that the Communities Officer was always willing to meet with associations, so if associations are willing, they could have a new lease by early 2017.

Cllr Price said the strategy’s title “Building Communities together: Skills Health and Life” suggests that the role of community centres is to provide a wide range of activities and to work with partner organisations. There is the potential for community associations to link with health services and the police to deliver services.

Cllr Simm said that the Stronger Communities Partnership is constantly looking at ways we can use community centres to deliver community services.  Trustees have shown an appetite to do this, but we need to work on how we can best co-ordinate these services.

The City Executive Board resolves to:

 1.    Adopt the Community Centre Strategy