Issue - meetings

Future of Community Resource Centres/Outreach service

Meeting: 16/11/2022 - Renewal, Recreation and Housing Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee (Item 34)

34 Future of Community Resource Centres/Outreach Service pdf icon PDF 258 KB

Minutes:

Report HPR2022/055

 

This report set out a number of issues impacting the Cotmandene Community Resource Centre and Mottingham Community and Learning Shop and requesting that this valuable community resource be retained, and that work be undertaken to explore the relocation of both services within the St Paul’s Cray and Mottingham communities.

 

In considering the report, the Assistant Director: Culture and Regeneration advised that the two buildings these services were located in were no longer fit for purpose due to ongoing maintenance issues, including flooding, and as the current lease for the Mottingham site was set to expire in February 2023.  A Member underlined the importance of the Community Resource Centres which offered a unique triage service where customers could seek advice and guidance on any issue, reducing escalation to other Local Authority services.  Another Member agreed this was a highly valued and well-used community-based service and suggested that the Local Authority assess the social value derived from its investment in the centres as part of the planned review.

 

RESOLVED: That the Portfolio Holder be recommended to:

 

  • Retain this valuable community service; and,

 

  • Agree the following work be undertaken by Officers after which a decision report be presented to the Council’s Executive in Spring 2023:

 

·  Research on potential options for the relocation of the service within the St Paul’s Cray and Mottingham areas;

·  Research on the user patterns in the two communities;

·  Soundings from users and non-users; and,

·  Investigation of the costs of moving to other buildings.