The Task Group to elect a Chair for the Task Group.

The Task Group was asked to elect a Chair for the Task Group.

It was noted that Councillor Kareen Hastrick had replaced Councillor Jeanette Aron on the Task Group.

AGREED

That Councillor Rabi Martins be elected Chair of the Voluntary Sector Commissioning Framework (Community Centres) Task Group.

There were no disclosures of interest.

To receive a scrutiny proposal regarding Community Centres as part of the Voluntary Sector Commissioning Framework by the Corporate, Leisure and Community Section Head.

Members noted the scoping document. The Committee and Scrutiny Officer reminded Members that the Task Group was to look at specific community centres which were funded by the Council in relation to how they fitted into the Commissioning Framework, not all community centres in general.

To receive a report regarding Community Centres as part of the Voluntary Sector Commissioning Framework by the Corporate, Leisure and Community Section Head.

Members received a scrutiny task group report from the Head of CSCS and the CLC Section Head regarding the community centres in relation to the Voluntary Sector Commissioning Framework.

It was noted that the Council provided funding to a number of organisations including the Watford Palace Theatre, the Citizens’ Advice Bureau (CAB), Shopmobility, Watford & Three Rivers Trust and a number of local community centres.

The Head of CSCS provided background information on the journey community centres had undertaken which was detailed in the scrutiny task group report. 

Members were asked to consider the future of each of the five centres.  Additionally a sixth centre, West Watford Community Association, was incorporated into the community centre service priority during the last Commissioning Framework.

The Chair was of the opinion that there should be consensus when considering what issues needed to be addressed. The Head of CSCS noted that the focus was not cutting funding or disposing of centres but rather to consider how things were progressing with each of the centres and what was the best way forward. She highlighted that all the centres were different and though savings might be made through the process, the focus was on making the centres more independent.

The Chair asked officers about the timeframe of the work to be carried out. It was noted that further clarity was hoped to be achieved by June 2015 with the decision on how to proceed to be made by Cabinet in September 2015. The life span of the community centres was different for each centre as some had long property leases whereas the future of other centres was less certain. All the community centres were required to produce a business plan by September 2015.

The Task Group considered the different centres in turn:

Holywell

Members noted that Holywell Community Centre was managed by Watford and Three Rivers Trust. Although the centre was the first to be outsourced it had faced some challenges due to both the poor location of the building and the restructuring of the Trust. The centre did however have a large hall and car parking available which could be used more effectively

Officers highlighted that health and wellbeing might be an area of focus for W3RT as the evidence indicated a high percentage of childhood obesity for children between four and eleven, high standardised ratio for cancer incidence, and a high number of hospital stays for self-harm and alcohol harm and emergency admissions for hip fractures for over 65’s in the local area.  W3RT were a key contributor to the health and wellbeing agenda through their Hertfordshire County Council commissioned services.

It was also confirmed that the site was a strategic sports facility site within the Council’s Sports Facility Strategy.

It was noted that Holywell was not in a position to be sustainable without continued Council funding support for the next three years to provide stability whilst opportunities were explored.

Councillor Karen Collett asked if SLM, who managed the Council’s leisure centres, could provide health  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The Task Group to decide actions to be completed before the next meeting of the Task Group on Tuesday 26 May 2015, 6.30pm.

Members agreed the following actions:

AGREED

1. Officers to provide Members with information regarding the following for all centres by the next meeting:
   1. The range of activities offered;
   2. Information regarding marketing and promotion;
   3. Profile of users (where possible).

2. Officers to provide Members with details of the funding and information on planned activities provided through the Community Activation Fund which applied to Central Ward only and was administered by the Council’s Sports Development Officer.  This related to activities at Centrepoint community centre only.

3. Members to be provided with contact information for the centres and to make their own arrangements to visit or speak to community centre staff.

4. All members to be invited to attend the next meeting of the task group as observers.

5. Officers to provide Members with options and recommendations for discussion and consideration at the next meeting.

6. Officers to liaise with community centre management teams regarding the potential opportunities for working with groups for example mental health charities and education providers.