Agenda item

Report of the Leisure and Community Section Head

There will be a presentation from the operator of the West Watford Community Association.

The Chair advised that she had decided to move this item forward on the agenda to allow the external guests to leave after their item if they wished.

The Leisure and Community Section Head informed the scrutiny committee thatWest Watford Community Association received £11,000 in kind; this covered the rent to the council for the hire of the premises.  In addition they received £23,000 as part of the Commissioning Framework.

The Leisure and Community Section Head advised that the framework was half way through its three-year cycle.  In November the scrutiny committee would receive the end of Year 1 report.

West Watford Community Association

The Chair welcomed Vanessa Levy and Maureen Miller to the meeting.

The representatives gave a presentation about West Watford Community Association.  Maureen Miller, the Chair of the Trustees, informed the councillors that the association had been serving the community since 1973.  It was located on the corner of Harwoods Road and Holywell Road.  It aimed to be accessible to all sections of the local community.  Three staff were employed, which included Vanessa Levy, the Centre Co-ordinator.  She advised that the association ‘grew’ its own staff.  The two Centre Development Workers had previously been volunteers at the centre.  They had a large group of volunteers.

Maureen Miller advised that the association had a Business Plan, which was regularly reviewed and updated.  The association had recently signed a new 59-year lease with the council.  The premises had limitations but the staff and volunteers sought ways to overcome them.

Vanessa Levy agreed that the size of the premises was one of the association’s biggest problems.  She explained that the yoga class had to be limited to a maximum of eight participants due to the size of the room.  However being small meant that anyone coming in was not ignored.

Maureen Miller advised that staff and trustees listened to its users and ensured it had the activities they wanted.  She said that Vanessa worked very hard and was there much longer than the 32 hours she was required to work.  The income the association received provided the services available to the community.  The accounts showed a reserve held sufficient to cover a year’s wages.  Everyone was grateful for the grant received from the council.

Vanessa Levy added that the association had a total budget of £60,000.  It valued and needed the support from the council.

Maureen Miller explained that the centre had decided to review its carbon footprint and recognised that it needed to recycle.  This had cost implications for the association; following negotiations with the recycling company they had agreed to a more reasonable collection time period.  The trustees and staff were very mindful of how the money was spent.

Vanessa Levy highlighted some of the activities which took place at the centre.  There was a busy timetable which was delivered directly by the association.  It recruited tutors and many activities were provided by volunteers.  There was a newsletter, ‘West Watch’, produced twice a year and circulated to every house in West Watford.  It highlighted the activities which took place throughout the week.  The association aimed to build a strong community where people looked out for each other and helped them when possible.  It helped to break down barriers.  She informed the scrutiny committee about ‘Westie LETS’ which was a local exchange and transfer scheme.  There were between 50 and 60 active members.  She outlined some of the ways they had helped people in the community.  The association also had a community allotment.  She advised that where there were any gaps in the timetable those times were used by other groups and organisations, for example West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust used the venue for some staff training sessions.  These lets brought an income to the association.

The representatives circulated a copy of ‘West Watch’, the 2016-2017 annual review and a breakdown of the ethnic mix of users at the centre.  It was noted that the centre did not ask external organisers for a breakdown of ethnic data.

Councillor Bell said that he had wished to attend the scrutiny committee to support Maureen Miller and Vanessa Levy.  He was not aware of any other organisation like it in West Watford.  Due to its location it could be used as a drop in centre.  The Police and PCSOs held surgeries there.  He mentioned the food evening they regularly held and the range of food people provided. 

Councillor Dhindsa said that as the ward councillor, where the centre was located, he echoed Councillor Bell’s comments.  The trustees committed a lot of their time to the centre.  He felt they did excellent work for the money they received.

The scrutiny committee commented that they were pleased to hear about the association and the work it did.  Councillors asked the representatives about any issues they had and any threats they envisaged that would affect the association.

Vanessa Levy said that the association had amazing volunteers, but they needed to be supported.  One of the Centre Development Workers had revised the volunteer policy.  Many of the activities were run by volunteers or trustees.  The officers regularly negotiated contracts in order to bring down prices. 

Maureen Miller added that fly tipping was a major issue in the area.  Residents regularly came in to report incidents in the area, included outside the centre.

Vanessa Levy advised that due to the rent levels, people did not have enough money and felt trapped.  They did not have security of tenure.  There was a high turnover within the community.  This could be a benefit as new people came to the centre.  If staff were made aware of an issue they would refer the person to the relevant organisation.  The coffee morning was held on a Monday and this day had been specifically chosen.  It enabled people to drop into the centre and speak to someone.  Whenever possible the Police and PCSOs also attended.  Councillor Mills visited and she was able to speak to people about issues they wanted to raise with her.

Maureen Miller stated that the association had robust policies in place on safeguarding in respect of vulnerable adults and children.  She said that the biggest threat to the association would be the loss of funding from the council.  They were able to bring in small amounts from other places, for example the Small Grants Fund and the local Tesco was very supportive.  Some people provided services ‘in kind’.  However the removal of £23,000 out of the total £60,000 budget would be a big loss.  It was much harder to get core funding. 

Following a question about printing costs for their publications, Vanessa Levy explained that the annual review was published in-house.  However ‘West Watch’ was printed externally.  One of the trustees, a former councillor, managed to get it printed at a reasonable cost.  However it was felt the cost of publishing ‘West Watch’ was worth it.

Maureen Miller said that anyone was welcome to visit the centre and see what they did.

The Chair thanked the representatives for attending the meeting, giving their presentation and responding to councillors’ questions.