West Lothian community centre management plans 'mired in confusion'
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The future of community centres in West Lothian has become mired in confusion and the council needs to rebuild public confidence, it has been claimed.
West Lothian Council began a review a year ago in a bid to save £1m. Community centre management committees were encouraged to buy the buildings and manage them or take out leases with the council.
Only just over half of that saving has been identified as the plan has developed.
Last month the council introduced a new option - where it would take control of the bulk of community centres . Many centres fear this would mean an increase in costs for user groups leading to a drop off in use and potential closures.
The recent announcement that the council could end up managing the bulk of centres has further muddied the picture, the Joint Forum of Community Councils said.
The Forum has now submitted a Freedom of Information ( FoI) request for details of the financial savings, adding: 'The financial aspects of the review remain baffling.'
In a statement the Forum added: 'It's unfortunate the council began this process with pre-determined solutions rather than with an open mind and a blank slate.'
The Forum has called for a new discussion with the council to look at the positives thrown up by the review process.
In its statement the Forum said: 'It appears the alternative solutions that centres were encouraged to submit have been dismissed for not meeting the required savings. Unfortunately, no further collective discussion or exploration of these proposals was encouraged or held.'
It added: 'We've heard inspiring stories from Management Committees who, catalysed by the Review, held public meetings and attracted more volunteers for their centres. They've revitalised centre activities, encouraged new user groups, and actively engaged with their communities, generating a wealth of ideas for new initiatives and forging valuable contacts.
'Many have responded to suggestions for modernisation, exploring investment plans from their reserves and even considering updating their constitutions to move from unincorporated to incorporated charity status.
'They've also championed the need for a modern online booking system or a local community wealth-building repair and maintenance system, whether local or West Lothian-wide.
' Unfortunately, these promising initiatives are now in limbo, awaiting clear direction from the local authority. We believe a round table event would help everyone move forward and facilitate the implementation of these changes.'
The Forum said the introduction of the council takeover option along with the inclusion, in January, of school community wings into the review had added to public confusion of what was trying to be achieved.
Speaking to councillors at the Executive in early May, Julie Whitelaw, the head of Housing Customer and Building services stressed that the council management option had been shared with all management committees along with: 'the implications we would require to look at reduction in operating models looking at sustainable models.'
She reiterated that the process was designed to keep community centres open and running.
The Forum commented: 'To date, there hasn't been a West Lothian-wide consultation round table with the Centre's Management Committees that allowed for an open agenda without preconditions.
'We consider this a necessary step that must be taken. We ask that this suggestion be given full consideration.
'Community Centre management committees that have already decided to acquire or rent their centres have chosen their path and would naturally be excused from any future all-centre consultations.'
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