Proposals aimed at ensuring community centres in Nottingham are able to remain open have been given the green light by Nottingham City Council.
The Council’s Executive Board approved plans on 18 March which will see new leases introduced for community centres based only on covering costs rather than charging market rents, as had previously been put forward last year.
Councillor Corall Jenkins, Executive Member for Communities, Waste and Equalities said: “Community Centres and the services run from them play a vital role in the lives of local people.
“However, the need to improve financial sustainability for the Council means we have to explore new ways of delivering services.
“A city-wide review of community centres was carried out to see how these facilities can go forward in a cost-neutral way.
“We want a sustainable future for the centres, with as many of these facilities remaining open as possible which is why we have moved from charging market rates to simply covering costs
“There will be collaboration, communication and ongoing consultation with communities and all affected groups on the way forward for community centres.”
As part of new lease arrangements due to be put in place by April 2026, repairs, maintenance and compliance liabilities will sit with sit with community associations as tenants.
As third sector organisations, associations are able to access additional funding that the Council cannot, allowing them to contribute to the costs of running the buildings themselves, as opposed to paying rent.
The Council has confirmed that it will be running dedicated sessions for community associations on grant applications, business planning, and effective procurement.
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