54 - Objection about Rent Rise, Whitmore Reans Community Centre

Agenda Item:
Wolverhampton City Council
OPEN DECISION NOTICE
Portfolio(s)
COUNCILLOR S SIMKINS / LEISURE & CULTURE
Originating Service Group(s)
ADULTS & COMMUNITY
Contact Officer(s)/
R WELCH
EXT 2162
Telephone Number(s)
Title
7
PETITION OPPOSING THE INCREASE IN HIRE CHARGES AT
DUNSTALL COMMUNITY CENTRE
Recommendation
Committee is requested to support the proposed price increases at Dunstall Community Centre
for the following reasons:
1.
The current pricing policy is inconsistent with prices charged at other community centres
within the city.
2.
The proposed charges are a compromise, which has been reached by holding a series
of consultation meetings with Whitmore Reans Community Association committee
members.
3.
An increase in charges is requested to offset some of the running costs for the site,
enabling the building and the community association to become more self sustainable in
the long term.
1.
Purpose of Report
1.1
To respond to the petition opposing an increase in hire charges at Dunstall
Community Centre.
2.
Background
2.1
As part of the citywide community centre review, a consultation exercise was
carried out at Dunstall Community Centre on 9 December 2009 with the purpose
of gauging local opinion of users and non-users on current provision within their
neighbourhood, whilst exploring future options for the site.
2.2
A number of issues were fed back to officers at the consultation session, including
concern over the existing booking process, access issues and a lack of
transparency on the part of the resident community association (see Appendix 1).
Consequently, Cabinet on 24 February 2010 endorsed the recommendation for
the Council to take responsibility for bookings and associated income in the short
term, whilst working with the community association in the medium to long term to
review its infrastructure and future role at the site.
2.3
In April 2010, officers began work with the community association to arrange the
handover of the site from the association to the Council. Supplementary work was
undertaken to develop an action plan to enable the community association to
further develop its infrastructure and regain booking responsibilities for the site.
2.4
During this period, a review was undertaken of the centre’s pricing policy by
Council officers and it was identified that prices charged at Dunstall Community
Centre were significantly lower than those charged at other community centres in
the city. Similarly, it was also identified that some user groups were not paying
anything in return for the hire of the room, which is a concern in insurance terms.
In addition, the Asset Information Pack has identified that Dunstall Community
Centre is one of the more expensive sites in terms of running costs and this may
be partly attributable to the size of the building. Consequently, it was proposed
that a revised pricing policy would be implemented to fall in line with other Council
controlled community centres.
2.5
The revised pricing proposal was discussed with executive committee members
before being presented to the wider community association committee on
25 September 2010. Executive members reported that this proposal had been
rejected by the community association on the grounds that the percentage rise
would be too great for some groups to afford. Consequently, officers submitted a
further revised pricing structure in October 2010 that reflected a mid point charge
between the existing pricing policy and that of the hire charge adopted by other
Council controlled community centres. It was proposed that this new arrangement
be implemented by January 2011. However, this was once again rejected and a
petition was received in December 2010.
3.
Petition Details
3.1
A public petition of 220 names opposing the increase in hire charges at Dunstall
Community Centre was received by Adults & Community on 8 December 2010.
3.2
Officers and a Ward Member had been in discussions with the lead petitioner
several months prior to receipt of the petition, where the rationale for an increase
in hire charges was explained and negotiations have been ongoing.
4.
Financial Implications
4.1
Appendix 2 details the current pricing structure, a mid point pricing charge for
2011 and a full cost pricing policy for 2012 (which is consistent with prices
charges elsewhere in the city).
4.2
It is estimated that the full year effect of not increasing hire charges would total
between £1,500 and £2,000 in 2011 and between £2,500 and £3,000 in 2012.
[CS/05012011/M]
5.
Legal Implications
5.1
There are no direct legal implications associated with this report.
[JH/05012011/N]
6.
Equal Opportunities Implications
6.1
The centre is used by a wide variety of local people and user groups. The revised
pricing policy gives the flexibility to charge reasonable rates to each category of
users, whilst giving the opportunity to achieve part cost recovery for the centre in
the longer term.
7.
Environmental Implications
7.1
There are no environmental implications associated with this report.
APPENDIX 1: FEEDBACK FROM CONSULTATION SESSION ON 9 DECEMBER 2009
Option 3 - Wolverhampton City Council to take full management control regarding
the future operation of the site
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Concern about how the committee is managing the centre
No thanks
I want this centre to run by the existing way
Community centre using fantastic by local community people man and woman,
they need computer facility
Problems getting bookings
Want Wolverhampton Council to take control
Main reason for choosing this option is to ensure fair booking procedure is
followed by the Council. The current CA are biased. Booking the hall can take
too long and the CA are not helpful
I would like it to be under Council
Confusion about how to book
Inexperienced officers resulting in mis-management
Yes, council take back control, last few years have been a mess (have spoken to
Eileen regarding this in the past)
Moneys spent on trips and parties
Mr D*** is good, Mr P*** nobody wants him, he swears! New management
structure with women on it
Want Wolverhampton City Council to manage
Option 3 – Council will take off will be good, Council will run in good ways
Somebody better to run the centre
I feel that the Council should run it because they would be more professional
Council should take responsibility
Wolverhampton City Council should take full responsibilities for all the future
development of this site.
Everybody would be happy for the Council to take over
I am not in favour of that the centre should be run or control by the
Wolverhampton City Council by the full management
I feel this will serve to disempower community and will lead to reduction of
involvement/ownership
CA should pay some money out of their fund for the council. We should think
about electric and gas savings. We should reduce the money which is spent on
CA members. If the centre is busy there will be less vandalism.
Will be fairer!
YES better make up of the committee
Would prefer option 3 clear management and more transparencies of policies and
procedures
New committee needs more encouragement, centre useful community resource.
APPENDIX 2: DUNSTALL HILL COMMUNITY CENTRE PROPOSED PRICING POLICY
CURRENT
Community
Private
2011
Commercial
Community
2012
Private
Commercial
Community
Private
Commercial
Hall
£2.50
per
session
£20.00
per hour
£40.00
per hour
£6.25
per
session
£25.00
per hour
£50.00
per hour
£10.00
per
session
£30.00
per hour
£60.00
per hour
Back Hall
£1.50
per
session
£10.00
per hour
£20.00
per hour
£3.75
per
session
£12.50
per hour
£25.00
per hour
£6.00
per
session
£15.00
per hour
£30.00
per hour
Meeting
Room
£0.50
per
session
£3.00
per hour
£7.00
per hour
£1.75
per
session
£5.00
per hour
£8.50
per hour
£3.00
per
session
£7.00
per hour
£10.00
per hour
£1.00 ps
per
partition
£3.00 ph
per
partition
£7.00 ph
per
partition
£2.00 ps
per
partition
£5.25 ph
per
partition
£11.00 ph
per
partition
£3.00 ps
per
partition
£7.50 ph
per
partition
£15.00 ph
per
partition
Back Hall
(x 2
partitions)
Kitchen
Free
only with
halls
Funerals £20.00 per hour
Weekend Letting Fees
Community Groups
£7.00
Children’s Parties
£15.00
Adult’s Parties
£30.00 (To be applied to religious groups other than for community activities)
Commercial
£40.00
(Party bookings - £150.00 deposit)