Temporary solution secures Centre’s short-term future
The Prentice Centre’s immediate future has been secured after a last ditch plan was put to West Granton Community Trust board members by local councillors before last night’s emergency meeting.
If, as seems likely, the proposal is agreed by the management board the temporary solution would see The Prentice Centre’s three year funding ‘front-loaded’, giving the centre additional funds (£72,000) in the first year to continue operations and breathing space to look at solutions to their current financial plight.
Local councillors have also established a task force with officials to work with the Prentice Centre’s board to look at making the Granton Mains community resource sustainable.
Attendees – the public meeting was again packed out – have given the proposals a cautious welcome, although there was concern that previous assurances given at the 9 March public meeting had come to nothing.
Forth councillor Cammy Day apologised for council officials’ previous ‘miscommunications’ and said that all four local councillors have been working hard to secure the Centre’s future since the March meeting.
He told the meeting: “This proposal allows the Centre to go forward and an opportunity to review everything: reserves, rentals, staffing costs, services – to make sure The Prentice Centre go from strength to strength. No one wants to see this centre close.”
Chairperson May Riordan said: “Officials put forward suggestions about how we could try to raise our revenue but some of these were ridiculous – this is West Granton not Morningside! Officers just look at the numbers, they don’t see the people affected.
“We feel that what has been tabled tonight is definite progress – it’s not ideal, but it gives us time. Our backs are against the wall, and this is the best we are going to get just now: we’ve got to come to some sort of compromise and that’s fine – as long as it’s in our favour.”
One option that will not be considered is the selling off of key community assets – May Riordan ruled out the option of selling off the adjoining Sandy’s Community Shop, a source of rental income for the Prentice Centre.
A number of speakers stressed the need for everyone to work together – not just the different political parties but also young and older people in the local community. One contributor also asked that the local community should be kept informed of developments.
Willie Black also announced a plan to organise a joint meeting of all North Edinburgh community centres next month to look to find a united approach to keeping the area’s centres open.
Speaking this morning, a Prentice Centre spokesperson said: ” The public meeting last night was well attended and again our councilors have given us an account of what they intend to do to raise funding.
“I left the first public meeting with a song in my heart, our councilors were so sure we would not close. This time, I left with a knot in my stomach: we await with bated breath.”
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