Back from the Brink: Last minute reprieve for local community centres

PRENTICE CENTRE REMAINS CLOSED FOR NOW

TWO North Edinburgh community centres were saved from closure following a last-ditch intervention by councillors at a marathon council meeting yesterday.

Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre was braced for closure this summer following months of uncertainty over funding, while the voluntary management board of West Granton Community Trust announced on Monday that the Prentice Centre also faced closure due to spiralling running costs.

Councillors unanimously agreed a composite motion after three similar motions were submitted on Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre:

Noting that there are three motions tabled on Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre, this
amendment is to composite motion 8.3 by Councillor Day (Drylaw Neighbourhood
Centre) with motion 8.4 by Councillor Osler (Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre) and
motion 8.12 by Councillor Nicolson (Save Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre).
Amends the text of motion 8.3 as follows:

“Council;

1. notes the work towards a model of 20-minute neighbourhoods across the
   city which requires the development of strong local community facilities that
   are locally and easily accessible for all residents.
2. recognises the critical role that neighbourhood and community centres play
   in our communities, not only providing services to those of all ages, but also
   in maintaining safe places for people to meet and spend time.
3. notes the board of Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre have made clear that the
   centre is not going to survive financially beyond summer without one-off
   funding support from the council.
4. thanks officers for their actions so far in offering advice and some practical
   support to the organisation but regrets this has not managed to help the
   centre reach a positive outcome.
5. agrees that officers should work with Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre’s
   Management Committee to create a sound and sustainable financial
   arrangement that allows the Centre to continue over the long term.

Yesterday’s marathon full council meeting also agreed the following Addendum, which was moved by new Forth SNP councillor Stuart Dobbin and seconded by his SNP collague, Invereleith’s Vicky Nicholson, who was also elected in May.

The Addendum reads:

1. Notes the decision by West Granton Community Trust (announced on June
   27th) to close the Prentice Centre in a matter of months unless immediate
   action is taken.
2. Recognises the critical role that the Prentice Centre plays in the community
   it serves, not only providing services to those of all ages, but also in
   maintaining safe places for people to meet and spend time.
3. Agrees therefore to also delegate to the Director of Education and Children
   Services to award £50,000 from Council Unallocated Reserves for the
   Prentice Centre to ensure the Centre can remain open and continue serving
   the community in the short term. The award of grant is subject to appropriate
   due diligence, including grant conditions on expenditure and assurances
   from the Centre on additional funding being secure.
4. Agrees that due to the number of community-run centres facing closure due
   to financial strain, that a report is brought to Council in one cycle identifying
   those under financial strain and where additional resources can be made
   available to keep valuable community resources open. This report should
   also consider the state of management in the community-run centre sector
   and recommend principles for the relationship between CEC and centres on
   financial matters.

The eleventh hour funding agreement does not guarantee that either Centre will remain open long term, but it does at least give both of these valuable community resources some time and support to explore other options to ensure their survival.

The council decision of short-term financial support will come as a huge relief to staff and management committees in particular but also the hundreds of residents of all ages who support their local community centres.

The work must begin now to ensure that both Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre and The Prentice Centre can look forward to sustainable futures.

UPDATE:

West Granton Community Hub Manager Moira Fanning has been in touch (Saturday 2 July) to say that the Prentice Centre “remains CLOSED as negotiations with the Council have not been finalised”.

I will post more information when it becomes available.