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PENSBY COMMUNITY CENTRE

FISHERS LANE

BACKGROUND

Pensby was provided through a capital bid made in the 1980's.

A cabinet decision agreed the capital expenditure to build the centre but not the revenue, so the centre's Joint Management Committee (JMC) were solely responsible for self-financing the centre from day one. The JMC included representatives from centre users, councillors and wider community representatives.

In December 2007 the JMC wrote to the Council identifying major issues that it faced which had been discussed and not been resolved over a number of years: Namely that the centre was in need of major repairs which neither the JMC nor the Council had the funds for and the usage of the building was declining.

The committee asked the Council to consider 3 options, which they had discussed.

Option 1 Close the centre, which disadvantages the local community.

Option 2 Seek funding to refurbish the centre?

Firstly the committee felt they had limited experience in such a funding exercise and found in the past problems trying to raise money for a council owned facility.

Option 3 Seek another partner who would be prepared to expand the facility.

From January 2008 to April 2008 consultation between the Council and the JMC ensued, with the result that one of the existing user groups offered to investigate taking over the management of the building. From April to September discussions ensued to identify the viability of this proposal at three JMC meetings (April, June & September) and two special meetings (April & June). The conclusion of which was taken to the AGM - a public meeting on 29 October 2008.

Notices of this meeting were displayed in 4 locations throughout the area.

  1. Outside notice board at the centre and inside centre noticeboards

  2. The outside community notice board at the Co-op - prominent shop in Pensby

  3. Local Pensby library

  4. Inside Kylemore Community Centre

There was then agreement for Council to progress with this user group a formal lease for the centre to be transferred to them for purposes of supporting the local community. The group had supplied a development plan, which addressed all the needs of the community from welfare advice, to expanded youth provision and partnership working with Wirral Youth Service and providing more for the ageing population.

From October onwards the JMC was kept informed of the drafting of the lease until completion in January 2009.

LW923