Plans to invest more than £2.15m in community buildings across County Durham will be discussed by councillors next week.
Members of Durham County Council’s Cabinet will be asked to agree a two-year strategy for the future of 120 council-owned buildings when they meet on Wednesday, 29 February.
The proposals, which also include a further £600,000 support package to enable community-based management groups to take control of local facilities, have been put together following a 12-week public consultation.
In addition, the council is proposing to continue its Community Buildings Grant Fund of £280,000 in 2012/13.
More than 3,600 residents, including 400 young people, put forward their views on how the money should be invested in 54 council-managed buildings, known as community rooms, and 66 community-managed centres.
Cllr Brian Stephens, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships, said: “We recognise the vital role community buildings play in the heart of communities and the valuable work carried out by the dedicated volunteers who manage them.
“The proposals we are putting forward would see the council targeting well over £2m to refurbish priority buildings and giving people the opportunity to take on responsibility for their local facilities.
“This is a significant commitment by the council to this sector and we hope that as many groups as possible make the most of what will be a two-year window to secure funding for their local facilities.”
The council has prioritised 36 buildings for investment over the next two years based on cost, need, size, settlement type and proximity to other centres. This method of prioritisation was supported by the majority of respondents during an extensive consultation on community buildings.
This funding would be dependent on each of the buildings being transferred to a community group, an approach in line with national best practice and, again, backed up by feedback received during the consultation.
A specialist Community Buildings Team would be set up to provide support and advice during the transfer process and to help groups wishing to take over any of the 120 council-owned buildings secure funding from other sources, particularly those hoping to take on centres not prioritised for council funding.
The council is also consulting with social housing providers over the possibility of transferring ownership of communal rooms, smaller venues which are associated with neighbouring housing.
If these buildings can be block transferred, it could free up as much as £90,000 of the £2.15m to invest in more community-managed buildings.
The consultation also considered the way in which £280,000 per year of Grant Aid is provided by the council to 129 community buildings.
The authority wants to remove inconsistencies in the way the cash is currently allocated and make the process more transparent.
However, responses received during the consultation demonstrated that while there was clear acceptance that the system needs to change, there was little consensus as to how money should be distributed in the future.
In line with the consultation findings, the council is, therefore, recommending that existing recipients are informed that 2012/13 will be the last year during which the current arrangements will be in place and that Area Action Partnerships carry out joint work to develop proposals for new arrangements. This will allow more time to develop a way ahead.
