Work to deliver a sustainable future for West Lothian’s community centres is continuing to progress & changes to the way in which community centres are operated in future will ensure they remain open. 👇 The council has been working with Community Centre Management Committees over the past 18 months to discuss ways in which the committees can take on ownership and management of centres, but to also ensure that the income generated by the centres contributes towards the cost of running the centres, and that centres remain on a sound financial footing. 👇 Individual Management Committees currently receive all the income generated via community centres, but the council pays for all of the running costs for staffing, heating and electricity, maintenance and upkeep of the facilities. This is no longer financial sustainable for the council. 👇 Next steps image001.png A report being discussed at next week’s Policy and Resources PDSP sets out an update on progress. Julie Whitelaw, Head of Housing, Customer and Building Services said: “From the beginning, the main focus of this work has always been to include the local community in the future running of community centres and this will continue, no matter what outcome is agreed for each centre. “We all want to ensure that all areas of West Lothian continue to have community centres and that the centres operate successfully and efficiently.” Of the 29 returns received 20 Management Committees have acknowledged a requirement to change the current operating model and have offered ways to support the delivery of a revised operating model. Following the end of the first phase of work, 29 out of 31 Management Committees submitted returned forms to the council, with two Management Committees choosing not to submit any return. The report sets out the next steps in the process. If at the end of this long process, all other options fail to identify a sustainable model of community operation of a community centre, officers will consider any other options or measures which would ensure the continued operation of community centres, and ensure that each area has a community centre. You can read more online https://news.westlothian.gov.uk/