Semi-reprieve for community centres as council changes cuts plan

Community centres in Rochdale have been handed a semi-reprieve after councillors changed controversial plans to remove their funding.

The borough’s 14 centres - which provide services ranging from crisis support to childcare - were facing a 50% reduction from 2019/20 and their funding cut completely the following financial year.

Councillors had an eleventh-hour change of heart, and will now reduce the funding to 25% of its current level from 2020/21 - meaning the level of ongoing savings is reduced by £100,000.

The amended savings proposal also retains the £93,000 ‘transitional fund’, which centres can bid for a share of.

Reaction to the move has been mixed, but will mean centres can continue to rely on some form direct financial support from the town hall for the foreseeable future.

Council leader Allen Brett said that senior councillors had listened to the concerns of the voluntary sector.

He said: “The council appreciates the community service provides a valuable contribution within the communities in which they’re located and we have listened to feedback from groups.

“Having done this, I’m prepared to amend the proposals from 2020/21.”

The amendment still leaves community centres facing an uncertain future - and may not be enough to save some.

 

 

But Kerry Edwards, manager at Burnside Community Centre, in Middleton, said it was welcome news.

She said: “It would be better if it was more, but it’s better than nothing. At least we have 25%.

“It’s not a great amount for us, unfortunately - it’s about £6,000 per year - it’s not really a lot but it’s better than nothing in tough times.

“But it’s a better deal than it was going to be, so we are grateful.”

Centres will have to make up any shortfall by applying for grants and attracting revenue from non-council sources.

Burnside already has alternative income streams and is working on developing more.

But Kerry says that next April - when the first 50% cut comes in - is ‘coming around quickly’.

“The pressure is on to make sure we can maintain our services as they are,” she said.

However, Kerry says some centres will be hit harder than others - particularly those that are most reliant on council funding.

And she believes ‘solidarity’ in the borough’s voluntary sector - working together to avoid duplication and competition - could be the key to ensuring centres survive.

“I know some of them will be in quite a bad position, each centre is different, the cuts are going to hurt us, but we just have to crack on and hope we’re not having to cut back,” she added.

But Shaukat Ali, vice chairman at Wardleworth Community Centre, was not as optimistic.

“We are not happy with it, we feel it’s really a drop in the ocean as a percentage of our current funding,” he said.

“The council is under pressure because of government funding cuts, we understand that. But we have said if we get a smaller funding cut, then maybe we can manage it a bit better.

“Services could be completely removed, we won’t be able to keep doing what we are doing for the community. Overall it’s not a happy ending.”

At present it is not clear how bidding for a share of the £93,500 transition fund will work - which is a further concern for Mr Ali.

“We don’t know if the transition fund they are providing can be used for revenue. If it is like the township (fund) it could just be for projects, not for revenue.

“We are disappointed, they could have handled it a little bit better, the overall money they are saving is not a lot - it’s a penny-drop - that could have been found elsewhere from waste in other services.

But, despite his disappointment, he still hopes that his centre can find a way forward.

“We are disappointed, we disagree with the decision, but let’s work together and see how long we can survive. At the end of the day, we can’t cry too much, we have to move on.”