Snape Wood Community Centre in Bulwell is the first community centre to sign the new lease arrangements with the City Council as part of a new approach introduced by the authority to secure the future of Nottingham’s community centres. This is about empowering and enabling our vital community sector to thrive.
The new lease arrangement will mean that the community association as a third sector organisation can access additional funding that the Council cannot, allowing them to maintain their own costs and attract vital investment.
Repairs, maintenance, and compliance liabilities will sit with the community association as tenants, and they will only pay a nominal rent based on the total Council cost of managing the portfolio, rather than market rental value.
Snape Wood is the first of many community centres which will be run this way, as the Council looks at new ways of delivering services and securing the future of community assets.
Cllr Neghat Khan, Leader of Nottingham City Council, said:
“Community centres are vital hubs in the heart of neighbourhoods; they play a central role in the lives of local people. We have listened and have committed to covering essential health and safety costs.
“We want a sustainable future for the centres, with these facilities staying open. With Council’s finances changing, this enables us to support Community Centres to flourish and attract funding we cannot.
“Thank you for those who are working with us, it has not been easy, but I am pleased that Snape Wood is the first of many. As Leader, I have made a commitment that no community centre will close, therefore I am thrilled that we have been able to pursue new ways to secure the future of community centres like Snape Wood, and hopefully many more in the future.”
Alex Norris, MP for Nottingham North and Kimberley, said:
“I’m glad to see that Nottingham City Council’s new plan to give our community centres a firm future is working, and I’m delighted that Snape Wood is the first. It’s always been my view that community assets work best when they’re run by the people they serve, and that’s what this model delivers.
“Snape Wood Community Centre is such an important part of the community, and I know the people of Bulwell will be relieved to see that it’s future is secure. I look forward to working with the team to help Snape Wood get the most out of this space.”