REPORT FOR DECISION Agenda item no: Overview and Scrutiny Committee - 16 th January 2012 Report of the Chief Executive CALLED-IN BUSINESS: ROCHDALE TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY CENTRES Wards affected: Report Author: Peter Thompson Telephone: (01706) 925209. The report presents details of a decision by Rochdale Township Action and Resources Committee (Delegated Sub-Committee) on 24th November 2011 that savings from Rochdale Township’s budget for Community Centres approved. , 1. It is recommended that: 1.1 The Overview and Scrutiny Committee give consideration to the above referred business and either:- a. confirm the decision of Rochdale Township Action and Resources Committee in which case the decision will take immediate effect; b. recommend to Rochdale Township Action and Resources Committee that they reconsider the decision on the grounds to be specified by this Overview and Scrutiny Committee, in which case the matter will be considered at the next meeting; c. To refer consideration of the item to Full Council to determine a recommendation as to whether the decision should be reviewed in which case a meeting will be arranged. 2. Reasons for recommendation: 2.1 The recommendations present three options available to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in consideration of this issue which are considered in the Overview and Scrutiny Procedural Rules in the Council’s Constitution. 3. Alternatives considered: 3.1 None. 4. Consultation undertaken/proposed: 4.1 None. 5. Equal Opportunities Implications: 5.1 Not applicable. 6. Background: 6.1 Councillors Neilson and James Gartside have Called-in a decision of the Rochdale Township Action and Resources Committee (Delegated Sub-Committee), taken at its meeting on 24th November 2011, that for Rochdale Township the following savings from the Community Centres budgets be agreed:– a) Bangladesh Association and Community Project grant be reduced by 15%; b) Deeplish Community Centre a15% reduction to the grant; c) North Area Partnership a 15% reduction to the grant; d) Rochdale Women’s Welfare Association a 15% reduction to the grant; e) Castlemere Community Centre a 23% reduction to the grant; f) Kashmir Youth Project a 23% reduction to the grant; g) Sparth Community Centre a 23% reduction to the grant; h) Spotland Community Centre a 23% reduction to the grant; i) Sudden and Brimrod Community Centre a 23% reduction to the grant; j) Turfhill Community Centre a 23% reduction to the grant; k) Wardleworth Community Centre a 23% reduction to the grant. 6.2 The following papers are attached for Members consideration:- (a) Details of the Call-In (Appendix A). (b) The relevant Minute of the meeting of Rochdale Township Action and Resources Committee (Delegated Sub-Committee) held 24 th November 2011 (Min no. 154 refers) (Appendix B); and the related Committee reports of the Service Director for Housing and Regeneration (Appendix C – which is attached separately). (c) The response of Councillor Surinder Biant, Chair of Rochdale Township Action and Resources Committee (Appendix D). 6.3 The following Members have been invited to attend and have confirmed their attendance:- Calling-in Member(s): Councillor(s) Neilson and James Gartside. Responding Member: Councillor Surinder Biant. 7. Financial Implications: 7.1 Not applicable. For further Information and Background Papers: For further information about this report or access to any background papers please contact Peter Thompson, Lead Scrutiny Officer, Performance and Transformation Service, Floor 6, Telegraph House, Baillie Street, Rochdale; telephone - 01706 925209; e-mail [email protected] Roger Ellis Chief Executive. APPENDIX A – DETAILS OF CALL-IN Meeting: Rochdale Township Action & Resources Committee (Delegated Sub- Committee) Date: 24 th November 2011 Minute: Number: 154 Item: Rochdale Township Community Centres Calling-in Members: Councillor Neilson and Councillor James Gartside. Reasons for the Call-in as provided by the calling-in Members: - (a) There is not sufficient information on which to make a decision. Councillors Neilson and James Gartside have supported their call-in on the grounds that there was insufficient information on which the Committee could make a decision with the following statement:- “There are high density of community centres in some areas and duplicating services for some neighbourhoods which are not considered as value for money and also officers have failed to highlight such crucial issues to the members of Rochdale Township Action and Resources Committee”. APPENDIX B – BACKGROUND MINUTE AND REPORTS The decision of Rochdale Township Action and Resources Committee on 24th November 2011, (Minute no. 154 refers), in relation to this matter is detailed below, together with the report of the Service Director for Housing and Regeneration, on which Rochdale Township Action and Resources Committee based its decision. ROCHDALE TOWNSHIP ACTION AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE (DELEGATED SUB-COMMITTEE) 24 TH NOVEMBER 2011 ROCHDALE TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY CENTRES 154 The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Service Director for Housing and Regeneration detailing recommendations for delivering efficiency savings from the Community Centre budget in Rochdale Township. The Service Director for Housing and Regeneration updated the Sub-Committee as to an amendment to the submitted report in relation to Turfhill Community Centre which amended the overall saving being considered. The recommendations were put forward as part of the Council’s efficiency programme, Phase 2 where a proposal was developed, Cust 12d, to reduce the overall community centre budget by 23%. Members agreed the proposal but requested that the implementation be deferred for 12 months so they could receive detailed information on each centre and make a decision based on value for money. The report presented an evaluation of each community centre in the Rochdale Township along with a recommendation relating to each centre. Alternatives considered: to apply a 23% reduction to all grant aided centres or consider proposals to attain the equivalent savings. In considering the submitted report, the Chair invited representatives from Community Centres to address the Sub-Committee. DECIDED – That for Rochdale Township the following savings from the Community Centres budgets be agreed: – a) Bangladesh Association and Community Project grant be reduced by 15%; b) Deeplish Community Centre a15% reduction to the grant; c) North Area Partnership a 15% reduction to the grant; d) Rochdale Women’s Welfare Association a 15% reduction to the grant; e) Castlemere Community Centre a 23% reduction to the grant; f) Kashmir Youth Project a 23% reduction to the grant; g) Sparth Community Centre a 23% reduction to the grant; h) Spotland Community Centre a 23% reduction to the grant; i) Sudden and Brimrod Community Centre a 23% reduction to the grant; j) Turfhill Community Centre a 23% reduction to the grant; k) Wardleworth Community Centre a 23% reduction to the grant. REPORT FOR DECISION Agenda item no: Rochdale Township Action and Resources Sub- Committee 27 th October 2011 Report of Service Director Housing and Regeneration Delivering Phase 2 efficiency savings from the community centre budget – Cust 12d Wards affected: Report Author: Stephanie Thornton Telephone: (01706) 924355 This report presents options and recommendations for savings following detailed evaluation of each community centre in the township. 1. It is recommended that: 1.1 Members consider the options below and each centre’s evaluation report and decide how the savings requirement is to be delivered. 1.2 Centres with a grant or budget of less than £10k are not affected by a cut unless there are significant concerns. 1.2 The options are: 1.2.1 Apply a 23% per cent cut to all grant aided centres with more than £10k. Consider total withdrawal of the grant where/if indicated. 1.2.2 Apply a 23% cut to all grant aided centres with more than 10K. Apply a 15% cut to community centres which display good or exemplary practice and are considered good value for money. Consider total withdrawal of the grant where/if indicated. 1.3 For Rochdale township, the recommendations are: 1.3.1 BACP – 15% reduction to the grant Deeplish community centre – 15% reduction to the grant North Area Partnership – 15% reduction to the grant Rochdale Women’s welfare association – 15% reduction to the grant 1.3.2 Castlemere community centre – 23% reduction to the grant KYP – 23% reduction to the grant Sparth community centre – 23% reduction to the grant Spotland community centre – 23% reduction to the grant Sudden and Brimrod community centre – 23% reduction to the grant 1.3.3. Turfhill community centre – withdraw 100% grant funding 1.3.4. Wardleworth community centre – 23% reduction to the grant. Consider amalgamation with BACP. 1.3.5. This represents a saving of £82,195 2. Reasons for recommendation: 2.1 As part of the Council’s efficiency programme, Phase 2, a proposal was developed, Cust 12d, to reduce the overall community centre budget by 23%. Members agreed the proposal but requested that the implementation be deferred for 12 months so they could receive detailed information on each centre and make a decision based on value for money. 2.2 The centres with a 15% reduction recommendation are considered good value for money with no concerns about their governance or services. Castleton community centre has little or no controllable. 2.3 Officers have not been able to make contact with Turf Hill community centre volunteers/management committee despite several attempts. It has not been possible, therefore, to submit a report. 3. Alternatives considered: 3.1 The original proposal was to close one of the centres, withdraw all the funding from a further three centres, offer up all the ex-RCD budget and top slice all the community centres’ budgets by 23% but members were keen to receive more detailed information which would allow them to make a more informed decision based on what services are being delivered and how well each centre is being run. Also to acknowledge where improvements have been made.