The future of Patchway Youth Centre, in Coniston Road, could be decided at a meeting of South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) this evening (Monday 10th).
Under proposals published earlier this year, the Council said it was planning to transfer control of all its youth centres to locally-based organisations. If no such organisation comes forward for any particular centre, it will be “decommissioned”.
Tonight’s Special Meeting of SGC’s Full Council has been called after Conservative Councillors ‘called-in’ a decision of the authority’s Children and Young People Committee that would see centre-based youth provision safeguarded in the Council’s six designated Priority Neighbourhoods (one of which is Patchway).
In the event that the Committee’s decision is reversed, focus would switch to the three “expressions of interest” that have been made by organisations prepared to consider taking over the running of the Patchway centre, namely:
- A member of staff – proposing a partnership with Patchway Judo Club and others to develop centre for wider community use (youth cafe, apprenticeships, NEET sessions, FIP/YOS).
- Patchway Town Council – proposing a potential asset transfer of building/land to invest in a new Community Centre with dedicated space for young people.
- A private childcare provider – proposing a day nursery.
Minutes of an Extraordinary Meeting of Patchway Town Council held on 15th May suggest that the Council intends to work with a local provider such as Southern Brooks Community Partnership, whose Director, Julie Close, attended the meeting.
It appears that the Town Council wants SGC to make an an asset transfer of the youth centre building and the land that it occupies. The Town Council would then sell the land for housing (subject to planning permission) and use the proceeds to build a youth facility as part of a redeveloped Patchway Community Centre.
The Journal understands that the Community Centre, in Rodway Road, is to be rebuilt in several phases using ‘Section 106’ contributions paid to SGC from the developers of the Charlton Hayes new neighbourhood.
An architect for the project has been appointed but further details have not yet been released, pending confirmation of funding from SGC.
WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN
@Happy: Er, what about the children?
Lib Dems and Labour got their way in the end, meaning that youth centres in the Priority Neighbourhoods (including Patchway) will be safeguarded.
The sum available to the non-priority areas was increased from £227,000 to £437,700, by transferring money from another budget.
Read more: Council agrees to continue funding youth centres in Priority Neighbourhoods (South Glos Post).
Cllr Sam Scott (Labour) reported at Tuesday’s meeting of Patchway Town Council that Patchway Youth Centre would receive funding of £32,000 from SGC. There will now be no need to move youth provision to the community centre, he added.
Cllr Brian Hopkinson (Conservative) said he welcomed the news but added that the youth centre needed more support and should be open six days a week.
What will they do now for meeting up with friends and any leisure time in a safe place now they will have all to meet on the streets and that’s not allowed is it
That what I meant by what about the children