Further to Minute No. 15, 22nd June 2016, the Director of Communities and Environment submitted a report providing an update on the progress made to date on the Community Hub programme and specifically the delivery of Phase 2. In addition, the report sought approval of proposals regarding the Phase 3 Community Hub programme to form Community Hubs in a number of key local buildings, mainly existing Libraries and One Stop Centres to support the delivery of integrated and accessible services.
In introducing the report, the Executive Member for Communities extended her thanks to the significant role that Scrutiny had played in the development of this project to date.
Responding to a Member’s concerns regarding the programme and including a specific design issues in respect of an existing hub, emphasis was placed upon the overarching aim of the programme which was to benefit the community by providing integration across a wide range of services and partners, with it being noted that should there be any design issues in respect of a specific project, then these could be brought to the attention of the Executive Member or relevant officers for consideration.
RESOLVED –
(a) That the contents of the submitted report, specifically the progress made on delivering the Community Hubs as part of Phase 1 and Phase 2, together with the Mobile Community Hub approach, be noted;
(b) That the delivery of the Phase 3 Community Hub schemes over the next 3 years, be supported;
(c) That an injection into the capital programme of £3.03m for Phase 3 - Year 1 (2018/19) schemes of the Community Hub programme be authorised, with it being noted that updated business cases for individual Hub schemes will require ‘authority to spend’ in line with the current capital approvals process;
(d) That it be noted that further Phase 3 business cases will be submitted to request further injections of funding, with Phase 3 Projects included in Year 2 (2019/20) and 3 (2020/21);
(e) That it be noted that the two proposed Community Hub schemes in Crossgates and Burmantofts, which are being developed jointly with the NHS, will be subject to a separate report;
(f) That approval be given for the properties released as part of the Phase 3 (Year 1 2018/19) programme, to be declared as surplus to Council requirements and passed to the Capital receipts programme.