Issue - meetings

To discuss the new facilities at Chalvey Community Centre.

(5 minutes presentation; 15 minutes discussion)

Following the tour of the facilities at Chalvey Community Centre, the Panel considered what they felt was working well with the development and what they felt could be improved upon.

The Panel discussed the success of the satellite library, along with the level of engagement of the local community that had been demonstrated by the positive uptake of volunteer positions along with the partners that had been involved in the new Centre.  The flexible space was seen as a positive, along with a good design and layout of the building.

With the building providing a community hub from scratch, the challenge was seen as generating different types of usage so that the space was regularly used, and the local community recognised the ‘drop in’ element of the facilities.

Andrew Stevens explained that the project was still in its early stages, having been open only four months and the marketing was still being developed, and the hope was to find a larger partner to draw more people in, and to build up partnership projects.

The Panel discussed which groups used the facilities the most e.g. community voluntary sector, and were reassured that the pricing had remained as it was for the previous facility, was in-line with other Council properties and is favourable against other similar community venues.  The Panel also noted that there were areas of the building which groups could use free of charge.

Resolved – to note that comments would be incorporated into the Review of Chalvey Community Centre which would take place in February 2012.