AN EMPTY community centre at risk of falling into disrepair in Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) is set to become the new base for a community council.
RCT Council has approved the grant of a 25-year lease of Cambrian Avenue Community Centre through a community asset transfer to Gilfach Goch Community Council.
The decision report said that Cambrian Avenue Community Centre is vacant and at risk of falling into disrepair.
A costed business plan was submitted by Gilfach Goch Community Council for the proposed leasehold transfer of Cambrian Avenue Community Centre to enable the organisation to transfer their operational base to a more suitable building.
It said that the transfer will also support additional community use to address local need.
The community council own and currently occupy a small building in Etna Terrace which is in need of considerable renovation, the report said.
It said that community councillors do not consider this to be good use of public money therefore an alternative suitable facility is being looked for.
Cambrian Avenue Community Centre is local to the current operational base in Etna Terrace and its proposed use is as an alternative base to house the community council.
The report said that a long-term lease on the Cambrian Avenue Community Centre will enable a “consistent and managed approach” to bringing this building back into community use, functioning as the headquarters of the community council in addition to a community meeting space for events and group activities.
It said that leasehold occupancy will allow the community council to use the building for ongoing projects in the coming years, enabling the building of key relationships and partnerships with community groups in the vicinity and also allowing the community council to apply for grants to fund activities within the community centre to meet local need.
At a meeting of the strategic community asset transfer (CAT) panel meeting on July 9 it was recommended to approve the lease to Gilfach Goch Community Council because “the proposal will bring an empty building back into use, ensuring that it is fit for purpose and energy efficient, enabling sustained community council business” and “building capacity will be reviewed with options to meet additional community need being explored”.
There will be no ongoing cost implications to the council associated with the leasehold transfer of Cambrian Avenue Community Centre.
Gilfach Goch Community Council will be responsible for all future capital and revenue costs associated with the operation of the building. This will include repair, maintenance, and statutory compliance responsibilities.
Gilfach Goch Community Council has agreed to pay an annual fee for a service level agreement and the council will continue to carry out periodic and annual statutory compliance checks.
The lease transfer will allow Gilfach Goch Community Council to lever in external funding sources that the council would not be eligible for in order to maintain and extend the lifespan of this much-valued community asset, the report said.
The decision report said: “Gilfach Goch Community Council’s proposal offers a viable and sustainable opportunity to a provide an accessible space from which to operate valued services and activities to the local community.
“The benefits of transferring an asset to a community group on a long-term leasehold transfer can be substantial, supporting community enterprise, encouraging volunteer commitment, helping utilise local knowledge and skills, and allowing the organisation to attract the necessary capital investment to create an accessible and sustainable community facility.
“A lease will increase the sense of ownership, enabling local people to develop a valuable asset, empowering the community to design and deliver services to meet local need as well as providing them with an ability to lever in funding to enhance this much needed community asset.”
