Leeds City Council community centres set to launch simplified pricing and lettings policy

Leeds City Council community centre facilities are set to employ a much simpler process for pricing and booking arrangements.

The new arrangements, which are being introduced on May 1, will be overseen by local Community Committees.

Prices set for commercial organisations will be established, as well as a reduced rate for community groups. Three different pricing points will cover the following facilities; Large Rooms - generally Halls, Delivery space - all other rooms and Kitchens for food preparation.

Each Community Committee will still have the authority to offer free lets to local residents, groups and organisations.

Processes will be set up in each area for the local approval of free lettings. It is estimated that approximately 75% of the 300 plus current regular lettings across the portfolio are currently let for free.

Councillor Peter Gruen, Leeds City Council executive board member with responsibility for neighbourhoods, planning and support services said: “It was pretty obvious from the continued representations that we were receiving from councillors, residents, groups and organisations across the city that the pricing and lettings policy to use facilities at our community centres was complex and neither coherent or joined up. It was for these reasons, that following a review, we drew up proposals to make the system easier, and I am delighted that following approval by the executive board, we are now in a position to implement these changes from May 1 2015.

“Members of our Community Committees, who are vastly experienced in knowing what the individual needs’ are of residents and groups in the areas they represent, will take on the overview of facilities at our community centres and also crucially set out how free lets are allocated. Providing somewhere where a diverse and wide-range of local groups and organisations can access facilities that usually they would not be able to afford is a very important part of our community centres’ role, and this is indicated by figures that show around 75% of regular lettings are currently made available for free.

“With continued pressures on the council’s budget, we want to ensure that our community centres are being used as much as possible and are also providing the best possible service and facilities to local residents. I believe the simplifying of pricing and booking arrangements will have a very important part to play in helping us achieve these goals. I look forward to discussing this further with the Resources and Council Services Scrutiny Board on 27 April.”

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