Some Nottingham community centres could close under new plans, council leader admits
Louise Holland, from the Sherwood Community Centre in Mansfield Road
By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
Some community centres could close under new plans to cut financial support to help run them, Nottingham City Council’s leader has admitted.
The council currently manages 35 community centres across the city, supported by a team of four council staff members and a total subsidy budget of £613,000.
The Labour-run authority previously said it wanted to charge community centres market rents under plans to become more financially sustainable.
It would have increased rents from as low as £10 per year to as high as £30,000 per year for some centres.
However following criticism from the leaders of some community centres, it was agreed they should be charged rents solely to recover any costs to the council on a “cost-neutral” basis.
They would also be liable for any repairs and maintenance costs under the new arrangements.
At an Executive Board meeting on Tuesday (March 18), senior councillors endorsed plans for a transition period.
That includes finding outline terms with centres by September before new leases begin by April 2026 at the latest.
Speaking after the meeting Cllr Neghat Khan, leader of the council, said: “What we will do in this one-year transition period is enable them and empower them, and give them all the tools they need to be successful.
“I think if I am realistic, out of the 35, do I think every one will stay open? There is a possibility [of closure].
“We will give them all the tools they need. I live in the real world, so I think some might have to close because they just won’t be able to adapt to that new approach.”
Cllr Khan claimed the authority had been unable to stay up-to-date with the maintenance of its centres due to “14 years of Conservative austerity”.
The Rise Park Community Centre was condemned in January after being deemed unsafe, while the Marcus Garvey Centre – and wider Lenton Business Centre – is being forced to close due to fire safety problems.
Cllr Kevin Clarke, leader of the Nottingham Independents and Independent Group, added: “While it is welcome the council has departed from the prospect of market rents, the spectre of overhanging repairs still hangs within the centres.
“We’ve seen recent announcements of closures of Rise Park Community Centre and Marcus Garvey Centre on the basis of outstanding repairs.
“In my opinion the repairs to some of these centres are going to be the noose round the neck of community centres.”
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