Carla Williams contacted me at the end of last week and reminded me about the forthcoming changes to local amenities such as Hoylake Community Centre. Our local council is going to implement something called Asset Transfer whereby buildings like our Community Centre are transferred from Council management to effectively private management. Carla has provided the following information and request for help:
The Parade Hoylake Community Centre, is currently run by a Joint Management Committee under a lease from the Local Authority. These Volunteers work to ensure the Centre continues to provide an attractive focal point for the local community.
As you may be aware the Local Authority is transferring many of the assets to the Community including our Centre. What this means for us is a longer lease and withdrawal of funding. At present the Local Authority pays energy and some other costs which will in future have to be met from rental income.
It will also require us to form a Company to take over the formal administration of the centre. The promise from the Authority is to bring the building up to a suitable standard for transfer with the roof being replaced etc.
This means we need more expertise to help with the transfer and beyond.
We would welcome assistance from anybody having experience in finance (Business Planning) and accounting (financial Budgeting and forecasting), legal experience especially in setting up Companies Limited by Guarantee or similar, construction and contracts management or just people with time to help the community.
The next 12 months will be vital to the future of this Centre and if you feel you can help please contact me on the address below or call in at the Centre and leave your details with reception. Members of the JMC will be happy to meet and to discuss our needs and show you round.
If you think that you can help please email hoylakewsnc@btinternet.com
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