Council seeks to transfer youth centres to voluntary sector

Nottinghamshire County Council said it is seeking to hand over the running of young people’s centres at Quarrydale, Sutton-in-Ashfield, and Zone Out, in Worksop, to the voluntary sector as it attempts to tackle a budget shortfall of £62m over the next three years.  ?

Alternatively if the provision of the two centres is not transferred, the council will look to close them from March 2018. The proposal is expected to save £95,000 from 2018.

??“This would bring these areas in line with other communities with one local young people’s centre,” the consultation document states.  ??

“Sutton and Worksop are the only communities in Nottinghamshire with two council-operated and owned young people’s centres.??

“The Sutton young people’s centre and Valley young people’s centre in Worksop would remain in operation on four nights per week during term times.”??

The council warns that as a result of the proposals some voluntary youth organisations could see an increase in demand for services, while there could also be a rise in nuisance behaviour.  ??

The consultation on the plans closes on 5 February, with the findings presented at a full council meeting on 25 February. ????

Chris Warren, group manager within Children, Families and Cultural Services, at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: "We are under severe financial pressures but are doing everything we can to continue to protect a universal, open access countywide youth service that remains one of the largest in the country serving more than 18,000 young people and we are extremely proud of this service.
 
"We have newer, purpose built, modern young people's centres which have had substantial investment at The Sutton young people's centre in Sutton in Ashfield and the Valley young people's centre in Worksop.
 
"As part of our budget consultation we have to make savings, and there is a proposal that as Sutton and Worksop are the only two communities in the county with two county council operated and owned young people's centres, we would look for alternative providers for our other young people's centres in these locations, at both Quarrydale (Sutton) and Zone Out (Worksop) as one possible way forward, but we are still in the consultation process."