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IGC Consultation

You may have heard about the changes and enhancements to community services that are currently being proposed within the borough. These proposed changes are set to transform the Ian Goodchild Centre (ICG) centre for older people in Knoll Road, Camberley, into a multi-functional community venue that people of all ages, and existing IGC customers, can enjoy. As part of this process, we are carrying out a comprehensive consultation with the existing customers of the IGC and our other centre for older people in Windle Valley, as well as with their carers/families, which is currently ongoing. In addition, we are keen to hear the views of the wider community and stakeholders.

• We would be grateful if you could take the time to complete our online survey by Friday 26 March 2010.

Updating services for the 21st century needs of our community

At it's meeting in September 2009, Surrey Heath Borough Council's executive confirmed a raft of changes and enhancements to community services in the borough. The proposed changes are estimated to save the council over £300,000 per year by 2012.

Ian Goodchild Centre (IGC)

Among the proposals is a plan to transform the Ian Goodchild Centre (ICG) in Knoll Road, Camberley, from its current use as a centre for older people - into a multi-functional community venue that people of all ages can enjoy.

Windle Valley Centre (WVC)

A key factor in the proposal to change the usage of the IGC is our ability to expand operations at the WVC for older people in Bagshot - from its current opening times of three days a week to five days a week. This enhanced centre would allow us to continue to provide excellent 'high need' care services (e.g. assisted bathing and chiropody) but for an extra two days a week.

IGC Consultation

Before we make any final decisions, we are undertaking a comprehensive consultation with the existing customers of the IGC and the WVC, as well as with their carers/families. We need to understand what impact any changes might have on them. This programme of consultation began in January 2010, and is ongoing. To assist the consultation, IGC staff have been arranging visits to Windle Valley so that IGC customers can experience the high quality care offered there.

We also want to hear the views of the wider community and stakeholders, to find out how people feel about future services and facilities at the IGC. Consultation with the wider community, and stakeholders, began on Wednesday 3 March 2010 with a consultation launch event at the IGC. On Thursday 4 March 2010, we mailed surveys to 10% of the borough's households, selected at random. Our survey is now online.

How the new IGC venue could look

From Tuesday 9 March 2010, there will be a display in the Ian Goodchild Centre of how the centre could look in the future. This comprises four computer generated images showing how different areas inside the IGC could look, as well as details of two other Surrey centres that have looked at during our research - Haslewey in Haslemere, and the Vyne in Woking.

Note: No decisions will be made about the future of the IGC until we have completed our extensive consultations, and carried out a full equality impact assessment.

Other Changes

Other proposals approved by the executive included offering a commercial partner the opportunity to manage The Camberley Theatre, researching the option for a charitable trust to manage Surrey Heath Museum and reducing the cost of Community Transport Services.

Cllr Moira Gibson, leader of Surrey Heath Borough Council said: "It's vital we make our assets and services fit for the 21st century needs of our community. Although some of the changes will require initial investment, within less than two years they will result in savings.

"A large part of our Community Services was established 20 years ago. Services need to develop to reflect that people are now much more active later in life.

"The changes will create new and exciting opportunities and will complement the many leisure facilities available for all Surrey Heath residents, including The Camberley Theatre, parks and open spaces, the Arena Leisure Centre with free swimming for the over 60s and under 16s.

"Reshaping services includes operating our buildings on a more flexible basis to enable greater community use which will benefit everyone from young people to the elderly whilst working with the many voluntary organisations across the borough."