News

Updating services for the 21st century needs of our community

Released on 30 September 2009

Surrey Heath Borough Council's decision-making Executive has considered a raft of changes and enhancements to some of the services it provides in the borough.

As with many local authorities, the economic downturn has had a serious effect on the council's income with more and more demands being made on already stretched budgets.

In February 2009 two working groups were established to review Community Services as well as Camberley Theatre and Surrey Heath Museum.

At it's meeting this week (September 29) Surrey Heath Borough Council's decision making executive considered the groups recommendations including proposals for longer term savings and the potential transfer of current services to alternative sites or providers. These include investigating options for updating the Ian Goodchild Centre into a multi-functional community venue for all, as well as upgrading the Windle Valley Centre into a five day a week centre of day-care excellence.

It is hoped these changes will save the council more than £300,000 by 2012.

A community consultation will take place this autumn with service users asked for their ideas, suggestions and feedback on the kind of new services or activities that could be offered at the Ian Goodchild Centre, with ideas ranging from lunch clubs to bingo, exhibitions to IT training, or arts classes to history talks.

Other proposals approved by the Executive include offering a commercial partner the opportunity to manage Camberley Theatre to attract even better acts and grow revenue, researching the option for a charitable trust to manage Surrey Heath Museum, and reducing the cost of Community Transport Services by removing the difference between charges for clients in receipt of benefits and those who are not.

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 for transforming facilities, within less than two years they will result in savings.

"A large part of our Community Services was set up over 20 years ago. Given changes in population that people live longer and are more active, services need to develop and these changes will create new and exciting opportunities for all.

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

"Reshaping services includes operating our buildings on a more flexible basis for the benefit of everyone from the young to the elderly whilst working with the many voluntary organisations across the borough.

"It will also help boost some of our key services to enable greater community use. The changes mean we can continue to offer services to those in need and introduce some newer services geared towards the wider community."