The Committee’s approval was sought to recommend to Corporate Management Committee one of two options regarding the re-location of some of the services provided at the Eileen Tozer Social Centre to Addlestone Community Association’s (ACA) Centre.

The Eileen Tozer Centre was located opposite the Council’s Civic Centre and part of the area known as Addlestone 2.  Members were aware this was an identified site for redevelopment and enhancement of Addlestone’s facilities.  It had been closed since the start of the pandemic and Officers felt it a timely moment to consider how best to proceed.

The Committee was given a choice of two service delivery models; either 3 day or 5 day provision and chose the greater level over 5 days per week, initially in Addlestone, but with the option to, if feasible, share the provision between Addlestone and Chertsey, should a suitable location be identified and there being sufficient demand to justify it.

The Committee was keen for the new service to still appeal to the current client base in terms of providing a hot meal and somewhere for active, older people to socialise.  The cost of living was also a determining factor to support the more vulnerable members of the community with a service that was well used and well regarded when based at the Eileen Tozer Centre.  It was noted that service delivery options including menus and which services could be re-provided were to be finalised with the Community Association.

Members noted the financial, legal and equalities implications as set out in the report, including the need for a full impact assessment, which was currently being prepared.

As part of a broader commitment to supporting the role of ACA within Addlestone, to provide greater resilience and capacity, as well as to support the development of the new service offer, Members agreed to recommend to Corporate Management Committee a grant in the sum reported per annum, for a period of 2 years, to ACA.  This would enable them to fund an Administrator/Coordinator post and to have paid staff in their coffee shop to deliver the meal provision.

Members noted that it would not be intended for the Council to continue to provide grant funding beyond the two year period.  The intention would be to support ACA in attracting additional bookings and hirers to the Centre, and also to establish their future community coffee shop.  This would also generate income to promote the organisation’s sustainability.

The Committee recognised that ACA would also have their own set up costs to facilitate the relocation of service provision from Eileen Tozer, therefore, a one off grant in the sum reported was awarded, to be funded by the existing 2022/2023 Community First budget. 

The Committee was pleased by the potential to work in partnership with a local voluntary sector partner, with service moving away from Eileen Tozer Centre and into Addlestone Community Centre.  It was an opportunity to take a step forward in reopening day centre services locally, in the development of the Addlestone 2 site and in promoting the sustainability of a key local organisation.

A report on use in the interim period and long term of the Eileen Tozer Social Centre would be provided to Corporate Management Committee at a later date once further progress had been made with details, costed proposals and plans.  Members were keen for opportunities to develop projects of benefit to the wider community were taken.  These would emerge from an assessment of need and feasibility studies.

RESOLVED that –

            i)          Members support the discussions with health partners relating           to the potential redevelopment of the site identified as     Addlestone 2;

            ii)         Corporate Management Committee be recommended to approve                    the relocation of service provision from Eileen Tozer Centre to                  Addlestone Community Centre providing:

            b)         the five days per week service delivery model as set out,                      with a request for a supplementary budget estimate in the                   sum reported

            iii)        a supplementary budget estimate in the sum reported per annum       for 2 years is grant aided to Addlestone Community Association,       to support the development of a local community asset; and

            iv)        in addition to iii), a one-off grant in the sum reported to                         Addlestone Community Association be approved, in recognition     of their set up costs in facilitating the relocation of the Eileen        Tozer Centre service, funded by existing budgets.