Community groups in Bathgate are set to see costs surge under new rules for using rooms at the town’s Partnership Centre.
Bathgate, along almost 30 other venues could be taken under direct council control as it battles to reach projected £1m savings from the running costs of community centres across the county.
The new rules would see management committees stripped of powers and earnings potential and their role reduced to consultation, as well as hire costs increased for community user groups.
Only three centres have taken the option of buying their buildings. The majority of the 32 sites face being taken under direct control with user groups no longer running the venues.
An original deadline to respond to the savings proposals first launched 16 months ago expired in January this year. The Bathgate committee occupies space within the town’s Partnership Centre- the principle council offices in the town which also contains the town’s library.
It faced a potential bill for £90,000 a year to lease the part of the Partnership Centre it occupies on South Bridge Street, with an income of only £15,000 a year.
The committee rejected that and called for a radical rethink of the way all centres are managed- suggesting an arm’s length trust as one option.
A spokesperson for the committee said this week: “We have been given an ultimatum deadline of 4 September to respond to the council on whether or not we are prepared to take up the original option that was put to us.
“Our alternatives have not been accepted and were rejected as they would not meet the million-pound savings target set by councillors.”
The spokesman added; “The option on offer is the original one of paying a recharge to the council to use the centre based on a percentage of the costs.
“This was very expensive, and way in excess of what the centre takes in. We would have to sign a lease and that states that the repairs and maintenance costs would also be a separate service charge for us.”
Unable to find agreement for leasing buildings, council officers have now opted for a new default.
The Bathgate community centre spokesman said: “The council has a default solution if we and other community centres do not accept their options.
“Their default is that the council will take over the running of the centre accepting the loss of non-domestic rates relief and charging the Education Department premises hire charges discounted to 80% to user groups. If this is our choice, then the council would take over the running of the centres on 1 April 2026.”
Last month a paper to councillors conceded that this option would mean reduced opening hours and increased costs for venues. The plan was slated by opponents to the proposals who branded it as closure by another means.
Papers presented to the June meeting of the Executive said: “As the council currently receives non-domestic rates (NDR) relief for community centres operated by management committees, an analysis of the NDR liability should the community centre return to council management has been conducted.
In order for the council to meet such a cost, as well as the proportionate element of the £1.073 million [savings] , there would be a requirement for the council to reduce operating costs, through rationalising staffing and energy usage, considering the occupancy and utilisation of the building, and increasing income from the lets at the facilities under council control.
“It is likely that this would result in reduced operating hours at council operated facilities.”
Bathgate’s Community Centre Management Committee has promised a meeting for user groups ahead on the 4 September deadline.
By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter
