Rochdale Community centres to lose £100K ... reports

COMMUNITY Centres will open with reduced hours , services, classes if reports that Rochdale Council has slashed £100,000 from their budgets are true - or cannot be reversed. 8 centres are said to be affected.

Councillor Colin Lambert is reported in the Rochdale Observer saying: “Unfortunately, the council is going to have to make some very unpopular decisions in this term. We will have to wait until after Friday’s meetings to discuss what options are open to us in terms of where the cuts will take place.”

Council manager Ann Tipton said: “The council’s cabinet meeting on 31 May approved a proposal to reduce the overall grants to community centres across the borough by £100,000.

“Senior officers of the local authority will be meeting with representatives of community centres in receipt of grants to discuss how to achieve this.”

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen, is reported claiming that 8 centres got letters this week saying the cuts were proposed.

Sohail Ahmed manager of Deeplish Community Centre is reported stating the centre will £12,500 from their £45,000 fund.

Ken Farrar manager at Sparth Community Centre is reported to say they expect to lose £12,500 of his £53,000 fund, (already reduced from £56,000 in April.)

“Unpopular decisions “ Cllr Lambert ? … you bet. Insane? … yes. Community .. sense of …. Great thing for Councillors to talk about …. Let’s hold a sweepstake where the next CCTV cameras location will be …..