Minutes:
The following updates were provided in respect of the continuation of youth service provision in the City:-
West Side
Peter Stephenson of the Exeter YMCA was confident of proceeding and that the financial position would be tenable. A building survey report was awaited, the Chair remarking that, should repair works be required, the Invest in Devon fund could be a possible source. The City Council’s Corporate Manager Property felt that there should not be a problem in relaxing use of the building to enable wider community use.
Knight Club
Richard Cummings of ISCA Church was very positive and also awaiting the results of a survey to be undertaken on 28 November after which it was hoped that a property handover would occur through a 25 year lease with interim ‘tenancy at will’ ready to allow immediate access once ISCA have confirmed that they are prepared to take on the property. Repairs to a leaking roof would be necessary. Three youth sessions, two in the afternoon, were already been held. It was acknowledged that the continuation of the service would be on the basis of serving the whole community and that this would be included within the terms and conditions of the Knight Club transfer to the Church.
Phoenix and 100 Club
The 100 Club Youth Hub was operational with three sessions a week between 6.30pm and 9.00pm. Because of its stronger resources and role of Youth Centre Hub for the city it was able to serve the wider community. As Wonford was about two miles away, Steff Holwell at the Club had agreed to run sessions for the young people of Wonford whose travel to the cub would be subsidised by county councillor funds. Initial sessions had been well attended and it was anticipated would grow in number. Support for Wonford by the 100 Club, although not ideal, was therefore a viable option.
Two key issues for the Phoenix Club were the development of a business plan, including the generation of sufficient income from hiring out to other community groups to help continued youth provision, and resolving the lease arrangements. The current lease restriction from the City Council was for “youth activities only” and not for wider community use, a restriction put in place as the Wonford Community Learning Centre was situated next to the Phoenix and had a corresponding restriction limiting it to “community purpose and not for youth activities”. The YMCA had concerns that a continuation of the current lease restrictions would have a negative impact on being able to offer a sustainable service for young people.
The agreement of the Wonford Community Learning Centre trustees was necessary for the lease arrangements to be changed to allow both centres to be run for youth and community activities and this was being negotiated with the Centre as well as the potential of the YMCA running some youth provision from the Centre on limited available evenings in the interim.
The Chair reported that Peter Stephenson had advised that the YMCA Board was supportive of the proposals and that he had been instructed to create a trading company. He remarked that the charges sought by the YMCA were high.
Members recognised the importance of retaining youth provision subject to the resolution of legal/structural issues. Such provision was necessary to reduce the likelihood of additional problems of anti-social behaviour occurring with youths congregating in parks etc., with certain hot spots also apparent in Wonford. An update was provided on the targeted work being undertaken from the 100 Club hub and of the involvement of Exeter College.
In conclusion, it was noted that the County Council were no longer delivering out of any of the three buildings and would be relying on security firms to monitor the buildings from here on in. It was likely that the new youth centres would be operational sometime in the New Year.
RESOLVED that the position be noted.