Exeter Community Centre Frequently Asked Questions

Who owns the Community Centre?
It was passed by statutory instrument to Devon County Council during local government reorganisation in the 1970’s. It was originally a residential school for the blind, until bought for community use in the 1960’s by Exeter City Council. Last year Devon County Council agreed to gift the building to our community run trust, as long as it could raise £1.2m to refurbish the building.   Incredibly, that's what we have done ! 

Does the centre lose money?
Despite no promotion, no management staff and telling everyone it was about to close - it was actually breaking even last year due to community based promotion of space!

Is the building structurally sound?
An independent survey and recent county surveys finds all aspects of the building structurally sound.

It may be structurally sound, but what needs doing?
Re-roofing, re-pointing and electric re-cabling. These are the essentials, and any proposal for its future must include costing to carry this out. The heating pipe work is also ‘technically’ reaching the end of its life, even though it works very well. The boiler was recently replaced.

What will the essential maintenance cost?
The roof, pointing and electrics come in just below £500,000. However the DCC condition survey considers that the heating pipe work will soon need doing. This will add £250,000 to replace it.

What goes on in the Community Centre?
What doesn’t ! It permanently houses the Global Centre and St David’s’ Hill Preschool. It is used by Exeter College, Trades Unions, regional bodies and numerous clubs and associations. Enquiries are received on an almost daily basis, even though the centre has no promotion.

Who markets the centre’s facilities?
The only promotion is through the visibility provided by the community run website www.exetercommunitycentre.co.uk Devon County Council has never promoted its use apart from for its own classes as an adult education centre up to 2002.

What is the Exeter Community Centre Trust?
The trust is made up of members of the St David’s Neighbourhood Partnership community association, tenant representatives of the centre and local people. Many are experienced trustees, and all bring their own professional skills (on a voluntary basis) to assist the trust in its aims. The trust is a company limited by guarantee which is incorporated to manage and protect the interests of the building – for the local community. A charitable trust is the way a building such as this is held legally safe in perpetuity and prevents it from going into any form of private ownership. (just like the National Trust and dozens of similar trusts protecting important buildings across the country)

What will the trustees actually do ?
Centre trustees will ensure that the centre is developed and operated according to the agreed business plans, ensuring viability and to ensure long term planning for sustainability. It is particularly important to the success of the trust's work that a diverse range of stakeholders are included and become involved at every step - such as local authorities, councillors and key agencies such as the primary care trust. This is in addition to voluntary community based and tenant groups. Key stakeholders will be co-opted onto the trust to help make the trust more effective and help demonstrate an open and accountable operating approach.

Why is this taking so long?
Devon County Council has not, in the past, committed seriously to the project. It did not appear to see its importance as a community hub and centre for delivery of essential services such as community, office and meeting space, young people’s projects and social care. Regrettably, Devon County Council saw the building simply as a ‘capital receipt’, and seemed keen to gain maximum monetary value from any disposal. However, they would be duty-bound to provide ‘like for like’ community space, and also to do the same for the preschool playgroup which is needed in the area to fulfil Early Years provision. This ended up with a ‘do nothing’ approach.

What is the community vision for the centre?
A multi-use centre has been at the heart of the community’s own vision, incorporating a much needed branch doctors surgery, café, preschool, conference and meeting space, start-up ‘hot desking’ for businesses and services whilst retaining the Global Centre and the many clubs and associations that use the centre currently.

What stopped the centre being sold for development a few years ago?
City planning records show every household in the surrounding area objected to the ‘grand’ housing and school development that the community centre was being ‘traded’ to support. The city council refused planning permission for the development and DCC officers were doubtful as to the feasibility of the developer's 'promise' to provide a new school in exchange for the community centre building.

Is there a business plan ?
A full and detailed business proposal has been jointly developed with the county council using regeneration and business development consultants.  It has been subject to much examination, and has been ongoingly revised as costs and funding opportunities have changed.

What's Next ?
The trust is now set to finalise with Devon County Council the transfer of the building to the Exeter Community Centre Trust. This comes after a succesful bid to the Government's Communitybuilders investment programme which will refurbish the entire building, bringing back large areas into everyday use.

Will the community ever give up its struggle ?
It didn't, It hasn't and it won't.   The St David's Neighbourhood Partnership will continue to progress the transfer, renewal and new management of the building through to a viable and sustainable operation providing community facilities in St David's.

 
Last updated: January 2010