Preserve Claygate Community Centre

July 2025

To discuss EBC’s announcements re Community Service Transformation and any action required.

This was discussed at some length with EBCllr Rollings, EBCllr Marshall and a member of the public. EBCllr Rollings opened the discussion. He was mainly concerned to say that EBC has no plan or intention to close the centre at Claygate or elsewhere, as had been mooted. Rather, EBC’s intention is to spread its limited resources across a larger proportion of the in-need community, with the hope that local, voluntary, groups will come forward to assume control and management of the local centres. EBCllr Marshall felt that the initiative is potentially good, but impractical. She believes that the 18 months available before EBC is wound up, is wholly insufficient for voluntary groups to do all necessary. This view was echoed by Cllr French, who noted that it had taken four years for a group to assume control of the Lower Green Road centre. John Bamford asked the Parish Council to: A – support anyone that is prepared to bid. B – be proactive in encouraging people to come forward to take on the challenge of running the Centre. C – to hold a public meeting for the village. D – make the matter a Standing Item for the next several PC meetings. Cllr Bray proposed that the Council adopt these four requests. Cllr Bingham seconded this, and it was carried unanimously. ACTION – Clerk to contact EBCllr Rollings to find out about holding a meeting at the Day Centre. C㉕049 Proposed by Cllr Holt and seconded by Cllr Bray. Carried unanimously. Cllr French and Cllr Collon along with John Bamford to take the lead on all this along with the Health and Wellbeing Group. Proposed by Cllr Holt and seconded by Cllr Collon. Carried unanimously.

(extract from Parish Council meeting, 24th July 2025, item 27)