Nottingham City Council has approved new lease arrangements aimed at ensuring community centres across the city remain open, shifting away from previously proposed market rents to a cost-covering model.

The Council's Executive Board gave the green light to the plans on 18 March, following a city-wide review on how to make community centres financially sustainable. Under the revised approach, community associations running these centres will take on responsibility for repairs, maintenance, and compliance, with new lease agreements set to be in place by April 2026.

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Councillor Corall Jenkins, Executive Member for Communities, Waste and Equalities, said: "Community Centres and the services run from them play a vital role in the lives of local people.

"However, the need to improve financial sustainability for the Council means we have to explore new ways of delivering services.

"A city-wide review of community centres was carried out to see how these facilities can go forward in a cost-neutral way.

"We want a sustainable future for the centres, with as many of these facilities remaining open as possible which is why we have moved from charging market rates to simply covering costs.

"There will be collaboration, communication and ongoing consultation with communities and all affected groups on the way forward for community centres."

As third-sector organisations, community associations will be able to access external funding not available to the Council, helping to offset running costs. To support this transition, the Council will offer training and guidance on grant applications, business planning and procurement.