Nottingham City Council's leader says community centres will not be "threatened" by a new plan which aims to clarify how groups use the authority's buildings. The council says its new policy will introduce a fair and consistent approach to how the community and voluntary groups using its buildings are treated.
In recent months, groups occupying some council buildings have protested against increases to their rent that are now being proposed by the authority. The Place Activity Centre in Sherwood and Karam Yog - known as the Nottingham Teaching College - are among the organisations which say they would have to close if their planned rent rises go ahead.
Nottingham City Council says its Community Asset Policy, discussed at an Executive Board meeting on February 21, is not directly linked to these decisions and is instead about establishing a "framework" for the future. But Councillor Kevin Clarke, the Leader of the Nottingham Independents, said at the meeting: "I think we need to be very careful of losing the volunteer groups and charities in making these changes.
