Community Centre/House - Council Policy

Objectives

1. To encourage and support the provision of Community Operated Centres/Houses as ‘grass roots social infrastructure’ within Hamilton City.
2. To support community contribution to the shared outcomes of the Social Well-being Strategy

Policy

Definition

1. To be eligible for funding a Community House must meet one of the definitions as below:
• be a multi-purpose community resource or community facility
• be a place that provides a hub for community interaction within local neighbourhoods and communities of interest; and
• is a facility used for a broad variety of social, recreational and educational activities and programmes may be hired as a venue for service delivery, events, sports or meetings.

Need and location

1. New applicants must provide a needs assessment report that demonstrates the need for such a facility in a particular location and identifies the social and cultural matters it will respond to.

Management

1.  To qualify as a council-supported community house/centre, applicants must demonstrate all of the following:

• appropriate legal status, service provision, management and financial practices

• a non-partisan approach to operation, management processes and service delivery
• ability to contribute to the shared outcomes of the Hamilton Social Well-being Strategy:
1. i.    City leadership/collaboration
2. ii.       Community capacity and pride
3. iii.   Vibrant young people
4. iv.  Quality of life
5. v.      Community safety

Funding

1. Council funding will be subject to the availability of funds and set every three years during the LTCCP.
2. New submissions for Community Centre/House operating funding will be considered in the three yearly LTCCP review and according to the above criteria.

Monitoring

1.  Staff will develop Service Level Agreements with each Community House/Centre to ensure accountability of funds

Previous Review Dates

10 March 2008
February 2004
25 September 2002