THE news that the City Council will be taking over the management of the East Oxford Community Centre (EOCC) (Oxford Mail, August 4) is further evidence that significant changes are occurring in the running of the city’s community centres.

Until recent years, community centres were normally run on a partnership model.

The local authority leased the community centre building to a local community association, which was usually a registered charity, and provided assistance with the maintenance of the building.

In return, the community association was responsible for the day-to-day management of the centre, letting space and developing community activities.

Under this model, local residents and volunteers played a pivotal role in the running and management of the centre.

The shift to direct control by the city council, as with the EOCC, will marginalise local involvement in the running of the centre and undermine the viability of the local community association.

The EOCC is not an isolated case.

The City Council currently runs two community centres in Blackbird Leys and will manage the new Rose Hill community centre.

Also, the community centres which have been closed in Wood Farm and Cowley have been replaced by community halls, which do not involve a role for community associations.

The community association movement, which had its origins in the post First World War years, was an expression of grass roots democracy in action with local residents providing facilities and services for their local area, with the base being a community centre.

Recent developments suggest that the City Council is losing faith in the capacity of residents to collectively help themselves.

RICHARD BRYANT
Secretary, Bullingdon Community Association Bulan Road, Oxford