WILL fresh-faced councillors be up to the task of scrutinising a plan to build new council homes alongside a community centre?

That was the question asked as Oxford City Council's scrutiny committee discussed the change of faces after May's local elections.

A plan to build new council houses alongside East Oxford Community Centre on Cowley Road has been in the pipeline since 2017, and some residents are worried about the effect it will have on groups who use the centre.

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At the meeting, Labour councillor Hosnieh Djafari-Marbini asked if the committee could discuss plans for the community centre as soon as possible, or delay a debate until later in the year.

This was because a new scrutiny committee will be chosen after the May 11 council elections, and she was concerned they may not have enough experience to make suggestions by June 2, when they would need to discuss the community centre.

Dr Djafari-Marbini said: "This is an issue which is going to have a lot of community interest. Can it be delayed a bit?"

But councillors were told the discussion could not be delayed or brought forward, because East Oxford Community Centre was due to be discussed by the council's leaders at cabinet on June 10.

The East Oxford Community Centre plan would see new council houses built and the community centre expanded.

A total of 12 new council homes would be built on Princes Street, to the rear of the community centre.

There are also plans demolish East Oxford Games Hall on Collins street to build new homes sold under a shared ownership scheme.

Another group of 14 homes would be built at Catherine Street, once the building occupied by arts charity Film Oxford is cleared.

The community groups would all be brought together under one roof at East Oxford Community Centre, which would be expanded to make room for them.

There are also plans to provide moveable partition walls so different groups can share rooms.

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Nadine Bely-Summers added: "There is a lot of controversy about the East Oxford Community Centre and maybe lots of people would want to talk about this from the community."

Scrutiny chair Andrew Gant said anyone who was interested in speaking to the committee about the scheme was welcome.

Anyone can apply to speak at scrutiny committee about a topic which is already on the agenda.

Agendas are published on the city council website five days ahead of a meeting, and applications to speak can be made up to 24 hours beforehand.

Email democraticservices@oxford.gov.uk for info and to apply.