A THREE-YEAR strategy and business plan for the Kings Arms Community Hub has been given a lukewarm reception from some members of Wellington Town Council.

An extensive report was presented to the council’s community committee on March 16 to provide a ‘clear framework’ on how the hub will operate, develop, and be sustained up until 2029.

The report said: “The strategy reflects learning from the hub’s first operational period and establishes a more structured approach to decision-making, room hire subsidies and evidence gathering.

“Since opening, the hub has become an important part of Wellington’s community infrastructure.

“Activities include support for families, youth provision, well-being initiatives, volunteering opportunities and partnership working with local organisations.

“As activity at the hub has developed, it has become increasingly important to establish a clear strategic framework that defines the purpose of the hub, how it supports wider community development priorities, how space is allocated and subsidised and how decisions are made consistently and transparently.”

Although Cllr Justin Cole appreciated how much work had gone into developing the strategy for the hub, which opened last year, he questioned whether it was actually needed at this stage.

He said: “I do not think we need a strategy, but I think we do need to look at how we are going to fund it.

“That is the crux of the matter, because at the moment it is costing us more than we expected.

“The income it is generating at the moment is not going to wash its face.

“It is key that we look at the funding and we need to look at grand funding.

“There is a lot of good work to do and we need to get on with it.

“It is difficult to gauge its success - we will not make any money from it, but it is definitely supporting the local community.

“But, reports like these take time to write, reports take time to read, and reports take time to review.”

The council’s chief executive Dave Farrow said: “I think it is right that we have something down in writing to provide clarity about the key aims of the hub, although ‘strategy’ might not be the right word for it.

“I think it is an important document to have.”

The council’s community development officer, Laura Batcha, who compiled the extensive report, said: “We need something in place so we can take a good look in 12 months’ time, regardless of what you want to call it.”

Cllr Andrew Govier said: “Laura’s been and done the work on this and it is a document we should use.”

Cllr Mark Lithgow said: “We could argue about this until the cows come home.

“But, will this strategy document help us find grants?

“We are turning our staff into civil servants who are writing reports about the nice things we do.

“We just need bullet points.”

Councillors agreed to support the three-year strategy and delivery plan for the Kings Arms Community Hub, and to review it on an annual basis.