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Councillors discuss day centre’s future
Published Monday 11th July 11
Plans that could improve a day centre in the town will be discussed by Wellingborough councillors on Wednesday.
Members of the resources committee will hear about four organisations that have expressed interest in taking over the services at Glamis Hall and will be asked to give approval for the next stage in the tendering process.
The council has been considering entering into a partnership arrangement as a way of enhancing the centre's facilities and services and also to help save money. Expressions of interest in the partnership proposal have been received from four organisations. These broadly outline why each would be interested in running the service and how they would propose to make better use of the building.
Two of the organisations are based within the county and are known to the council, and the other two are based in the West Midlands.
Glamis Hall, on Goldsmith Road, provides day care for older and disabled people. A hot meal is provided as well as a wide range of activities and events.
Councillor Paul Bell, leader of Wellingborough Council and chairman of the resources committee said: "Glamis Hall provides a very special service for our community. Visitors can take part in activities such as darts, bingo, painting and quizzes, they can attend big events like the summer ball or go on coach trips out, they are offered beauty treatments and help from qualified care assistants, or they can simply have a chat over a cup of tea. Every person who attends is treated as an individual.
"There are organisations out there with the relevant expertise to not only work with us to continue these services, but also improve them. This is only the very first stage in a long and thorough process and we will ensure that any decisions made will benefit Glamis Hall and the people that rely on it. We do need to save money, but by working in partnership we could do that and also improve what's on offer. We will not be stopping this vital community service."
If approval is given on Wednesday, the four interested organisations will be asked to submit more detailed proposals, and a working group of five councillors will be established to assist with the evaluation of these.
Subject to approval from both the resources committee and full council, the process could end with a contract being awarded by the end of the year, ready to start in April 2012.