Link saved from brink

Protest by Link Centre users about its possible closure.

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AN under-threat lifeline of support has been saved from closure after Oldham Council moved to keep the Link Centre open but with a different operating model.

The decision, approved at a Cabinet meeting last night, will see the council look to lease the centre on a nil-rent basis on the condition the provider delivers a specified service.

The decision will be welcome news for those who have campaigned to stop the potential closure as the council sought to make more than £20 million in savings following reductions in funding from central government. Since it opened in 2000, the centre ­- which helps vulnerable Oldhamers ­- has seen a decline in recent years with reports of footfall being down, the centre being underused and also a lack of atmosphere which led to a 12-week consultation from September 6 to November 29, last year.

During the consultation, 2,000 residents signed a petition objecting to the closure of the Union Street building.

A coalition of 10 self-help groups also formed to campaign against the plans while the public consultation was ongoing.

A total of 249 questionnaires were completed, 121 individuals attended drop-in events at the Link Centre and 159 email and letter enquiries were received during the consultation period.

The consultation reflected that people find the centre to be a lifeline of support with education, training, leisure and emotional support services available.

The decision to lease it to a service provider will minimise any negative impact on vulnerable people while also enabling savings.

Now, following the decision, Oldham Council will seek to procure a provider, who would deliver key aspects of the current service, who under a lease agreement won't have to pay commercial rental costs.

However, they would be expected to deliver a service as outlined in the specification throughout the lease period. The provider would deliver the services, give access to meeting rooms and facilities with respective room rates being charged, provide cafe facilities and access to refreshments.

They would also provide a continued accommodation as per the current arrangement for occupational therapists, moving and handling, memory team and MioCare.

Leasing the building will provide elements of the Link Centre Service and ensure the council support and mitigate negative impacts on people.

As well as mitigating the potential number of redundancies, in particular for caretaking staff, it will explore and test the viability of new ways of delivering services which are customer focused and build further on the council's vision to provide co-operative services.

Oldham Council leader Jean Stretton said: "We are always under pressure to save money with our funding from the Government being constantly cut ­- and because of this we have to explore all possibilities and consider what is best for residents.

"We were always clear that we would consider all views submitted as part of the consultation. We saw a fantastic level of engagement throughout the process, with residents offering interesting ideas and suggestions on how we can make the savings.

"It was clear from the consultation that there is still a need for the Link Centre in Oldham. You shared your views, concerns and suggestions and we listened.

"Cabinet believes the best way forward is for communities themselves to take control of the services provided and for the centre to be run in a way which is more financially viable. With this in mind, we also intend to allow a third-sector organisation to run the building and let space.

"We believe this will allow us to make some of the future savings we need to find, with residents still being able to access and develop the services people want at the centre."