Local communities are to be given the opportunity to have their say on potential new ways in which council buildings could be used to deliver face-to-face services.
Review of properties
The council is carrying out a ‘place project’ to review properties that deliver or have the potential to deliver general face-to-face services. This includes buildings that offer customer facilities where the public can speak face-to-face with an advisor, libraries with access to computers, bookable rooms and buildings which have the potential to be a community hub.
While there are no plans to stop or reduce these services, new approaches to the operation of buildings could help ensure the council has good quality, well used assets within local communities offering modern and flexible facilities to meet the needs of local residents.
This could be achieved by using buildings differently, for example in some communities co-locating services which might currently be delivered from different buildings under one roof. There are already examples of where such community hub models operate successfully – such as the Bleachingfield in Dunbar and the George Johnstone Centre in Tranent.
Opportunities
There could also be opportunities for communities to take over the running of some buildings – such as by leasing them, community asset transfer or looking at opportunities with community planning partners and others.
Community engagement
In the first instance, the council is inviting community organisations including key building stakeholders to a series of workshops. This will provide an opportunity to discuss the principle of this approach and gather views on ways in which buildings are used.
There will then be drop-in sessions open to the public, as well as an online questionnaire, when local residents will be able to provide feedback. Further details of this will be published as soon as possible.
Analysis and development of proposals
The review is in line with the Council’s Property Asset Strategy and Management Plan, which was published in June 2024 and will take account of evidence-based data analysis including building usage. Other information such as building condition, energy performance, fitness of purpose, proximity to alternative service provision and adaptability to net zero carbon will also be taken into account.
Based on independent analysis and community feedback, the council will then develop proposals for ways in which buildings can be used differently to maintain services. A report would be submitted to councillors for approval before any changes are made. There will also be discussion with community planning partners.
Savings requirement
The council has approved a number of savings which includes £3.6m from reducing current operational running costs, alongside £23.4m capital receipts. In order to support these challenges, it is hoped this placed based asset review will ensure the council can operates good quality and well utilised buildings with modern facilities in a sustainable and efficient way.
Continuing to provide high-quality services
Tom Reid, Head of Infrastructure, said:
“This is an important opportunity to take a really close look, together with local communities, at how our buildings are used efficiently to maintain valued services for the public.
“In what is a very difficult financial climate for local government generally, East Lothian Council is required to deliver previously agreed budget savings on its use of buildings. While we have already taken steps to reduce office space that is no longer required, there is more work to do.
“We are focused on continuing to provide the face-to-face public services which local residents require, at the heart of our communities. We need to identify smarter ways of accommodating these services, so that any space which is surplus to requirements can be identified. Our engagement with communities on this project can help us to identify whether there is scope to create community hubs, along the lines of what we already have in Tranent and Dunbar, whereby some services can be co-located under one roof.
“There are no specific proposals at this time. That’s why we really need to listen to the ideas and views of local residents, groups and organisations to develop options for the use of buildings which help us to continue achieving a balanced budget whilst continuing to deliver high-quality services for the communities we serve.”