Trust to take over city community centre

DEVON County Council is poised to hand over a city community centre to local residents to run.

Last month members of the St David's Neighbourhood Partnership were granted £1.2m from the Government's Communitybuilders initiative to enable them to take control of Exeter Community Centre in St David's Hill.

The money is part grant, part loan and on Wednesday Devon's cabinet is recommended to transfer the freehold of the Grade II-listed building, which is valued at £500,000, to a trust composed of members of the local community.

It is also likely that the cabinet will decide to give £200,000 to the trust to cover the costs of maintenance on the building.

If the cabinet follows all the recommendations, it will also make clear to the trust that the county council will provide no further financial support or staff time for the building.