BOURNEMOUTH council will work with residents towards their goal of providing a community arts centre in Boscombe, a meeting decided on Tuesday night.
The former Bournemouth Centre for Community Arts (BCCA) has been earmarked by Bournemouth council to be turned into a £2.3 million integrated services hub for children and families.
But after hearing impassioned deputations from the Friends of the BCCA, councillors backed a move by Cllr Ted Taylor that in addition to the council’s plans for the hub, officers should also work with the Friends “in partnership” to deliver a community arts centre on the site.
The news was greeted with cheers and stamping feet from the public gallery.
Linda Ni’Man, representing the Friends, told councillors: “The people of Boscombe want their community centre returned to them.
She urged them to “tonight exercise democracy and start a process” which will return what is “morally and rightfully theirs”.
Cllr Mike Everingham told the meeting: “The people I represent tell me they want a community centre.
“It will make people feel that they are a part of a wider community where they can come together and shape Boscombe’s future and make it a better place to live.”
Cllr John Beesley, deputy leader of the council, urged councillors to back the hub or risk losing the £2.3 million of government funding.
He said: “The money has to be spent in a fairly short time scale.
“It doesn’t mean the whole building has to be used for that purpose.”
Council leader Cllr Stephen MacLoughlin, warned against voting to commit to a community arts centre “at any cost”.
“Without knowing exactly how the facility would work I think is not the way to do business as a council,” he added.
Councillors backed Cllr Ted Taylor’s move by 28 votes to 19 and also said the details should be the subject of a further report to Cabinet soon.
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