COUNCIL leaders have committed to investing up to £800,000 to buy and renovate a Bournemouth church hall – before getting an outside organisation to run it as a health hub for the homeless.

The finances involved in the acquisition of St Stephen’s Church hall in St Stephen’s Way had remained private until last week’s BCP Council cabinet meeting.

Cllr Karen Rampton tabled a recommendation, which was supported by all other cabinet members.

This set out that councillors delegated authority to the chief operating officer, in consultation with the portfolio holder for people and homes – Cllr Rampton – and the chair of the adult health and social care overview and scrutiny committee to implement a competitive selection process to appoint an operator of a health hub service from St Stephen’s Church hall.

It also delegated that the acquisition be carried out by senior officers and the budget for the project be increased to a maximum of £800,000.

During the cabinet meeting, members sat in private for around 10 minutes to discuss specific elements of the project, as was the case at overview and scrutiny committee.

The exact issues around the council running the hub were not disclosed during the public part of the meeting.

Cllr Rampton said: “I am just really concerned that we will lose the opportunity to provide this vital service, so I would not want to see any further delay.

Bournemouth Echo: Cllr Karen RamptonCllr Karen Rampton

“I am delighted that the principle of the health hub is support by overview and scrutiny committee, so that is great – we all want the same thing.”

Council leader Cllr Drew Mellor said it had been deemed most suitable for the local authority not to be leading the operation of the health hub.

“We can play as a strong partner to this but it is about that partnership working and being led from that external agency is going to be fundamental to delivering this,” said Cllr Mellor.

Deputy leader Cllr Philip Broadhead said the proposed approach made the process “solid” and made sure there was an upper financial limit to the project.

He said it was important to bring services to people, rather than expecting them to come to where the services are available.

“This is us stepping up to the plate and providing those services where they are need to be delivered,” said Cllr Broadhead.

As reported, the church hall will serve as a base for a multi-disciplinary team working with homeless people across the area. One of the options around the operation of the facility could see the creation of a community interest company.