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Harehills: Deal in hand to give centre to the community
A deal is set to be confirmed today that will see a popular Harehills centre handed into the care of the community it has served for 20 years.
Leeds City councillors are poised to finalise the lease of the Bangladeshi Community Centre in Harehills at a 'peppercorn' rent to a consortium made up of members of the local community.
At its meeting today, the council's Executive Board should confirm a report recommending that the centre be transferred to the Bangladeshi Management Committee's care with a 50-year lease, which will allow them to fundraise to improve the centre and deliver services to the Bangladeshi and the wider community.
Opened in 1989, the centre was created to serve and support the large Bangladeshi community in Harehills. The move would also see the committee receive 'transitional funding' of 45,000 over three years to help them manage the centre.
Members of the local community have been involved in running the centre since it opened and the current management committee is keen to take responsibility for running it themselves.
The centre was built by the council to provide for the social and economic development of the Bangladeshi community thanks to grant funding from the Urban Programme and Chapeltown and Harehills Task Force. As well as a host of classes and homework clubs, it is also well used for weddings, social events, conferences and seminars.
Coun Les Carter, Leeds City Council's executive board member for neighbourhoods and housing, said:
"This is fantastic news for the Bangladeshi community living in Harehills and Chapeltown.
"I'm really pleased that, after long negotiations, we've been able to reach agreement with the management committee and agree proposals that will see the community centre transferred.
"Members of the local Bangladeshi community have been actively involved in the centre for years and the current management committee were keen to take over responsibility for managing it so that they can continue to provide services to the local community.
"We want to ensure that local people have the opportunity to access resources and services they need, and this is an excellent way of achieving that. I'm sure that the transfer will be well-received by local people and will only strengthen community spirit in the area."
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Weather for Leeds
Saturday 19 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 10 C
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