Sway Parish explores raising council tax to £55 for Band-D homes to secure future of the Sway Youth Centre amid lease concerns.
The center sits on land owned by St Luke’s Church. They lease the land to the parish council cheaply. People use it for meetings, clubs, and parties. Robin’s Nursery pre-school is also there. The building’s design isn’t great.
The parish council is asking residents about the building’s future and propose four options. Council tax could rise by £15 to £55 for a band-D home. The lease ends in 2029. St Luke’s Church needs to decide the site’s future.
The church could renew the lease commercially, but the parish council doesn’t recommend this. It’s costly, and the building has long-term risks. Funding a leased building is more difficult. A parish council group explored options and now consulting on the three best ones.
One option is the parish council buys the land and building. They would fix it up, which could mean a better cafe and flexible spaces. Owning it helps them get grants to upgrade it. A building survey is needed due to needed repairs.
Another idea involves the parish council getting the land and building a new community center. They could add assisted living or retirement homes. A new building could be flexible and better looking. Single-person flats would address a village need. Church rooms could move there and be demolished. The area would then open up the view and access to the church. Car parking would serve everyone.
The third option expands the Jubilee Field pavilion. It could offer a modern, community-focused building, with a hall and activity rooms. The extension would be light and sustainable. It could hold a cafe and youth center activities. A games area outside could provide for sports. Legal advice says a land covenant shouldn’t prevent the ideas.
If they close the youth center with no other options, demolition could cost the council. Council tax could rise £15 for five years, then might go down to £7.50 after. Its not stated how long that would last.
Funding depends on many things. These include grants, fundraising, and site costs. The building’s design also matters, as well as interest rates on loans.
The council estimates a tax increase of £30 to £55 per year for a band-D rated house. In 2020, a survey showed support for village hall improvements, with eighty-three percent backing investing in the project. Seventy percent supported a tax increase for improved facilities. Communities have raised money for local assets before.