Cafes at council’s community buildings could be saved
Cafe facilities at some of Shropshire Council’s community buildings could be taken over by staff themselves as part of innovative plans to provide council services in a different way.
Giving people the opportunity to provide their own services, rather than relying on the council to run them, is one of the major ways Shropshire Council is changing to meet unprecedented savings targets set by the Government.
And rather than cutting back on essential frontline services, the council is looking at how to provide services differently.
The cafe at The Lantern at Sundorne is already well on its way, with council staff now planning to run the cafe as though it were their own business.
Staff at The Lantern Cafe came up with the idea of running it themselves when its future became less certain due to budget cuts. Local Shropshire Councillor, Karen Burgoyne, quickly supported this initiative and the transition is well on its way with staff being supported by the council. Staff in similar cafes in other parts of Shropshire are also now interested in following in the footsteps of The Lantern.
The cafes could close if alternatives are not found, as the council can no longer justify running them in the face of such huge budget cuts.
Councillor Gwilym Butler, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member, said:
“There are still a lot of discussions to take place with the people involved about how this might work, but this is a really positive step forward in potentially securing the future of these cafes. The local Sundorne councillor, Karen Burgoyne, has worked really hard with the staff at The Lantern, and it’s a great example of local people getting together to run facilities for their own community.
“There’s no denying that we are in tough times at the moment, and staff or other organisations taking on facilities like these can be a great way of not only keeping them going but injecting new life and fresh ideas, which can only be a good thing.”
Angela Clarke, manager at The Lantern Cafe, added:
“We feel a real commitment to the people who use our cafe and we think we can make a real go of it as a business. We have already begun to operate as though it is our business, supported by the council, and we are looking forward to taking it forward on our own in the near future. Keeping the cafe open is really important for people in Sundorne, and we are getting lots of support.”
Further notes
Shropshire Council’s community PFI buildings that currently contain cafes are:
The Lantern and Louise House in Shrewsbury; Helena Lane in Ludlow; and Raven House in Market Drayton.
