COUNCILLORS have approved plans to grant a new lease to the trustees of Wyke Regis community centre.

Members of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s management committee voted through a proposal to grant a five-year lease to the trustees for a rent of £9,000 per year.

The meeting heard the rent is offset by a grant for the same amount paid back to the centre by the council, on the proviso that the ‘tenant keeps the property available for use by all sections of the community.’ Committee members also voted that the issuing of the grant is ‘conditional upon the submission of an annual report and annual equality monitoring report detailing the uses of the centre.’ Officer paperwork states that if ‘no report is received the lease terms are deemed not to have been complied with’ and that this ‘ensures broad community use.’ Councillor Peter Chapman told the committee the council owns the building and the land and charges ‘market value rent’ but that this is ‘effectively repaid’ by a council grant.

Wyke Regis councillor Kate Wheller said she was ‘really pleased’ the facility had come ‘back to the community.’ Councillor Roger Allen described it as ‘interesting that Westham doesn’t have a community centre but we’re going to subsidise this one in Wyke although I’m not saying we shouldn’t.’ Councillor Christine James said she was concerned that she did not want to begin ‘war’ between the wards and said that Westham is due to get a community centre.