The leader of Fife Council has warned the status quo is “not an option” as the process of selling off or closing community buildings in the region moves a step closer.
David Ross was speaking as a Kirkcaldy councillor as representatives met in Burntisland to offer feedback on plans that could lead to libraries, community centres and public halls being offloaded in a cost-cutting exercise.
There was widespread agreement among representatives that the process was a necessary evil as Fife Council looks to make millions of pounds worth of savings to fill a black hole in its budget.
However, it was stressed that every effort would be taken to centralise services amid fears that building closures could rip the heart out of communities.
“We are not being asked today to shut down X and open Y but this is a step in the right direction,” he said.
“The status quo is not an option. We cannot continue to run assets in the way that we have, although I am adamant we should look at individual communities and their needs.
“We need to make better use of our assets but we also need to improve properties that we keep and make sure they are fit for purpose.
“We could make better use of our local schools at weekends and that needs to be part of the plan. I’m in favour of maintaining services rather than keeping half-empty buildings open.”
A total of 15 buildings throughout Kirkcaldy are at risk of ‘disposal’ or of being put up for sale.
Some of the structures have backlog maintenance costs totalling in the hundreds of thousands of pounds. The Pathhead Hall exceeds this further, with an estimated £1.4 million required to bring it up to standard.
As Fife Council tries to plug a budget gap last believed to be around £92m, it is thought that selling or transferring these buildings and centralising services at fewer locations is the only way ahead.
However, what happens in Kirkcaldy is significant for the rest of Fife, with this process to be repeated in communities across the region.
Alan Paul, from the property services department, told councillors: “This is a Fife-wide issue and Kirkcaldy just happens to be the first.
“There is no perfect solution here but we are trying to understand what happens in towns and what activities take place.
“We just have too many buildings and we are trying to deliver services in a better way.”