Community groups have one month to apply for asset transfers to keep doors open at 35 South Lanarkshire facilities

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The 35 under-threat community facilities across South Lanarkshire are to have services withdrawn by their leisure organisation operator by May 1.South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture (SLLC) board members made the cost-cutting decision at their crunch meeting on Wednesday following a £750,000 budget cut after councillors set their finances for 2024-2025 a week earlier.It means community groups will need to seek asset transfers if they are to retain any of the 25 halls or three outdoor facilities impacted; while “alternative models” are to be sought for the seven libraries included in the savings plan.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android The affected venues will be handed back to the council – and “groups which believe they have a credible interest in potentially managing their local facility” now have until March 31 to register their interest in beginning the asset transfer process.A £1 million “community fightback fund” to assist residents aiming to take over any of the buildings was included in last week’s budget, and council leader Joe Fagan insists: “The doors will be kept open and the lights on at all halls while we all work together to determine their longer-term future.“This will be for an initial month while we invite groups to register an interest in taking on their halls as community-managed