Official says “Some of the staff that have been sussed out in relation to this have said “I’d really rather not, but if I have to I will.”
A Newtownards community centre is to open on Christmas Day for a church group to have a service, which local council officers have said breaches rules and has been opposed by unions.
Elected representatives at Ards and North Down Borough Council overwhelmingly supported an Ulster Unionist Party motion calling for the local council-owned community centre to be opened on Christmas Day for the West Winds Community Church, despite advice from council officers it breached protocol and had implications across community centres in the borough.
The notice of motion, submitted by Newtownards UUP Councillor Richard Smart, states: “In light of the recent difficulty of West Winds Community Church in accessing council facilities to provide their Christmas Day service of worship, we agree that the Borough community facilities will be made available on Christmas Day, only on the strict proviso that the relevant individual staff choose to work on Christmas Day and cannot be mandated to do so.
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“A review of this provision would then be included in the current and ongoing policy review relating to council community facilities.”
The West Winds Community Church used the community centre on Christmas Day last year, which amounted to a breach of the council’s policy, and without the knowledge of senior management. It is understood at least one staff member has volunteered to work on Christmas Day this year.
A council officer told the full Ards and North Down Borough Council at a meeting at Bangor Castle on Wednesday evening (December 17): “We aren’t confident that if this one centre opens on Christmas Day we would be able to get staff. There are concerns also around the voluntary nature of the ask.
“Whilst it is being presented as optional, and a lot of the staff who are the caretakers are local and they know the community, even though it is voluntary they will still feel the pressure from members, or managers, the council, or if not from service users with an obligation to open.
“Some of the staff that have been sussed out in relation to this have said “I’d really rather not, but if I have to I will.” That presents an issue. We aren’t confident that if centres that have churches (using them) they would be able to get staff to do that.
“We have had some engagement, very informally, with a number of the trade unions, who are not supportive of this, because of the voluntary nature and the pressure that puts on staff, and also because of the lack of consultation and timing.”
She said there were eight community centres in the borough that had potential for churches to use them, but said the UUP proposal was “wider,” and could involve other groups.
Questioned why the Church was allowed to use the community centre last year, the council officer said: “Council policy is that we set a number of closure days for our community centres each year, and that is agreed by senior management and includes Christmas Day every year.
“Last year however one community centre was opened in breach of that policy decision, and not with the knowledge of senior management.”
Councillor Richard Smart said: “I would never wish to deny any of our hard working staff their right to enjoy their Christmas in whatever way they see fit. By the same token, under this proposal, those staff who do not have plans, or who simply wish to earn a little overtime can be allowed to do so until the wider policy review concludes.
“It is also not an attempt to create an everlasting policy for Christmas Day usage. The council is already taking a review of community centre provision and (is looking at) any benefits that may be achieved by policy change.”
He added: “It is not an effort to make community centres available on Christmas Day only for church services or worship, as important as faith is to many. Centres would be available to all users, provided there was staff who wished to work additional hours, on an entirely voluntary basis. Something that would not be expected or demanded of them.”
He said the church in question was “a key part of the West Winds community, bringing together all denominations to provide individual support within a Christian ethos.”
All 35 councillors attendant in the chamber at the council meeting on Wednesday voted in favour of the motion.
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