Harrow Council is aiming to cease the service it offers to voluntary and charitable organisations for the hire of school premises at a concessionary rate in order to make budget savings.

The council proposes this service be transferred to schools to hire their own premises independently.

Cabinet members will decide at a meeting on May 19 whether or not to proceed with this proposal.

Some organisations may not be aware that their prices could increase if this was to go ahead, as schools who participate in this new decision will have control in setting their own charges and costs, There is no guarantee that the cost will be at a concessionary rate.

Schools have varied facilities for hire and will therefore have to apply charges according to the running costs and demand for their premises.

This will be a very difficult time and may mean some organisations will have to cease running their services within the community if the hire charges were increased.

If cabinet members agree, this could go ahead as early as September and that community lettings will cease at the end of the summer term.

The current service is run by the council at a minimal cost and if schools take this serivce on independently, organisations could most certainly pay more for the hire of school premises than currently.

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