West Lancashire communities are set to be given the opportunity to take over the day to day running of borough council-owned community facilities as part of a radical decentralisation of power.
The Conservative-run Borough Council is looking at giving local voluntary groups and organisations the chance to have a greater say over how facilities are managed and run, with draft proposals due to be considered soon.
Local groups have already been successful in taking over community facilities, providing new opportunities for people and drawing in grants for building improvements. Only last year, a Meeting Room in Skelmersdale was taken over by a Boxing Club, and the aim is to replicate this success on a larger scale.
The Government's new Localism Act provides for such opportunities and some groups have already indicated they would be willing to look at getting more involved in the running of local facilities through community transfer.
Cllr David Sudworth, Conservative Group Spokesman for Leisure, said: "These are exciting and positive proposals which will give real power back to West Lancashire's communities and put people, not politicians, in charge.
"Since Conservatives took control of West Lancashire, we have been constantly looking at innovative ways to provide the best services possible. For instance, we set up a Leisure Trust, which was opposed by Labour but has delivered savings for the taxpayer as well as securing investment at many of our centres.
"The council is already working alongside the voluntary sector who manage and maintain local Meeting Rooms, and we now want to expand that by handing more power down to the community."
Cllr Adrian Owens, West Lancashire Conservative Group Deputy Leader, added: "Conservatives believe our neighbourhoods are stronger when grassroots organisations are actively involved, where possible, in the running of community facilities, instead of Labour's approach of 'we know best' and hoarding power in the centre.
"The council is looking at how we harness the skills, ideas and initiative of local voluntary groups and individuals to build on the success we have had with community redevelopment of our Meeting Rooms. We expect to be bringing proposals forward in due course."
Conservative Group Leader Cllr Ian Grant added: "Even before the current financial constraints caused by the overspending of the last Labour Government, and compounded by the current problems in the Eurozone, this Conservative Group has sought to achieve taxpayer value for money.
"The economic climate presents difficulties but also opportunities for us to look at innovative ways of giving communities a greater say in how local facilities are run. We are committed to doing what is right for communities across West Lancashire, and believe that giving groups and individuals a chance to play their part in providing services in West Lancashire is a positive move."
Further details on proposals to hand more power down to local communities are expected to be announced soon.