Council agrees to run community hub

North Yorkshire Council will run Catterick Garrison's new community hub itself after councillors agreed an operating model for the facility.

Know as the Community and Enterprise Building, the facility off Shute Road forms a part of a wider regeneration project which secured government Levelling Up funding in 2023 and is due to open next February.

Running the building in-house is expected to cost the council an average of around £233,000 a year over ten years.

The executive agreed £44,000 towards operating costs in 2026/27 and funding of up to £283,000 a year from 2027/28.

The building will include space for business start-ups, a community kitchen, training opportunities and small business incubator units, as well as facilities for community events and activities.

Deputy council leader Peter Wilkinson said: "We did carry out a procurement exercise, and following that, this is both the most cost-effective outcome, but we also believe it will give really significant benefits for the area by providing it in this way."

Wilkinson said the council would work closely with the military's HIVE information service to provide "very much a one-stop shop for both civilians and military personnel within the wider area".

The council had considered handing operation of the entire building to an external provider, but a report said the in-house option provided better value for money.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, it will also enable the authority to retain income generated by the building and have greater control.

Four council employees are expected to work at the centre, with two customer-facing roles and two operational and property posts.

HIVE is expected to provide an additional part-time employee based in the reception office.

The report said the new hub could also provide opportunities to retrain service personnel leaving the military, as well as offering training to other Catterick Garrison residents.

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.