A consultation on the future of services for the borough’s homeless could lead to the controversial Richmond Court reducing in size or closing.

A report to Cheshire West and Chester’s cabinet on the re-commissioning of services for the homeless and housing-related support services in the borough from commissioning director Alistair Jeffs outlines proposals to create more homeless centres across the borough to reduce pressure on “hub” centres like Richmond Court.

The proposals aim to reduce the number of homeless and housing-related support contracts which the council currently hand out from four to one.

The council say this will reduce the cost of the service from £2.6million a year to £2.35m, a saving of £250,000.

Currently there are four different providers for these contracts with Sanctuary Housing providing the Richmond Court service.

However, as the Richmond Court building is owned by Sanctuary there is a possibility that if they do not win the contract, or are not part of a consortium going for the contract, Richmond Court may close.

Currently that is a long way off as the Labour-led council say it is “committed” to listening to the results of a consultation on the proposals which also include a new day centre for homeless people and more mediation services for families struggling to live together.

There are also no details about where any new potential sites for homeless centres could be sited in the borough but there has been recognition that Richmond Court acts as a “draw” for homeless people from nearby communities.

Cabinet member for housing, Cllr Angela Claydon, said: “This is a consultation and this is an idea which has been put forward to improve things.

”One issue has been that the very large centres have not been successful in their neighbourhoods. We are looking at perhaps having two or three in different locations rather than one big one. Richmond Court is too big as I see it.

”It could be that they are not all in Chester because there are problems across the borough. We don’t know where those sites could be yet because the contract would go out to tender for people to bid on and it would depend on what property those running the services had available.”

Cllr Claydon repeatedly stressed these were just ideas put forward by the council to try to improve the provision but the council would listen to what the public had to say before making a decision.

She added: “The people who manage Richmond Court manage it well but there are one or two issues where local residents have concerns. Currently that site is acting as a sort of draw in because there are fewer facilities elsewhere. That is why we are saying these sites won’t necessarily be in Chester.”

Boughton councillor Martyn Delaney, whose ward includes Richmond Court, told the Leader he welcomed the consultation.

He said: “There are two issues – the service delivery and anti-social behaviour. There is no getting away from the fact it has gone up. I get complaints from local residents all the time and we have to deal with that. I live by the canal and I’ve called the police myself before now because I felt threatened. Let’s not mince words, there are very vulnerable people inside Richmond Court and there are people who prey on their vulnerability.

“There are more people coming into Chester and it will only get worse the way the Government is reducing benefits.

”When Richmond Court was first mooted the community was not listened to. At the moment it is difficult to say what format the service will take without the results of the consultation but I really want people to get involved.”