A SOCIAL enterprise that provides community services in Blacon has been given the green light to continue for at least three more years.

Avenue Services was set up in 2012 to run environmental, housing, employment and youth services in the Chester suburb – using proceeds from the sale of assets to fund its work.

Its contract with Cheshire West and Chester Council was due to end on March 31, but cabinet members agreed to renew that until April 2023 at Wednesday’s meeting, with the option of extending that by a further two years.

Cllr Carol Gahan, Labour member for Blacon and cabinet member for legal and finance, said: “I want to support the new contract being awarded to Avenue Services – they have done an outstanding job in the community.

“You only have got to drive into Blacon and people comment about how well Blacon looks, how Blacon is functioning, and we often get adverse comments from other councillors who maybe aren’t so impressed with the areas they live in. Avenue Services has done an absolutely tremendous job.

“We work with them in the community and they work with us. We are true partners to support Blacon.”

A report presented at the meeting praised much of Avenue Services’ work in Blacon.

It pointed out that anti-social behaviour in July and August 2019 had decreased by 62 per cent over the same period in 2017, and suggested the events and activities run by the social enterprise were a factor in that decline.

The report also said that 26 volunteer or placement opportunities had been provided by Avenue Services since last April, while more than 45 per cent of its staff are Blacon residents.

Avenue Services has contributed funding for a new 3G pitch, new furniture at Blacon High School’s library, a new bike track and a portacabin for youth facilities.

It has also redeveloped four play areas, expanded the youth club and supported the creation of new businesses – including a nursery, a fitness firm and a social enterprise tackling isolation.

However, the report also detailed a number of areas where Avenue Services had not met its targets – including a failure to gather regular feedback from residents, a number of street cleaning obligations not met and concerns over staff having adequate training to run youth services.

In a statement read out on his behalf, Conservative Cllr Elton Watson, shadow cabinet member for environment, said he had ‘grave concerns’ about extending the contract as a result of the missed targets.

“Avenue Services is to be commended for the reduction in anti-social behaviour as a result of the activities and events they have delivered,” he said.

“However, this is only one aspect, and it is clear from the report that there has been no compliance with a large number of contractual obligations and a failure to meet most key performance indicators.”

Cllr Margaret Parker, leader of CWAC’s Conservative group, echoed his concerns and called for the contract to be extended by just one year while a cross-party review of the social enterprise takes place.

But the firm was given support from Cllr Trish Richards and Cllr Sheila Little, Blacon’s two other ward members, who suggested its achievements went beyond the numbers given in the report.

Under the new contract, Avenue Services will be expected to help support an adventure playground, grounds maintenance, street care, neighbourhood management, community engagement, the youth service and library space provision.

CWAC will pay Avenue Services £550,000 in 2020-21 and £520,000 in 2021-22, with funding yet to be agreed for 2022-23.