towncouncil@diss.gov.uk

Councillors received a presentation from FMG Consulting Ltd regarding their findings from the recent survey and stakeholder engagement on the Diss Youth & Community Centre in March. Thank you to the 331 residents who completed the survey. One-third live outside Diss so although this represents just over 2% of the population, which is too low to be statistically significant, the survey was intended to gauge initial public opinion and not provide any immediate answers.

There was broadly a lot of support for further exploring a new roof or building on the same site with access being the primary concern for the Sports Ground site. A key issue is affordability as very few are prepared to pay substantially more Council Tax to contribute to the considerable costs of any option and there is sensitivity to hire charges.

Critical to next steps are South Norfolk District Council’s decisions around the John Grose site development to avoid duplication. Monthly meetings are scheduled with the relevant District Officer to maximise engagement and maintain strong relations. Further work will include liaising with the District Council on capital planning and spending thresholds, assessing demand, developing a business case including options appraisal and financial analysis, and seeking external grants given the considerable investment required.

Diss Town Council will continue to engage with residents as the project progresses and encourages the public to respond to any future consultations to help guide decision-making and ensure we get the best outcomes for Diss taxpayers.