New workingmodel at the Meeting Centres of Kortrijk
As part of a general integration process of autonomous municipal companies and non-profit organisations, the Kortrijk city council decided to also integrate the non-profit organisation Ontmoetingscentra Kortrijk into the city structure. It was the ideal momentum to work out a new model for the 9 urban meeting centres in Kortrijk
The new working model had to take into account an updating of the role of the urban meeting centres. New decision-making structures had to be devised that combined the strengths of the previous way of working with the needs for the future. For this challenge, the City of Kortrijk partnered with Poolstok
A voice for all stakeholders
After consultations with Poolstok and a competition, Arch set its sights on the project. "We didn't immediately have an approach in mind when we first met." says Pieter Haesbrouck, director at Arch. "We attached importance to dialogue, clarity, input and checking off ideas." Arch organised several working sessions in which stakeholders from different fields were heard. Directors and chairmen of the former NPO, volunteers of the meeting centres, residents, representatives of associations and neighbourhood initiatives ... were asked the same question: 'What went well and what do you think is important to keep in the new working model?'
New participation model
Arch went to work and presented three possible scenarios to a steering committee. One scenario was chosen and further developed in close consultation with all partners involved. Maintaining a certain autonomy in terms of financial decisions proved important.
Arch therefore drew up a participation model where there is a very clear demarcation in terms of participation levels. "We proposed a ladder model, a dynamic and open model with attention to finance, infrastructure and programming". At a concluding information session with all stakeholders, this new model was explained in detail.
Now that this process has been behind us for several months, we can speak of a successful transition. City of Kortrijk launched a call for applications for the new management bodies in which associations, neighborhood initiatives and residents will manage each meeting center in a co-production model
