Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Recreation and Heritage Item 2

12^th December 2002

Community Buildings Fund 2002/03

Report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage

Contact: Margaret Plumridge Ext: 6173

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

i) that partnership funding totalling £20,627 be approved for allocation from the Community Buildings Fund as listed below;

Hall/Centre	District	£
Chawton Village Hall	East Hants	10,250
Waltham Chase Village Hall	Winchester	2,406
Bramley Village Hall	Basingstoke & Deane	2,346
Crondall Village Hall	Hart	1,000
The Beddington Centre (Old Basing)	Basingstoke & Deane	1,625
Headley Sports Association	East Hants	3,000
	TOTAL	20,627

2. Reason

To support organisations that seek to enable local people to meet the recreational, educational, social, cultural and environmental needs of their local communities.

3. Other Options considered and rejected

- Making grants at higher and lower levels.

- Making no grants at all.

4 Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or a member or officer consulted. - None

5 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6 Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: (signature) Date: (date of decision)

.................................. .............................

Councillor J Waddington

	Hampshire County Council
	Executive Member - Recreation and Heritage		Item 2
	12 December 2002
	Community Buildings Fund 2002/03
	Report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage

Contact: Margaret Plumridge, ext 6173

1. Summary

1.1 The County Council works in partnership with specific community organisations particularly community associations and village hall committees who seek to enable local people to meet the recreational, educational, social, cultural and environmental needs of their local communities. These organisations give local people an opportunity to participate in local activities and encourage local initiatives by people of all ages.

1.2 The Council has wide powers under Section 19 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 to provide recreational facilities, and to contribute by way of grant or loan towards expenses incurred by voluntary bodies in providing such facilities.

2. Purpose of Report

2.1 The purpose of this report is:

i) to provide details of the current financial position of the community support budget ( Appendix 1)

ii) to provide details of requests for financial support from the Community Buildings Fund from voluntary Village Halls and Community Associations

2.2 The partnership funding distribution criteria is set out in Appendix 2. Projects in Appendix 3 fully meet the criteria and have been allocated a proposed level of funding in line with the criteria. Those in Appendix 4 do not fully meet the criteria but have been put forward for consideration by the Executive Member. The proposals in Appendix 3 and Appendix 4 amount to £20,627 and can be met from the budget. This will leave a balance of £14,342 for the remainder of the year.

5. Recommendations

i) That partnership funding totalling £20,427 be approved for allocation from the Community Buildings Fund.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background Documents

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

Published works

Documents, which disclose exempt or confidential information as, defined in the act.

Title Location

Applications for financial assistance Community Support Unit

Recreation and Heritage Dept

Mottisfont Court

Winchester

Community Support Budget 2002/03 Appendix 1

	Total	Community Buildings Fund	Annual Revenue Support	Seconded Staff	Neighbourhood Initiatives
	£	£	£	£	£
Original Budget Allocation	408,500	85,300	150,000	110,200	63,000
Allocations to date: 4 April 2002 30 May 2002 18 July 2002 12 Sept 2002	-265,200 -10,600 -20,224 -22,507	0 -10,600 -17,224 -22,507	-118,000 -3000	-110,200	-37,000
Balance available prior to this meeting	89,969	34,969	29,000	Nil	26,000
Proposed allocations	-53,777	-20,627	-8,250	0	-24,900
Balance remaining	36,192	14,342	20,750	0	1,100

Appendix 2

The application criteria for the Community Buildings Fund is as follows:

Partnership funding is given for:

· Building repairs, extensions and refurbishments

· Health and Safety issues

· Equipment to improve the buildings and increase usage

· Feasibility Studies

Who can apply:

· Village Halls (not parish run halls)

· Community Associations

· Other similar community groups

· Church Organisations that have a separate community programme on their property

Funding criteria:

· For projects costing less than £15,000, the funding criteria is up to ⅓ of the cost.

· For projects costing more than £15,000, the amount is calculated at 50% of the combined district and parish contribution up to a maximum of 25% of the project costs or £12,500, whichever is the lesser.

Appendix 3

Summary of partnership funding recommendations meeting the criteria

Hall/Centre	District	£
Chawton Village Hall	East Hants	10,250
Waltham Chase Village Hall	Winchester	2,406
Bramley Village Hall	Basingstoke & Deane	2,346
	TOTAL	£15,002

Name	Chawton Village Hall
Local Member:	Cllr. Sir James Scott supports this application
Project:	· Provision of new kitchen floor and hot water system. · Improve toilet facilities to meet DDA requirements · Improve accessibility of main entrance to meet DDA requirements · Provide hazard marking system and sound loop system
Criteria:	Building repairs, extensions and refurbishments. Health and safety issues
Cost:	£45,000
General Reserves:	£1,500
Project Reserves:	£8,500 to support this project
Statement:	The project is deemed necessary to meet the requirements of Health and Safety and the Disability Discrimination Act (1995), and a strong commitment from Chawton Village Hall Committee to Equal Opportunities and Anti-discriminatory practice.
Funding:	East Hants DC - £20,000 applied for Chawton Parish Council - £500 Applications have also been made to a variety of Trusts and lottery sources for an additional £36,000 although it is not expected that all will be successful.
Recommendation:	£10,250 (50% of combined District and Parish contribution subject to confirmation of EHDC contribution)

Name:	Waltham Chase Village Hall
Local Member:	Cllr. Felicity Hindson
Project:	Upgrade disabled toilets, replace exterior fascias/soffits and guttering, replace chairs.
Criteria:	Building repairs, extensions and refurbishments Equipment to improve building and increase usage
Cost:	£7,218
General Reserves:	£4,000
Project Reserves:	Nil
Statement:	Built 30 years ago, the hall has been subject to a continuing maintenance programme, however some of the original fixtures and fittings now need refurbishing or replacing.
Funding:	Winchester CC - applied for funding but 2002/03 funding is all allocated Shedfield Parish Council - funding applied for
Recommendation:	£2,406 (one-third)

Name:	Bramley Village Hall
Local Member:	Cllr. Keith Chapman is happy for this to be put forward . Basingstoke & Deane turned it down because of the amount of reserves they have.
Project:	Install disabled toilets and resurface hall floor
Criteria:	Building repairs, extensions and refurbishments
Cost:	£7,039
General Reserves:	£1,300
Project Reserves:	£14,239 for provision of additional storage facilities to support user groups
Statement:	Disabled toilets are required to comply with DDA Floor needs resurfacing to maintain its current life and avoid need to replace
Funding:	Basingstoke & Deane BC - funding applied for Bramley Parish Council - no application made Other: Donations - £250, Charity Four Lanes Trusts - £500
Recommendation:	£2,346 (one third)

Appendix 4

Summary of partnership funding recommendations not meeting the criteria

Hall/Centre	District	£
The Beddington Centre (Old Basing) Crondall Village Hall	Basingstoke & Deane Hart	1,625 1,000
Headley Sports Association	East Hants	3,000
	TOTAL	£5,625

Name:	The Beddington Centre
Local Member:	Cllr. Keith Chapman
Project:	Provide disabled access
Criteria:	Building repairs, extensions and refurbishments
Cost:	£4876
General Reserves:	£1000
Project Reserves:	£4000 for refurbishment of toilets, new door and insulation.
Statement:	Due to a steep slope and steps into the building there is no acceptable access for people with disabilities or mothers with pushchairs. This organisation is not registered as a charity. The building is leased from the Parish Council who retain responsibility for structural and external maintenance. Although they have received funding from us in the past (1998), a previous application was refused in February 2000, although that project was supported by Basingstoke & Deane BC.
Funding:	Basingstoke & Deane BC - applied but no funding available Old Basing and Lychpit PC - applied £1000.00
Recommendation:	£1625 (one-third)

Name:	Crondall Village Hall
Local Member:	Cllr. Carol Leversha
Project:	Replacement of existing chairs
Criteria:	Equipment to improve the buildings and increase usage Health and Safety issues
Cost:	£5,124
General Reserves:	£16,994
Project Reserves:	Nil
Statement:	Chair replacement is needed to maintain the Village Hall at the centre of the community by ensuring that all equipment is up to the latest safety standards. The current chairs are over 15 years old and in poor condition. This Village Hall falls outside the criteria as it holds reserves that exceed 6 months normal running costs.
Funding:	Hart District Council - £500 applied for. Crondall Parish Council - £500 applied for Lottery Awards for All - £1000 applied for Own Funding - £2124
Recommendation:	£1,000 (taking account of reserve position)

Name:	Headley Sports Association
Local Member:	Cllr. John Filer
Project:	Provide additional storage and resurface car park and approach to building with addition of disabled parking spaces.
Criteria:	Building repairs, extensions and refurbishments.
Cost:	£48,000
General Reserves:	£7,000
Project Reserves:	Nil
Statement:	Being a Sports Association this organisation falls outside the funding criteria. However they do provide facilities for a general programme of community activities ranging from a playgroup to bell ringing, and as such is recommended for support.
Funding:	East Hampshire District Council £24,000 agreed Headley Parish Council has agreed £5,000 plus an additional £5,000 to be released from Developers' Contribution held by East Hampshire District Council.
Recommendation:	The Association is asking for £3,000 only to make up the budget shortfall.