1.

Summary

1.1

The following decision is sought:

i. That funding totalling £26,350 be approved for allocation from the Capital Budget for village halls and community associations to the new hall project at Thorney Hill.

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 an allocation at higher and lower levels

· Making no allocation at all

4.

Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or a member of 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)

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Councillor J Waddington

1.

Purpose

1.1

The purpose of this report is to recommend confirmation of support from the Capital Budget to the Thorney Hill Community Association project to build a new community building in the parish of Bransgore, New Forest.

2.

Introduction

2.1

Funding was provisionally allocated from the 2001/02 capital provision for village halls and community centres. The total currently available from this provision in that year is £26,350.

3.

An overview of the project at Thorney Hill

3.1

This area of the New Forest is isolated through lack of transport and no longer has within it other local amenities. It has lost communal buildings and services in recent years including the village school, post office and local shop. A proportion of the population originate from forest gypsies who have been in settled housing for the last twenty to thirty years.

3.2

A participatory needs assessment has demonstrated the high level of need and many in the local community remain in disadvantaged circumstances associated with:

· Signing on to long term benefit

· Lack of opportunity

· Ill health

3.3

The Community Association at Thorney Hill was registered as a charity in 1999 and has since then been working towards establishing a new community building. The previous timber built centre lasted 20 years. Planning permission was granted for the proposed new hall in February 2000. It will create a new focal point for the community. The nearest existing hall is 1.5 miles away along an unlit, unpaved road which is dangerous at night time and is unsuitable for children, and has no disabled access.

3.4

It is intended that the new building will provide activities such as:

· An after school club

· A playscheme

· The development of adult learning partnerships

· Activities for young people

· Older people's clubs

· The provision of services in the field of health, Social Services and housing.

4.

Finance

4.1

The original estimated cost of the building was £169,000. This has recently been reduced to £163,000 in order to match the current funding available. This sum will build a very modest community hall located close to this community.

4.2

At the present time the project has or is expecting the following finance:

£

National Lottery Community Fund

98,634

New Forest District Council

12,500

Parish Council

0

Fund raising

20,000

Hampshire County Council

26,350

Total

£157,484

4.3

This will still leave a shortfall of £5,516 which will be obtained by further fund raising and applications to other charitable trusts. Consequently it is vital that Hampshire County Council's funding is confirmed if this project is now to move towards completion.

Recommendation

That £26,350 be allocated to the project at Thorney Hill from the Capital Budget for village halls and community associations.