Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Recreation and Heritage Item 6

17 July 2003

Annual Revenue Support to Community Associations for the financial year 2003/04

Report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage

Contact: Margaret Plumridge Ext: 6173

1. Summary

The following decisions are sought:

i) That annual revenue support for 2003/04 totalling £9000 be awarded to :-

£

Bishopstoke Community Association 9,000

ii) That support in kind be allocated to Portchester Community Association for 2003/04 in the form of two days per week managerial assistance which equates to £10,664 in a full year.

iii) That Alton Community Association receive an additional £3,500 annual revenue funding which is equivalent to 6 months financial support.

2. Reasons for the Recommendation

i) To support community associations who 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

i) making increased grants

ii) 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. Reasons for matter being dealt with, if urgent

Not applicable

Approved by: (Signature) Date: (of decision)

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

Councillor J. Waddington

Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Recreation and Heritage Item 6

17 July 2003

Annual Revenue Support to Community Associations for the financial year 2003/04

Report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage

Contact: Margaret Plumridge, ext 6173

1. Introduction

1.1 The Recreation and Heritage Department works in partnership with Community Associations 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.

2. Purpose

2.1 The purpose of this report is to provide details of requests for support towards the annual revenue costs of these associations.

3. Finance

3.1 On 19 February 2003 it was agreed to set aside £150,000 to support Community Associations with their revenue costs for the year 2003/04. At that meeting £83,000 was allocated to Community Associations seeking funding. A further £5,000 was allocated to Ringwood Community Association by the Executive Member - Policy and Resources on 10 April 2003.

4. Conditions and criteria governing Annual Revenue Support

4.1 The policy and conditions governing this financial support were revised in June 1999. At that time it was agreed that the following criteria should be used when considering applications for this funding.

4.2 Priority should be given to organisations that:

_ Have an area of benefit that is disadvantaged or is an area of special need.

_ Have an area of benefit that has few or no facilities.

_ Are new.

4.3 Organisations must demonstrate:

_ That there is evidence of self-help and of maximising the organisations own resources

_ That there are positive proposals for the development of the community programme and premises in order to meet local needs

_ That the activities support the organisation's charitable aims (as stated in the Recreational Charities Act 1958)

_ That the services provided are contributing to Hampshire County Council's Corporate Strategy.

4.4 It is expected that this financial support will, wherever practicable, reduce annually.

4 Bishopstoke Community Association - application for funding

4.1 The community building leased by this organisation is owned by the county council and is currently being re-furbished. These works should be completed by the end of the summer when it is expected that the organisation will begin to develop its activities substantially. At the present time no income and expenditure budget has been made available but it is understood that this is to be addressed at a meeting of the trustees on 30 June 2003 and it is recommended that funds should be allocated to this organisation subject to the submission of these financial statements. Further information can be found in Appendix 2. It is proposed that £9,000 be allocated to this organisation to assist with their annual revenue costs and provide them with some development funds.

4.2 This much needed refurbishment will enable the Association to play a stronger role in the community and build on it's current strengths to deliver more activity for young people and increase learning opportunities for all sections of the local community.

5 Leigh Park Community Association - Report on current activities

6.1 Leigh Park Community Association has been allocated revenue funding of £32,000 per annum for a five year period. This support is a mixture of support in kind (staff) and finance. This Association has been involved in the following activities during year 1 (2002/03).

Strategic Activity

Review of activity of the Community Association

Development of Sure Start building on site

Encouraging resident participation in the new hospital consultation

Training and Development

A skills audit of both staff and volunteers was carried out and a training plan developed as a result of this audit.

Participation

The Association is participating in the following activities:

Development of a Youth Strategy and a youth project at the Community Centre

The anti-poverty forum

The Community Safety Partnership

The Education Action Zone

Development of Havant On Line at the community centre

Leigh Park Craft Initiative

Other Developments

A local newsletter

6 Portchester Community Association - provision of managerial support

6.1 Portchester Community Association has had some operational difficulties since their manager resigned. Attempts have been made to re-appoint to this post without success. Following discussions with the Community Association it was agreed that some managerial assistance would be more appropriate than the financial support normally made available to them. Because of the urgent nature of this problem Portchester Community Association has already been provided with some managerial support and it has been agreed that it would be beneficial to continue that support for a further 12 months. It is therefore requested that the Association be allocated managerial time of approximately 2 days a week for a further 12 months when the situation will be reviewed. This support in kind amounts to approximately £10,664.

6.2 During this period of support it is hoped to address with other stakeholders the strategic role of the Association and it's buildings in the overall network of community facilities in Portchester.

7 Alton Community Association

8.1 Following a strategic review this organisation was considering the commencement of closure proceedings on June 30 2003. The Association have decided that to take this action would not be appropriate at this time particularly in view of the ongoing study of community needs and facilities in Alton. Consequently it is felt appropriate to recommend allocating £3,500 which is equivalent to a further six months funding to the community association.

Recommendations

i) That annual revenue support totalling £9,000 be awarded to Bishopstoke Community Association for 2003/04 subject to the receipt of appropriate financial information

ii) That the managerial support to Portchester Community Association be continued for a further 12 months.

iii) That Alton Community Association receive a further £3,500 towards their annual revenue costs.

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:

1. Published works

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

TITLE LOCATION

Applications for revenue support Community Support Section of the

Arts, Sport and Community Service, Mottisfont Court, Winchester

Appendix 1

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Recreation & Heritage - Annual Revenue Funding

Community Associations

Appendix 2

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

RECREATION & HERITAGE - ANNUAL REVENUE FUNDING COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS

Bishopstoke Community Association Grant £ 9,000

Local Member Year 2003/04