Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Recreation and Heritage Item 7

17 July 2003

Community Buildings Fund 2003/04

Report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage

Contact: Margaret Plumridge Ext: 6173

1. Summary of Decision

i) that grants totalling £32,248 be approved for allocation from the Community Buildings Fund as listed below:

Hall/Centre	District	£
Alresford & District Community Association	Winchester	11,548
Hursley Parish Hall	Winchester	8,200
Wield Village Hall	East Hampshire	12,500
	TOTAL	32,248

ii) that a decision on Botley Market Hall be deferred pending information as to contributions from the Parish and Borough Councils

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 7
	17 July 2003
	Community Buildings Fund - 2003/04
	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 Buildings Fund

ii) to provide details of requests for financial support from the fund

2.2 The grant distribution criteria is set out in Appendix 2. Projects listed in Appendix 3 fully meet the criteria and have been allocated a proposed level of funding in line with the criteria. Appendix 4 contains a list of applications received by 23 June 2003 that will be considered later in the year.

3. Recommendations

The following decisions are sought:

i) that grants totalling £35,350 be approved for allocation from the Community Buildings Fund as listed below:

Hall/Centre	District	£
Alresford & District Community Association	Winchester	11,548
Botley Market Hall	Eastleigh	3,102
Hursley Parish Hall	Winchester	8,200
Wield Village Hall	East Hampshire	12,500
	TOTAL	35,350

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 Service

Recreation and Heritage Department

Mottisfont Court

Winchester

Community Support Budget 2003/04 Appendix 1

	Community Buildings Fund 2003/04
Original Budget Allocation	£ 85,000
Sum returned in respect of Stroud Village Hall	25,000
Additional allocation transferred from capital programme 2003/04	50,000
Revised total	160,000
Less: Allocated 29May 2003	-51,328
Balance remaining	108,672
Proposed allocation 17 July 2003	-35,350
Balance Remaining	73,322

Appendix 2

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

Grants are 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 grant 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.

Priority Criteria:

· The building would be closed or activities seriously curtailed if the work is not carried out

· The project is part of a phased development and this element is essential to it's overall completion

· The work is absolutely essential in order to meet the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act. ( It has been widely publicised that these types of buildings will not be closed provided reasonable steps have been taken to meet the terms of the Act)

Appendix 3

Summary of recommended grants meeting the criteria

Hall/Centre	District	£
Alresford & District Community Association	Winchester	11,548
Botley Market Hall	Eastleigh	3,102
Hursley Parish Hall	Winchester	8,200
Wield Village Hall	East Hampshire	12,500
	TOTAL	£35,350

Name:	Alresford & District Community Association
Local Member:	Cllr. Susan Glasspool
Project:	Repairs to roof
Criteria:	Building repairs, extensions and refurbishment
Cost:	£73,970
General Reserves:	£29,000 of which the major part will be designated to this project
Project Reserves:	Nil
Statement:	The condition of the roof, chimney stacks and leadwork has now reached the point where major works are required to preserve the fabric of the building. This will ensure that the Association can continue to provide a wide range of activities that support the community.
Funding:	Winchester City Council - £19,096 agreed Alresford Town Council - £4,000 agreed
Recommendation:	Max of £11,548 as 50% of combined Parish and District contributions

Name:	Botley Market Hall
Local Member:	Cllr. Paul Brown
Project:	Install loop and sound reinforcement system with acoustic work to improve reverberation.
Criteria:	Equipment to improve the buildings and increase usage
Cost:	£9,307
General Reserves:	£15,000
Project Reserves:	Nil
Statement:	Complaints have been received from many user groups about the acoustics and sound in the hall. The works will greatly improve the experience for many users and ensure that in partnership we make the community facilities accessible to the whole community.
Funding:	Own funding - £5,000 No other applications made - advised to apply to parish and borough council.
Recommendation:	£3,102 as 1/3rd project cost

Name:	Hursley Parish Hall
Local Member:	Cllr. Ann Bailey
Project:	Installation of disabled toilets, access and baby changing facilities
Criteria:	Building repairs, extensions and refurbishments
Cost:	£19,988
General Reserves:	£9,000
Project Reserves:	Nil
Statement:	Facilities required to comply with Disability Discrimination Act and improve facilities for parents and babies. Without these improvements it will be very difficult for the whole community to access the facilities and therefore restrict the impact that the hall programme has in and around the village.
Funding:	Own funding - £5,000 Winchester CC - application made for £11,400 Hursley PC - application made for £5,000
Recommendation:	£8,200 as 50% of combined Parish and District contribution subject to confirmation

Name:	Wield Village Hall
Local Member:	Cllr. Sir James Scott
Project:	Extension to hall to provide disabled toilets, access and refurbish kitchen facilities.
Criteria:	Building repairs, extensions and refurbishment
Cost:	£73,437
General Reserves:	£1,000
Project Reserves:	£7,000 - in fabric fund
Statement:	The works required are to bring the hall in line with DDA requirements and improve its access to disabled users. Without these works the activity programme cannot reach the entire community.
Funding:	Own Funding - £11,600 East Hants DC - £25,000 applied for Wield PC - Application not yet made Further application to be made to Community Fund for outstanding funds required
Recommendation:	Up to max of £12,500 as 50% combined District and Parish contributions, subject to confirmation.

Appendix 4

Summary of applications held on file for review in September

Hall/Centre	District	Reason
Bramshaw Trust (Village Hall)	New Forest	Non-essential work
Bentley Community Association	East Hampshire	Work programmed for Summer 2004 - awaiting confirmation of funding from District
East Boldre School Fields Trust	New Forest	Awaiting information on other funding. Community Action Hampshire requested to investigate need
Godshill Village Hall	New Forest	Awaiting confirmation of District funding
North Warnborough Village Hall	Hart	Non-essential work
Ringwood & District Community Association St Thomas Community Hall	New Forest Test Valley	Non-essential work Received after process date
The Centre, Knights Enham	Test Valley	District not yet confirmed support
The Old Gymnasium, Crondall	Hart	Non-essential work
Trinity United Reform Church Ringwood	New Forest	Community First New Forest to carry out survey on local needs.
Twyford Parish Hall	Winchester	Non-essential work
Upton Grey Village Hall Weston Patrick Village Hall	Basingstoke & Deane Basingstoke & Deane	Pending application to be made to District Received after process date