Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Recreation and Heritage Item 6

22 January 2004

Community Buildings Fund 2003/04

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 £31,904 be approved for allocation from the Community Buildings Fund as listed below:

Hall/Centre	District	£
Blandford Hall, Martin	New Forest	3,695
Butts Ash Community Association	New Forest	4,915
Chilworth Community Centre	Test Valley	2,419
Conford Village Hall	East Hampshire	12,500
East Meon Village Hall	East Hampshire	759
Rockbourne Village Hall	New Forest	500
The Colonel Jenkins Memorial Hall, Wherwell	Test Valley	2,183
The Meon Hall, Meonstoke	Winchester	4,933
	TOTAL	£31,904

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 and to achieve the aims of the Corporate Strategy by improving community buildings to allow local people to access the facilities they need.

3. Other Options considered and rejected

- Allocating partnership funding at higher and lower levels.

- Allocating no partnership funding 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 6

22 January 2004

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 (Appendix 1)

ii) to provide details of requests for partnership funding from the fund

2.2 The partnership funding distribution criteria is set out in Appendix 2.

2.3 Projects listed in Appendix 3 fully meet the criteria and have been allocated a proposed level of funding in line with the criteria.

2.4 Projects listed in Appendix 4 meet the criteria for voluntary village halls and community associations and will be held over until more funds are available.

3. Finance

3.1 Even with the addition of £50,000 at the beginning of this financial year this fund continues to be over subscribed mostly due to the legislative requirements related to the Disability Discrimination Act. Consequently it is proposed that the £25,000 remaining in the current years capital programme for village halls and community associations be used to support the projects outlined in this report. A further £7,249 has been returned to the fund from projects that either no longer require funding or have only needed a proportion of that allocated in accordance with the criteria. This, together with the £1,586 carried forward gives a total available balance for distribution of £33,835. It is proposed that £31,904 be allocated at this meeting leaving a balance of £1,931 unallocated.

4. Recommendations

The following decisions are sought:

i) that partnership funding totalling £31,904 be approved for allocation from the Community Buildings Fund as listed below:

Hall/Centre	District	£
Blandford Hall, Martin	New Forest	3,695
Butts Ash Community Association	New Forest	4,915
Chilworth Community Centre	Test Valley	2,419
Conford Village Hall	East Hampshire	12,500
East Meon Village Hall	East Hampshire	759
Rockbourne Village Hall	New Forest	500
The Colonel Jenkins Memorial Hall, Wherwell	Test Valley	2,183
The Meon Hall, Meonstoke	Winchester	4,933
	TOTAL	£31,904

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
	£
Original capital allocation	85,000
Sum returned in respect of Stroud Village Hall	25,000
Additional allocation from 2003/04 capital programme	50,000
Revised capital allocation	160,000
Less: Allocated 29 May 2003 17 July 2003 25 September 2003 16 October 2003 - Exec member P & R	-51,328 -32,248 -73,441 -1,397
Balance available following last meeting	1,586
Transferred from 2003/04 capital programme Returned to budget from previous applications	25,000 7,249
Revised balance available at this meeting	33,835
Proposed allocations 22 January 2004	31,904
Balance remaining following this meeting	1,931

Appendix 2

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

Partnership funding is granted 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 one third 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:

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

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

3. 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).

4. Non priority work.

Appendix 3

Summary of recommended grants meeting the criteria

Hall/Centre	District	£
Blandford Hall, Martin	New Forest	3,695
Butts Ash Community Association	New Forest	4,915
Chilworth Community Centre	Test Valley	2,419
Conford Village Hall	East Hampshire	12,500
East Meon Village Hall	East Hampshire	759
Rockbourne Village Hall	New Forest	500
The Colonel Jenkins Memorial Hall, Wherwell	Test Valley	2,183
The Meon Hall, Meonstoke	Winchester	4,933
	TOTAL	£31,904

Name:	Blandford Hall, Martin
Local Member:	Cllr. Katherine Heron
Project:	Provide additional heating and lighting systems
Priority:	1
Criteria:	Building repairs, extensions and refurbishments.
Links to Corporate Strategy	Improving buildings to enable local communities to access the services and facilities they need. This project will improve the facilities and extend its use to the community
Cost:	£11,084
General Reserves:	£4,397
Project Reserves:	Building maintenance fund - £1,500 Equipment replacement fund - £500
Statement:	There is a current lack of heating in the kitchen and toilet areas and side rooms. Lighting is basic fluorescent strips only. The addition of the new heating and lighting will enable the hall to be used throughout the year for all types of groups. Without this work the use of the hall will have to continue to be curtailed at certain times of the year.
Funding:	Own funding - £1,083 New Forest District Council - £1,000 applied for Martin Parish Council - £120 applied for Awards for all - £5,000 application to be made
Recommendation:	£3,695 as one third of project cost

Name:	Butts Ash Community Association
Local Member:	Cllr Brian Dash
Project:	Re-surface car park with tarmac
Priority:	3
Criteria:	Building repairs, extensions and refurbishment Health and safety issues
Links to Corporate Strategy	Improving buildings to enable local communities to access the services and facilities they need. This project will improve the facilities, accessibility for the disabled and extend its use to the community.
Cost:	£14,746
General Reserves:	£4,000
Project Reserves:	£2,000 for this project
Statement:	The existing car park has become unusable in wet weather and is unsuitable for the elderly and disabled.
Funding:	No application made to New Forest District Council Hythe & Dibden PC - £1,500
Recommendation:	£4,915 as one third of project cost

Name:	Chilworth Community Centre
Local Member:	Cllr Alan Dowden Cllr Dowden offers his support to this request for funding
Project:	Provide ramp and widen doorway for wheelchair access
Priority:	3
Criteria:	Building repairs, extensions and refurbishment. Health and safety issues
Links to Corporate Strategy	Improving buildings to enable local communities to access the services and facilities they need. This project will improve the facilities, accessibility for the disabled and extend its use to the community
Cost:	£7,258
General Reserves:	£4,305
Project Reserves:	Nil
Statement:	This work is needed in order for the building to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act.
Funding:	Own Funding - £2,395 Test Valley Borough Council - £1,560 applied for Chilworth Parish Council - £907 applied for
Recommendation:	£2,419 as one third of project cost

Name:	Conford Village Hall
Local Member:	Cllr. Michael Cartwright
Project:	Demolish and rebuild existing toilet block to provide DDA compliant facilities, upgrade heating and access throughout and create additional storage space.
Priority:	3
Criteria:	Building repairs, extensions and refurbishment. Health and safety issues
Links to Corporate Strategy	Improving buildings to enable local communities to access the services and facilities they need. This project will improve the facilities, accessibility for the disabled and extend its use to the community
Cost:	£120,000
General Reserves:	£2,367
Project Reserves:	Building fund - £5,000
Statement:	The hall is currently closed during the period Dec-Apr due to inadequate heating. The toilets are not suitable for disabled persons and require a total rebuild to meet DDA requirements.
Funding:	Own funding - £8,500 East Hampshire District Council - £25,000 applied for Conford Parish Council - £4,000 received Community Fund - £59,500 application to be made 2 additional trust applications - £11,500
Recommendation:	£12,500 as 50% of combined District and Parish contributions subject to confirmation.

Name:	East Meon Village Hall
Local Member:	Cllr John West Cllr West cites the East Meon Village Hall as a major focus of the village and deserving of support.
Project:	Installation of induction loop system
Priority:	3
Criteria:	Equipment to improve the buildings and increase usage
Links to Corporate Strategy	Improving buildings to enable local communities to access the services and facilities they need. This project will improve the facilities, accessibility for the disabled and extend its use to the community
Cost:	£2,278
General Reserves:	£3,151
Project Reserves:	Nil
Statement:	This equipment is needed in order to comply with the DDA.
Funding:	East Hampshire District Council - application made for no specified amount East Meon Parish Council - advised to apply
Recommendation:	£759 as one third of project cost

Name:	Rockbourne Village Hall
Local Member:	Cllr. Katherine Heron
Project:	Feasibility and scheme design study for extension and refurbishment of village hall
Project start date	Oct 2003 - April 2004
Priority:	4
Criteria:	Building repairs, extensions and refurbishment
Links to Corporate Strategy	Improving buildings to enable local communities to access the services and facilities they need. This project will improve the facilities, accessibility for the disabled and extend its use to the community
Cost:	£13,000
General Reserves:	£6,600
Project Reserves:	Nil
Statement:	This study will support the refurbishment of the Village Hall which will particularly benefit older and disabled people living in Rockbourne which has poor public transport and no community transport scheme.
Funding:	Community Fund - £8,000 confirmed Own funds - £1,500 New Forest District Council - £2,000 applied for Rockbourne Parish Council - £500 applied for
Recommendation:	£500 as contribution to feasibility study

Name:	The Colonel Jenkins Memorial Hall, Wherwell
Local Member:	Cllr. Patrick Pierce
Project:	Replacement of ceiling and installation of insulation
Priority:	1
Criteria:	Building repairs, extensions and refurbishment
Links to Corporate Strategy	Improving buildings to enable local communities to access the services and facilities they need. This project will improve the facilities and extend its use to the community
Cost:	£6,550
General Reserves:	£7,706
Project Reserves:	Nil
Statement:	The current ceiling has no insulation making it difficult to keep the hall warm in winter months. The new ceiling will enable insulation to be installed and facilitate year-round use.
Funding:	Own funds - £2,459 Test Valley Borough Council - £1,408 applied for Wherwell Parish Council - £500 applied for
Recommendation:	£2,183 as one third of project cost

Name:	The Meon Hall, Meonstoke
Local Member:	Cllr Felicity Hindson - in support of the application I am certainly supportive of a grant being made to Meon Hall. It is important that this hall which is very well used by a somewhat isolated rural community should be able to comply with DDA requirements. I would also add that the hall is very well run by Cdr James Morrice and is one of the most attractive halls in the county. Quite apart from the necessity of complying with DDA requirements I think it is important as part of Hampshire County Council's strategy for older people that community halls should be fully accessible to help enhance the quality of life experienced by older people. I hope that the Hog the Limelight programme sponsored by Recreation and Heritage will encourage communities to facilitate attendance by older people and those with a disability.
Project:	Conversion of office space to disabled toilet
Priority:	3
Criteria:	Building repairs, extensions and refurbishment Health and safety issues
Links to Corporate Strategy	Improving buildings to enable local communities to access the services and facilities they need. This project will improve the facilities, accessibility for the disabled and extend its use to the community
Cost:	£14,800
General Reserves:	£1,615
Project Reserves:	Building development - £20,800
Statement:	In 2000 a pre-audit appraisal of access identified several needs to meet DDA, some of which have been provided. This work will provide suitable disabled toilet facilities.
Funding:	Own funds - £5,000 Winchester City Council - £3,000 applied for Corhampton and Meonstoke Parish Council - £1,500 applied for Exton Parish Council - £325 applied for
Recommendation:	£4,933 as one third of project cost

Appendix 4

Summary of applications meeting the criteria but held over until more funding is available

Hall/Centre	District	£
Beech Village Hall	East Hampshire	12,500
Brockenhurst Village Hall	New Forest	12,500
Bursledon Village Hall	Eastleigh	3,000
Fair Oak Village Hall	Eastleigh	2,533
Hannington Village Hall	Basingstoke and Deane	2,791
King Edward VII Memorial Hall, Upper Clatford	Test Valley	12,500
Trinity United Reform Church, Ringwood	New Forest	12,500
	TOTAL	£58,324