Archived decisions

COMMUNITY BUILDINGS FUND 2004/05

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. The Council has wide powers under Section 19 of the 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. These grants enable the community sector to maintain the quality of Hampshire's cultural assets, namely their village halls and community association buildings some of which are listed. This finance enables improvements to be made to those buildings and can assist with the development of new facilities where appropriate. The provision of these buildings by the voluntary sector enables local communities to access the services and facilities they need. Such financial support enables the County Council to work in partnership with the community sector to achieve the corporate aim of stewardship of the environment.

3. The Executive Member has approved 16 grants totalling some £61,000 and projects have included electrical rewiring and provision of fire alarm and emergency lighting for the Alresford and District Community Association, an extension to the Michelmersh and Timsbury Jubilee Hall, improvement of facilities to include kitchen and storage facilities at St. Johns Hall, Fareham and re-slating and re-felting of the roof of Warnford Village Hall together with interior redecoration.