Contact: Louise Pickford - Ext: 7355; e-mail: [email protected]

1. Financial Position

1.1. The remaining balance of the budget available for grants to voluntary organisations and other bodies for 2004/05 is £270,400 after allocating the grants approved at the last decision day, commitments made in previous years and sums earmarked for specific purposes.

1.2. Subject to approval of the recommendations contained in Item 6 on the agenda regarding the release of a contingency item in the budget, a further £18,000 will be available for grants to voluntary organisations and other bodies in 2004/05, making the balance available for allocation at today's meeting at £288,400.

1.3. The Schedule of attached items gives details of 16 applications which, if agreed in the amounts recommended, would total £30,000.

1.4. A copy of the guidelines for allocations of grants by the Executive Member for Policy and Resources is attached as an appendix to this report.

2. Corporate Strategy

2.1. These grants would support Aims 1 (Maximising life opportunities) and 4 (Building strong and safe communities) of the Corporate Strategy.

3. Annual Grants awarded from the Policy and Resources budget

3.1. In February this year the Executive Member reviewed the annual grants awarded from the Policy and Resources budget for 2004/05. Two of the organisations considered were Hampshire and Isle of Wight Outward Bound Association and the Margaret Kyrle History Prize (part of The Annual Writers' Conference held at King Alfred's College in Winchester) who receive annual grants of £5,000 and £300 respectively.

3.2. At the above-mentioned meeting, due to pressures on the Policy and Resources budget and the fact that the County Council already awards grants to young people in Hampshire undertaking trips for personal development, it was agreed that both these organisations would no longer receive an annual contribution from the County Council. The Association and Conference organisers were informed of this decision at that time.

3.3. However, they have since written to the County Council stating that they were disappointed with this decision and asked whether this matter could be reviewed.

3.4. In the circumstances, it may be appropriate to award Hampshire and Isle of Wight Outward Bound Association and the Margaret Kyrle Local History Prize final "one-off" contributions of £5,000 and £300 respectively in this financial year only, which will then allow them to seek alternative funding for 2005/6.

4. The Winchester Festival - Payment of grant

4.1. The Winchester Festival is a ten-day festival of music, theatre, visual arts, film and literary based events and workshops. The events will take place from 9 to 18 July 2004 in a variety of venues around Winchester and Alresford.

4.2. In December 2003 a three-year funding package of £20,000 for both 2004/05 and 2005/06 and £10,000 in 2006/07 was agreed towards the costs of the Winchester Festival. This package was agreed subject to the outcome of a review of the Festival being undertaken by the County Council and Winchester City Council. The review is due to be completed by the end of September of this year.

4.3. The phasing of a three-year funding package to Winchester Festival has been reviewed in light of discussions with the organisers and it is proposed to release £20,000 (2004/05 payment) now with the remaining grants subject to the outcome of the overall review referred to in paragraph 4.2 above.

4.4. The Senior Arts Officer in the County Council's Recreation and Heritage Department has the following comments:-

" The brief for the review has been agreed by Winchester City Council, Arts Council England South East and the County and is now being sent to the consultants. The final report will not be known until September (after the Festival takes place). Therefore, I would recommend that the funding for 2004/05 of £20,000 be released to pay for this year's costs".

RECOMMENDATIONS:

(i) That the budget position be noted.

(ii) That grants totalling £30,000 be made to voluntary organisations and other bodies as specified in the report.

(iii) That a final "one-off" contribution of £5,000 to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Outward Bound Association and £300 to the Margaret Kyrle Local History Prize be awarded for 2004/05 only.

(iv) That the funding of £20,000 towards the costs of the Winchester Festival for 2004/05 be released and the remaining grants subject to the outcome of the overall review referred to in paragraph 4.2 of the report .

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background papers

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 excluded:

1. Published works.

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

TITLE FILE

Letters from organisations which Chief Executive's Department

Applied for financial assistance

5dR80104