Archived decisions
Hampshire County Council
Executive Member - Recreation and Heritage Item 2
16 September 2004
Annual Revenue Support to Community Associations - 2004/05
Report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage
Contact: Margaret Plumridge Ext: 6173
1. Summary
1.1 The following decision is sought:
That annual revenue support in 2004/05 totalling £5,900 be made to Wickham Community Association.
2. Reasons for the recommendation
2.1 To support community associations who seek to enable local people to meet the recreational, educational, social, cultural and environmental needs of their local communities.
2.2 By supporting these organisations in their work and through working in partnership with them the Recreation and Heritage department helps to achieve Aim 4 of the Corporate Strategy - `Building safe and strong communities'
3. Other options considered and rejected
- Making increased support
- Giving no support at all
4. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker, or other Executive Member 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 2
16 September 2004
Annual Revenue Support to Community Associations - 2004/05
Report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage
Contact: Margaret Plumridge, ext 6173
1. Introduction
1.1 The Recreation and Heritage Department works with Community Associations whose aim is to provide the opportunity for local people to participate in recreational, educational, social, cultural and environmental activities within their local communities and to 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.
1.3 The Corporate Strategy
By supporting these organisations in their work and through working in partnership with them the Recreation and Heritage Department helps to achieve Aim 4 of Hampshire County Council's Corporate Strategy - `Building safe and strong communities'
1.4 Supporting the Members Priorities
These organisations provide a wide range of social and recreational activities locally for all ages ranges.
2. Purpose of report
2.1 Requests of financial assistance
The purpose of this report is to provide details of the request for financial support towards the annual revenue costs of Wickham Community Association
Details of this application are set out in Appendices 1 - 3.
3. Finance
3.1 A sum of £170,000 is set aside in the 2004/05 revenue budget to meet requests from Community Associations for annual revenue support. Allocations in February of £132,772 and July of £1,500 together with an allocation to Ringwood Community Association of £5,000 approved by the Leader mean that £30,728 remains available for distribution.
Recommendation
That annual revenue support of £5,900 be awarded to Wickham Community Association for the remainder of the year 2004/05.
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
Information supplied by Wickham
Community Association in support of Community Support Service
their application
Appendix 1
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL - RECREATION AND HERITAGE
ANNUAL REVENUE SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS
Centre |
2002/03 |
2003/04 |
2004/05 |
Wickham Community Association |
Nil |
Nil |
£5,900 |
Total |
Nil |
Nil |
£5,900 |
Appendix 2
Conditions and criteria governing Annual Revenue Support
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.
Priority should be given to organisations that:
_ Operate in an area that is considered as being disadvantaged or is an area of special need.
_ Operate in an area that has few or no facilities.
_ Are new.
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.
It is expected that this financial support will, wherever practicable, reduce annually.
Wickham Community Association Local member : Cllr Felicity Hindson
Councillor Hindson supports this application especially as Wickham is an area where there is deprivation and the community association has an important role to play for all age groups. She is also very supportive of the proposal to use some of this funding to support work in the new community of Knowle.
Statement in support of the application
Wickham Community Association is twenty years old. It has relied on its own income and volunteers to run the centre and has largely been self supporting. Within the same parish there is a new development at Knowle which includes the conversion of the Victorian, Grade II listed church for community use. The local community at Knowle have taken on the management of this building and are working towards the formation of a charitable association. Wickham Community Association has been supporting this organisation and will continue to do so.
At its last forward planning day the volunteers of Wickham Community Association agreed that their organisation has potential for further growth but only if a part time Community Development Manager was employed to assist the volunteers. The cost of this proposal would be approximately £10,000 per annum. This member of staff will work in Wickham and in Knowle with both organisations.
It is intended that this cost would be covered by an increase in income but at this time there is an gap between the income generated and the future potential income. Wickham Community Association would like financial support for about 2 years to help with this project.
This Community Association currently provides activities for young people, families and children, working people and the retired/non-working community.
During 2003 they were involved in the parish appraisal and they developed :-
An ICT suite
An Out of School Club
A feasibility study to develop a families centre
New facilities for youth club
Their future aspirations are that they will have:-
Community minibus
Family (Learning) Centre
Toy Library
Further dedicated Youth Club facilities
Dedicated pre-school facilities
Dedicated Parent/Toddler facilities
Kitchen for learning and catering
Coffee shop
Additional sports facilities