Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Recreation and Heritage Item 2

18 November 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 who aim 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'

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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 The purpose of this report is to provide details of the requests for financial support towards the annual revenue costs of:

i) Buckskin and Worting Community Association

ii) Wecock Farm Community Association

Details of these applications 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, July of £1,500 and September of £5,900 together with an allocation to Ringwood Community Association of £5,000 approved by the Leader mean that £24,828 remains available for distribution. The proposals in this report amount to £10,500.

3.2 As part of the overall management of the Recreation and Heritage budget £12,500 of this budget is being held unallocated pending review later in the year. This leaves an final unallocated balance of £1,828.

Recommendation

For the period 18 November 2004 - March 31 2005 that annual revenue support of:

i) £2,500 be awarded to Buckskin and Worting Community Association, and

ii) £8,000 be awarded to Wecock Farm Community Association

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 Buckskin and Worting Community Association and Wecock Farm Community Association in support of their applications.	Community Support Section Sport, Community and Outdoor Services Recreation and Heritage Department Mottisfont Court, Winchester

Appendix 1

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL - RECREATION AND HERITAGE

ANNUAL REVENUE SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS

Centre	2002/03 £	2003/04 £	2004/05 £
Buckskin and Worting Community Association			2,500
Wecock Farm Community Association	13,000	13,000	8,000
Total	13,000	13,000	10,500

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 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.

Appendix 3

Buckskin & Worting Community Association Local Member - Cllr Jo Kelly

Year end for latest available accounts: August 2003	Forward Budget (excl HCC Grants) Income £22,150 Expenditure £28,152
Accounts outturn excl all grants -£1,492	HCC Revenue support 2003/04 nil
B/F from previous year £17,672
Total grants from HCC Nil	Proposed revenue support 2004/05 £2,500
Grants from other sources £4,682

Date of last community survey	Not known
Aims and Objectives for 2003/04 Condition of grant	Achievements
N/A
Aims and Objectives for 2004/05
Review and monitor community activity programme to meet all ages
A full review of the operation of this organisation to take place	Condition of Grant
Activity in the community Buckskin Residents Group; crime group for Buckskin

Comments

The appointment of an administrator should enable the committee to focus on the needs of the community and promote the use of the centre. However, there is insufficient income generated by the centre at this time to cover the cost of an appropriate appointment. The current budgeted shortfall is £6,000 per annum. It is proposed that this organisation be provided with 5/12ths of this sum in order to provide support for the rest of 2004/05. A full review of its position should take place at the end of this financial year as a condition of grant before any further funding is considered.

Appendix 3

Wecock Community Association Local Member - Cllr Mrs Sue Allbright

Year end for latest available accounts : June 2004	Forward Budget (excl HCC Grants) Income £62,200 Expenditure £90,575
Accounts outturn excl all grants -£51,262	HCC Revenue support 2003/04 £13,000
B/F from previous year £18,863
Total grants from HCC £20,066	Proposed revenue support 2004/05 £8,000
Grants from other sources £12,302

Date of last community survey	2001
Aims and Objectives for 2003/04 Condition of grant	Achievements
To complete training plan for staff and volunteers	Not completed
To complete play trail	Play Trail
To move to new centre	Move completed July 2004
Aims and Objectives for 2004/05
Expansion of community activity programme	Condition of grant - review to be held at end of 2004/05 financial year
Increase membership
Community Survey
Develop catering facilities
Share practices with other centres through networking

Activity in the community

Crime Reduction Panel, Neighbourhood Forum, Borough Community Association Forum, Green Gym.

Comments

Activities have declined due to the running down of the old centre pending a move to the new centre in July. There have also been a number of staffing issues that have had to be resolved. This included making the move to the new centre with no managerial support. In order to assist with the development of appropriate systems for the operation of a much bigger centre the Community Support Team are providing the trustees with advisory support for two days a week from 4 October 2004. This support will continue until the centre is fully operational and has an appropriate staff structure in place. Our financial assistance in previous years has been £13,000 per annum. The community association have not applied for funding so far in this financial year because the move to the new building has made budgeting difficult. It is proposed to allocate £8,000 to this organisation for the period from now until the end of the financial year in order to assist them through this early period of development. The position will be reviewed at the end of this time when a clearer picture should emerge of the operation of this organisation and its new premises.

In support of the application

The new centre building enables the development of a programme of activities for the local people of Hart Plain, Wecock Farm and adjoining communities. The Association are and have been talking to potential contributors to the centre activities. These include a group to run the café and Highbury College who will offer a range of ICT courses. New groups include Karate, Fishing and Boxing. The inclusion of the Pre-School group, who have moved into the centre from an adjoining building, has enabled many local mums and dads to have the opportunity to get involved. With the completion of the new building the business aspect of this organisation can now develop and grow significantly enabling it to become self sustaining in the future. The next six months are critical to its development and the trustees require support while they appoint appropriate staff to manage the future business of the centre and develop the income potential of the building.