Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Recreation and Heritage Item 7

17 March 2005

Partnership funding for voluntary bodies and other organisations

2004/05 - Countryside Service

Report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage

Contact: Peter Curbishley ext 845147 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report considers applications received for financial assistance for 2004/05 from voluntary groups and other organisations working in the field of countryside management and conservation. It recommends the distribution of £72,000 for the year.

2. Background

1.2 Voluntary organisations working in the County have been invited to apply for funding to assist them with their essential running costs. The organisations concerned make direct contributions to the County Council's Aims and in particular Aim 1: maximising life opportunities; Aim 2: stewardship of the environment, and Aim 5: improving services.

3. Financial situation

1.3 The base budget for grants in 2004/05 is £73,400

1.4 The amount recommended is £72,000.

4. Legal Implications

4.1 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 loans towards expenses incurred by voluntary bodies in providing such facilities.

Recommendation

That 5 grants totalling £72,000 are distributed from the 2004/05 budget as set out in Appendix 1

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

The following documents discuss facts of matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent on the preparation of this report.

NB: the list excludes:

1 Published works

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

TITLE LOCATION

Grant applications Countryside Services, Mottisfont Court, Rm 116

Appendix 1

Schedule of countryside Grants 2004/05

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

The Trust has enjoyed a close working partnership with the Countryside Service over many years and continues to provide support for a wide range of the County Council's Aims and in particular, working towards stewardship of the environment. The purpose of the grant is to support their programme of conservation work and in particular, their work on a number of nature reserves which are managed on a partnership basis between the Trust and ourselves.

Grant: £11,000

British Trust for Conservation Volunteers BTCV

BTCV is the leading national organisation which promotes and supports the work of conservation volunteers. In Hampshire, the organisation works with around 180 associated community groups and does work with a large number of schools. These activities are supported by a small project team which provides training, advice and other practical help for countryside conservation work in Hampshire. This work is of considerable benefit to the Countryside Service. They have been successful in attracting further outside funding. The purpose of the grant is to enable the Trust to continue its work in promoting local conservation initiatives.

Grant: £18,000

Hampshire Conservation Volunteers

HCV have requested a grant to support their programme of practical conservation work, carried out throughout Hampshire and including several projects on the County Council's countryside sites.

Grant: £500

Marwell Zoological Park

The Park carries out a wide range of educational activities and the grant is to support the conservation work of the Education Department in terms of providing expert led education sessions on a variety of National Curriculum topics.

Grant: £41,000

Butterfly Conservation

This is an independent voluntary organisation concerned with the conservation of butterflies and moths in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The Trust is active in this work and has established its own nature reserves in the County. The grant is to assist them in the process of surveying and monitoring of target species of butterflieson sites managed by the Countryside Service.

Grant: £1,500