Contact: Jo White, Policy Officer (Community Strategy) Ext: 5004

e-mail: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report makes a recommendation in respect of a application for funding from the Rushmoor LSP, which is subject to approval by the Executive Member for Community Development and External Affairs.

2. Background

2.1 A budget for supporting projects derived from the County Council's statutory duty to prepare a community strategy has been set up and this includes a budget of £213,000 in 2005/06 for pump priming the Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) and to develop further community strategies.

2.2 Each of the 11 LSP's are encouraged to bid for money from this budget to support the development of their LSPs and for the pump priming of projects.

2.3 The budget is also available for the development and implementation of the Hampshire Strategic Partnership.

2.4 The Chief Executive can approve amounts of less than £2000. The Executive Member for Community Development and External Affairs can approve amounts between £2000 and £10,000. Amounts exceeding £10,000 must be approved by the Executive Member and referred, with a recommendation to the Leader for decision.

2.5 Appendix B sets out the funding criteria for which bids will be approved. They are intended as guidelines and not prescriptive rules.

2.6 The relevant local Member's views are taken into account through the LSP mechanism.

2.7 This decisions supports Aim 4 of the Corporate Strategy (Building Strong and Safe Communities) by working together with local people to build strong and safe communities for everyone. In addition it supports the themes of the Community Strategy for Hampshire.

3. Current bids

3.1 The following bid is for consideration by the Executive Member for Community Development and External Affairs:

3.1.1 The sum of £6,000 from the Rushmoor LSP to support the Mayfield Online Centre in Farnborough in order to keep the centre open for this financial year.

3.1.2 The Mayfield Online Centre is a well established project that supports learning in one of Rushmoor's most deprived wards.

3.1.3 The Mayfield Online Centre serves this disadvantaged community , providing:

- Low cost access to ICT and the internet to those who don't have it at home (including young people and adults in education and training

- Free training- a first step on the learning journey for many adults who feel abandoned by the education system

- A lifeline for elderly people living alone

- An alternative activity for young people at risk of anti social behaviour

3.1.4 The core running costs are £25,000 per year, covering salaries, centre management and other operational costs. In previous years these have been met by the New Opportunities Fund and the University of Industry (UFI). UFI have pledged £25,000 for project work this year but because of new rules, this cannot be used to cover core running costs.

3.1.5 Funding pledges have been received from Rushmoor BC and by BAE Systems, however there is a shortage of £6,000 to keep the centre from closure.

3.3 The budget for this financial year 2005/2006 has been agreed at £213,000. This together with the agreed carry forward of £145,000 gives a total of £358,000. If the bids are approved, against the 2005/06 budget, the total allocated, is £281,970 (this includes allocations made in 2004/05 which were carried forward) leaving £76,030 (See attached appendix A).

Recommendations

1. To approve the following allocations:

· The sum of £6,000 for the Rushmoor LSP

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 excludes:

1. Published works

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

File FM Exec Member Location: Community planning/committee reports