Contact: Margaret Plumridge, ext 6173 e-mail: [email protected]
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Hampshire County Council |
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Executive Member - Recreation and Heritage |
Item 6 |
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14 September 2006 |
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Community Buildings Fund - 2006/07 |
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Report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage |
1. Summary
1.1 The County Council works in partnership with specific community organisations particularly community associations and village hall committees who seek to enable local people to meet the recreational, educational, social, cultural and environmental needs of their local communities. These organisations give local people an opportunity to participate in local activities and encourage local initiatives by people of all ages.
2. Purpose of Report
2.1 The purpose of this report is:
i) to provide details of the current financial position of the Community Buildings Fund for 2006/07.
ii) to provide details of requests for partnership funding from the Community Buildings Fund.
2.2 The partnership funding distribution criteria is set out in Appendix 1.
2.3 Projects listed in Appendix 2 meet fully the criteria and have been allocated a proposed level of partnership funding in line with the criteria.
3. Legal Implications
3.1 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 loan towards expenses incurred by voluntary bodies in providing such facilities.
4. Financial Position
4.1 On 23 March 2006 £100,000 was set aside from the 2006/07 capital programme for Recreation and Heritage to fund applications that meet the criteria during this financial year. Allocations totalling £42,743 have been approved to date leaving a balance of £57,257. The proposals in this report amount to £32,595 and if approved would leave a balance of £24,662 for the remainder of the year.
5. Corporate Strategy
5.1 Partnership funding from the Community Buildings Fund enables the community sector to maintain the quality of Hampshire's cultural assets, namely their village halls and community association buildings some of which are listed. This finance enables improvements to be made to those buildings and can assist with the development of new facilities where appropriate. The provision of these buildings by the voluntary sector enables local communities to access the services and facilities they need.
5.2 By providing financial support to these organisations for the maintenance of their buildings the County Council is able to work in partnership with the community sector to achieve the Corporate Aim - Stewardship of the Environment.
6. Impact Assessment
6.1 Organisations applying to this scheme are by their nature defined as accessible to all members of the community. This is embodied within their charitable objects, therefore no groups or organisations should be excluded from any benefit arising from these decisions. Furthermore a new application procedure has been introduced which includes equalities monitoring information agreed as part of the corporate review of grants programmes and procedures.
Recommendations
The following decision is sought:
i) that partnership funding totalling £32,595 be approved for allocation from the Community Buildings Fund for 2006/07 as listed below:
Hall/Centre |
District |
£ |
Broughton Village Hall Trust |
Test Valley |
2,327 |
Colden Common Community Association |
Winchester |
4,827 |
Elizabeth Hall Management Cttee, Hook |
Hart |
12,500 |
Hatch Warren Community Association |
Basingstoke and Deane |
619 |
Locks Heath Community Association |
Fareham |
927 |
Petersfield United Reformed Church |
East Hampshire |
8,000 |
Springwood Community Building Management Committee |
Havant |
2,266 |
Warnford Village Hall Trust |
Winchester |
643 |
Yateley Women's Institute |
Hart |
486 |
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Total |
32,595 |
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:
Published works
Documents, which disclose exempt or confidential information as, defined in the act.
Title Location
Applications for financial assistance Community Support Service
Appendix 1
The partnership funding distribution criteria for the Community Buildings Fund is as follows:
Partnership funding is granted for:
· Building repairs, extensions and refurbishments
· Health and Safety issues
· Equipment to improve the buildings and increase usage
· Feasibility Studies
Who can apply:
· Village Halls (not parish run halls)
· Community Associations
· Church Organisations that have a separate community programme on their property
Funding criteria:
· For projects costing less than £15,000, the funding criteria is up to one third of the cost.
· For projects costing more than £15,000, the grant is calculated at 50% of the combined district and parish contribution up to a maximum of 25% of the project costs or £12,500, whichever is the lesser.
· Feasibility Studies - applications will be considered for 50% of the cost up to a maximum of £500
Priority Criteria:
1. Health and safety issues that could result in the building being closed or activities seriously curtailed if the work is not carried out.
2. The work is absolutely essential in order to meet the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act. (It has been widely publicised that these types of buildings will not be closed provided reasonable steps have been taken to meet the terms of the Act).
3. The project is part of a phased development and this element is essential to it's overall completion.
4. Non priority work.
Appendix 2
Priority 1 Health and Safety
Hall/Centre |
District |
£ |
Colden Common Community Association |
Winchester |
4,827 |
Hatch Warren Community Association |
Basingstoke and Deane |
619 |
Locks Heath Community Association |
Fareham |
927 |
Warnford Village Hall Trust |
East Hampshire |
643 |
Yateley Women's Institute |
Hart |
486 |
Total |
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7,502 |
Priority 2 Disability Discrimination Act
Hall/Centre |
District |
£ |
Petersfield United Reformed Church |
East Hampshire |
8,000 |
Total |
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8,000 |
Priority 3 Phased Development
Hall/Centre |
District |
£ |
Total |
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Priority 4 Applications for General Improvement Works
Hall/Centre |
District |
£ |
Broughton Village Hall |
Test Valley |
2,327 |
Elizabeth Hall Management Cttee, Hook |
Hart |
12,500 |
Springwood Community Building Management Committee |
Havant |
2,266 |
Total |
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17,093 |
Name: |
Broughton Village Hall Trust |
Consultation: |
The local member, Councillor Michael Woodhall, has been consulted. |
Project: |
Refurbishment of toilet facilities |
Priority: |
4 - Non priority work |
Criteria: |
Building repairs, extensions and refurbishment Equipment to improve the building and increase usage |
Links to Corporate Strategy Equalities Assessment |
Improving buildings to enable local communities to access the services and facilities they need. This project will improve the facilities and extend their use to the community. Organisation defined as a Village Hall Trust. Objects include an equalities statement. Users defined as General public/Mankind |
Cost: |
£6,980 |
General Reserves: |
£12,500 |
Project Reserves: |
£1,626 of the above reserves have been allocated to this project |
Statement: |
In recent years, focus has been on improving the fabric of the building (window, doors, bargeboards) Following this work, the interior needs professionally updating |
Funding: |
Broughton Parish Council - £872 approved Test Valley Borough Council - £1,501 pending |
Recommendation: |
£2,327 as one third of project cost |
Name: |
Colden Common Community Association |
Consultation: |
The local member, Councillor Peter Mason, has been consulted. |
Project: |
The community centre is now 12 years old and in need of refurbishment. The association plans to carry out an extensive refurbishment programme which includes repainting, improvements to the toilet facilities, chair replacement and re-paving. |
Priority: |
1 - Health and safety |
Criteria: |
Building repairs, extensions and refurbishment Equipment to improve the building and increase usage |
Links to Corporate Strategy: Equalities Assessment |
Improving buildings to enable local communities to access the services and facilities they need. This project will improve the facilities and extend their use to the community. Organisation defined as a Community Association. Objects include an equalities statement. Users defined as other defined groups |
Cost: |
£14,482 |
General Reserves: |
£12,000 |
Project Reserves: |
£5,000 of the above have been allocated to support the project |
Statement: |
The Gloucester Hall is in need of redecoration and repair. The plastic basins and worktops are very worn and need replacing. Air admittance valve is needed to eliminate smells in gent's toilet. Lights in changing rooms and toilets are continually left on causing bulbs to fail and we need to conserve power. Alarm in disabled toilet is needed on health and safety grounds Light fittings in Patrick Moore room have failed and shades that have been broken cannot be replaced. Paving is dangerous Chair rack is too heavy and unwieldy as hirers cannot move it. Existing chairs need upholstering or replacing with folding ones which would give us desperately needed extra storage space. |
Funding: |
Pre-school group have applied for £900 from the Network Fund towards the paving |
Recommendation: |
£4,827 as one third of project cost |
Name: |
Elizabeth Hall Management Committee, Hook |
Consultation: |
The local member, Cllr Jonathan Glen, has been consulted. |
Project: |
Rebuild the Community Hall |
Priority: |
4 - non priority |
Criteria: |
Building repairs, extensions and refurbishment. |
Links to Corporate Strategy: Equalities Assessment |
Improving buildings to enable local communities to access the services and facilities they need. This project will improve the facilities and extend their use to the community. Organisation defined as a Village Hall. Objects do not include an equalities statement. Users defined as Children/Young people/Elderly/Old People/Other charities/Voluntary bodies/General public/Mankind. |
Cost: |
£1,100,000 |
General Reserves: |
£105,000 |
Project Reserves: |
£90,000 of the above reserves have been allocated to the project |
Statement: |
The existing facilities no longer meet acceptable standards due to continuous wear and tear. |
Funding: |
£ Hart District Council 7,000 received Hart District Council 20,000 October 2006 Hook Parish Council 400,000 received Elizabeth Hall Management Fund 110,000 received Landfill Grants 45,000 received Sports and Arts Foundation 40,000 August 2006 Developers S106 contributions 279,000 received Developers S106 contributions 55,000 October 2006 Total 956,000 |
Recommendation: |
£12,500 as 50% of combined parish and district council contributions subject to maximum. |
Name: |
Hatch Warren Community Association |
Consultation: |
The local member, Councillor Philip Heath, has been consulted. |
Project: |
Replacement of internal fire shutter |
Priority: |
1 - Health and safety |
Criteria: |
Building repairs, extensions and refurbishment Equipment to improve the building and increase usage |
Links to Corporate Strategy: Equalities Assessment |
Improving buildings to enable local communities to access the services and facilities they need. This project will improve the facilities and extend their use to the community. Organisation defined as a Community Association. Objects include an equalities statement. Users defined as General public/Mankind |
Cost: |
£1,856 |
General Reserves: |
The application states that current reserves are £15,000. The financial statement provided as at 31 March 2005 shows unrestricted reserves to be £57,740. |
Project Reserves: |
£1,238 of the above have been allocated to support the project |
Statement: |
The shutter has a mechanism that means it will descend rapidly should a fire or specified temperature be reached without warning. Also despite being repainted on several occasions it continues to flake paint into the kitchen. The management committee believe both issues are unsafe on health and safety grounds. |
Funding: |
No other funding has been sought at this time. The remaining two thirds of the project cost will be provided from the community association's reserves. |
Recommendation: |
£619 as one third of project cost |
Name: |
Locks Heath Community Association |
Consultation: |
The local member, Councillor Keith Evans, has been consulted. |
Project: |
Refurbishment of toilet facilities |
Priority: |
1 - Health and safety |
Criteria: |
Building repairs, extensions and refurbishment Equipment to improve the building and increase usage |
Links to Corporate Strategy: Equalities Assessment |
Improving buildings to enable local communities to access the services and facilities they need. This project will improve the facilities and extend their use to the community. Organisation defined as a community association. Objects include an equalities statement. Users defined as Children/Young people/Elderly/Old People/Other Charities/Voluntary bodies/Other defined groups/General public/Mankind |
Cost: |
£2,782 |
General Reserves: |
£9,500 |
Project Reserves: |
£928 of the above have been allocated to support this project |
Statement: |
The state of the male toilets detracts from the overall appearance of the centre and threatens to affect its use by community groups and local residents who do not feel that the facilities are up to an acceptable standard. Furthermore, problems with the urinal flushing mechanism and the poor quality of the flooring represent a developing health and safety risk |
Funding: |
Fareham Borough Council have been approach for one third of project costs and a decision is expected in September. The remaining third will be provided from the community associations reserves. |
Recommendation: |
£927 as one third of project cost |
Name: |
Petersfield United Reformed Church |
Consultation: |
The local member, Councillor Michael Cartwright, has been consulted. |
Project: |
The existing hall and extension will be demolished to be replaced by a building offering spacious meeting areas, a modern kitchen and toilet facilities with disabled access |
Priority: |
2 - Disability Discrimination Act |
Criteria: |
Building repairs, extensions and refurbishment Equipment to improve the building and increase usage |
Links to Corporate Strategy: Equalities Assessment |
Improving buildings to enable local communities to access the services and facilities they need. This project will improve the facilities and extend their use to the community. Organisation defined as a church excepted charity. No equalities statement was submitted nor available Users are not defined formally but the extensive list of community activities provided is diverse in age and ability and are not restricted solely to the congregation. Activities include mother and toddlers, parenting courses, Homestart training and work with adults with learning difficulties (The Causeway Project). |
Cost: |
£650,000 |
General Reserves: |
Current reserves are stated as £235,000. The accounts provided as at 31 December 2005 show the reserve level to be £212,300 of which £4,910 are restricted and £165,849 are designated to the build project. |
Project Reserves: |
£20,000 of reserves have been allocated to support the project |
Statement: |
The 19th century hall is dark and difficult to heat and the walls of the 1950's kitchen/toilet extension are cracking badly. There is no space to provide wheelchair accessible toilet facilities |
Funding: |
URC Wessex Synod £130,000 agreed with a further offer of a loan for £190,000 repayable over 5 years should there be a gap in funding. Petersfield URC members £237,500 to date with a further £92,500 promised by July 2007 East Hampshire District Council £15,000 Petersfield Town Council £1,000 |
Recommendation: |
£8,000 as 50% of the combined contributions of East Hampshire District Council and Petersfield Town Council subject to confirmation of approval |
Name: |
Springwood Community Building Management Committee |
Consultation: |
The local member, Councillor Ian Beagley, has been consulted. |
Project: |
Security of the community building and its contents. |
Priority: |
4 - Non priority work |
Criteria: |
Building repairs, extensions and refurbishment Equipment to improve the building and increase usage |
Links to Corporate Strategy: Equalities Assessment |
Improving buildings to enable local communities to access the services and facilities they need. This project will improve the facilities and extend their use to the community. Organisation defined as a registered charity, voluntary group, community group. However the registration with the charity commission is still being undertaken and therefore not verifiable nor is an equalities statement provided or available. ( Formerly Stakes Community Association) |
Cost: |
£6,799 |
General Reserves: |
This is a newly established community association which has not been established for a full financial year therefore audited accounts are not available. However, the association has submitted a copy of a bank statement which shows a balance of £4,824 as at 4/7/06. |
Project Reserves: |
The application does not state that any funding will be forthcoming from the association. However, the current bank balance would support the remaining £1,033 required to complete the project. |
Statement: |
This project will enable us to offer services and activities in an area of deprivation using the community building as a happy, safe and welcoming meeting place for young and old meeting all their needs and offering value for money. |
Funding: |
Hampshire Police Authority £3,500 |
Recommendation: |
£2,266 as one third of project cost |
Name: |
Warnford Village Hall |
Consultation: |
The local member, Councillor Felicity Hindson, has been consulted and she supports the application as the hall plays an important part in the life of this community which is small and isolated. |
Project: |
Refurbishment of toilet facilities |
Priority: |
1 - Health and safety |
Criteria: |
Building repairs, extensions and refurbishment Equipment to improve the building and increase usage |
Links to Corporate Strategy: Equalities Assessment |
Improving buildings to enable local communities to access the services and facilities they need. This project will improve the facilities and extend their use to the community. Organisation defined as a Village Hall Trust. Objects include an equalities statement. Users defined as Children/Young people/Elderly/Old People/Other charities/Voluntary bodies/General public/Mankind |
Cost: |
£1,928 |
General Reserves: |
The application states that current reserves are £3,000. The accounts provided which are dated December 2005 shows reserves of £3,943. |
Project Reserves: |
£1,300 has been allocated to support the project. |
Statement: |
Essential maintenance works. |
Funding: |
No other funding has been sought for this project. The remaining two thirds will be provided from reserves. |
Recommendation: |
£643 as one third of project cost |
Name: |
Yateley Women's Institute |
Consultation: |
The local member, Councillor Adrian Collett, has been consulted and he supports this extremely valuable local facility. |
Project: |
Repairs to front porch supporting posts and replacement of curtain rails |
Priority: |
1 - Health and Safety |
Criteria: |
Building repairs, extensions and refurbishment Equipment to improve the building and increase usage |
Links to Corporate Strategy Equalities Assessment |
Improving buildings to enable local communities to access the services and facilities they need. This project will improve the facilities and extend their use to the community. Organisation defined as a Women's Institute. Users defined as Elderly/old people/other defined groups but primarily women. Weekly activities include Tai-Chi, Bridge and a country market. The WI meets monthly as does the mother and baby group, craft group and Primrose Club for senior citizens. |
Cost: |
£1,458 |
General Reserves: |
The general reserves were not stated within the application, however supporting financial statements submitted with the application show £3,203. |
Project Reserves: |
£1,200 allocated to this project. |
Statement: |
The repair of the porch is necessary for health and safety reasons as so many people use the hall and young people congregate outside. |
Funding: |
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Recommendation |
£486 as one third of project cost |
