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 4 |
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17 May 2007 |
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Community Buildings Fund - 2007/08 |
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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.
1.2 The purpose of this report is:
i) to provide details of the current financial position of the Community Buildings Fund for 2007/08.
ii) to provide details of requests for partnership funding from the Community Buildings Fund.
1.3 The partnership funding distribution criteria is set out in Appendix 1.
1.4 Projects listed in Appendix 2 meet fully the criteria and have been allocated a proposed level of partnership funding in line with the criteria.
2. Recommendation
That partnership funding totalling £42,139 be approved for allocation from the Community Buildings Fund for 2007/08 as listed below:
Hall/Centre Colonel Jenkins Memorial Hall, Wherwell East Woodhay Village Hall Hythe United Reformed Church King Edwards Hall, West Tytherley Longstock Village Hall Ramsdell Village Hall Sarisbury Community Association The Open Door Project, Lymington Wallington Village Community Association Total |
District Test Valley Basingstoke & Deane New Forest Test Valley Test Valley Basingstoke & Deane Fareham New Forest Fareham |
£ 4,953 4,000 4,000 4,407 7,538 3,498 4,543 6,000 3,200 42,139 |
3. Background
3.1 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.
3.2 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 Priority - Enhancing our sense of place.
4. Impact Assessment
4.1 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.
5. Financial Implications
5.1 The sum of £100,000 has been set aside in the 2007/08 capital programme for Recreation and Heritage to fund applications that meet the criteria during this year. Of this sum, £39,730 has already been allocated leaving a balance of £60,270. The recommendations in this report amount to £42,139 which would leave a balance of £18,131.
6. Legal Implications
6.1 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.
LINK TO CORPORATE STRATEGY
Hampshire safer and more secure for all _
Maximising well-being _
Enhancing our quality of place _
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 have 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 |
£ |
Wallington Village Community Association |
Fareham |
3,200 |
Total |
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3,200 |
Priority 2 Disability Discrimination Act
Hall/Centre |
District |
£ |
King Edwards Hall, West Tytherley |
Test Valley |
4,407 |
Total |
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4,407 |
Priority 3 Phased Development
Priority 4 Applications for General Improvement Works
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Hall/Centre |
District |
£ |
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Colonel Jenkins Memorial Hall, Wherwell East Woodhay Village Hall Hythe United Reformed Church Longstock Village Hall Ramsdell Village Hall Sarisbury Community Association The Open Door Project, Lymington Total |
Test Valley Basingstoke and Deane New Forest Test Valley Basingstoke and Deane Fareham New Forest |
4,953 4,000 4,000 7,538 3,498 4,543 6,000 £34,532 |
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Name: |
Colonel Jenkins Memorial Hall, Wherwell |
Consultation: |
The local member, Councillor Michael Woodhall, has been consulted. |
Project: |
Development of a car park. |
Priority: |
4 |
Criteria: |
General Improvements |
Cost: |
£14,860 |
General Reserves: |
£4,000 |
Project Reserves: |
£5,000 |
Statement: |
Currently there is a lack of parking in the village which can lead to congestion. A car park at the village hall would help to alleviate these problems. |
Funding: |
Test Valley Borough Council - £3,195 Wherwell Parish Council - £750 |
Recommendation: |
£4,953 as one third of project costs. |
Name: |
East Woodhay Village Hall |
Consultation: |
The local member, Councillor John Maxwell, has been consulted. |
Project: |
Interior decoration of the hall and new curtains. |
Priority: |
4 |
Criteria: |
General Improvements |
Cost: |
£12,000 |
General Reserves: |
£8,500 |
Project Reserves: |
£4,000 |
Statement: |
The hall was last painted in 2002. This is part of an annual maintenance programme. |
Funding: |
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council - unknown East Woodhay Parish Council - applied |
Recommendation: |
£4,000 as one third of project cost. |
Name: |
Hythe United Reformed Church |
Consultation: |
The local member, Councillor Dash supports this application |
Project: |
Equipment to improve the use of the building. |
Priority: |
4 |
Criteria: |
General Improvements |
Cost: |
£12,000 |
General Reserves: |
£ |
Project Reserves: |
£ |
Statement: |
Hythe URC has an active membership and formed its own charity to work with families and children in the community. This equipment will be used by the church and the groups it is supporting. |
Funding: |
New Forest District Council - Not applying |
Recommendation: |
£4,000 as one third of project cost. |
Name: |
King Edwards Hall, West Tytherley |
Consultation: |
The local member, Councillor Michael Woodhall, has been consulted. |
Project: |
Renewing the toilet facilities to incorporate a disabled toilet. Provision of emergency access doors in hall for wheelchair users, make storage under the stage more accessible and redecorate the hall. |
Priority: |
2 |
Criteria: |
Disability Discrimination Act |
Cost: |
£27,618 |
General Reserves: |
Nil |
Project Reserves: |
£10,000 |
Statement: |
To improve the village hall infrastructure to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act and to improve health and safety. |
Funding: |
Test Valley Borough Council - £8,814 West Tytherley Parish Council - not able to contribute |
Recommendation: |
£4,407 as 50% of combined district and parish council contributions up to a maximum of £12,500. |
Name: |
Longstock Village Hall |
Consultation: |
The local member, Councillor Michael Woodhall, has been consulted. |
Project: |
Replacing obsolete high power lights for low wattage fittings; removing dangerous handrails outside; sanding off the peeling remains of floor seal to provide a safe surface for sports and a cleanable surface for toddlers to sit on; buying an electric floor cleaning machine and a chemical mat; providing speakers and amplifier for microphones for talks; altering gutters which were spoiled when a storeroom was built and now leak onto the wall; repainting inside after disruptive installation of energy-efficient lights; repainting and repairing outside to prevent rot and keep building weatherproof. |
Priority: |
4 |
Criteria: |
General Improvement |
Cost: |
£37,844 |
General Reserves: |
Nil |
Project Reserves: |
£8,000 |
Statement: |
Our village hall in Longstock is now 16 years old and very well used and although it is still a building to be proud of, it needs updating and renovating. The new lighting will decrease energy usage between 74 - 94% |
Funding: |
Test Valley Borough Council - £9,583 Longstock Parish Council - £5,493 |
Recommendation: |
£7,538 as 50% of combined district and parish council contributions up to a maximum of £12,500. |
Name: |
Ramsdell Village Hall |
Consultation: |
The local member, Councillor Keith Chapman supports this application |
Project: |
Repair work to village hall. |
Priority: |
4 |
Criteria: |
General improvements |
Cost: |
£15,476 |
General Reserves: |
£7,539.78 |
Project Reserves: |
£7,000 |
Statement: |
Our village hall is in urgent need of routine maintenance to the fabric of the building and would be improved by a bit of a facelift. The refurbishment project is necessary to ensure that our village hall (wooden hall with tin roof construction) remains available to local residents and the general public for their use. Our users will be able to enjoy a modestly refurbished and modernised facility for years to come. |
Funding: |
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council - £6,746 Wootton St Lawrence Parish Council - £250 |
Recommendation: |
£3,498 as 50% of the combined district and parish contributions up to a maximum of £12,500 |
Name: |
Sarisbury and District Community Association |
Consultation: |
The local member, Councillor Sean Woodward supports this application |
Project: |
Refurbish bar and lounge including panelling and some electrics. |
Priority: |
4 |
Criteria: |
General Improvements |
Cost: |
£13,630 |
General Reserves: |
£17,000 |
Project Reserves: |
£2,000 |
Statement: |
The bar and lounge area was refurbished in 1976 and is the heart of the centre. This refurbishment will encourage more people to make extra use of the centre. |
Funding: |
Fareham Borough Council - £4,543.33 - Not confirmed |
Recommendation: |
£4,543 as one third of project costs provided the bar area is not managed by a separate company. |
Name: |
The Open Door Project, Lymington |
Consultation: |
The local member, Councillor Adrian Evans, has been consulted. |
Project: |
Demolish and rebuild the church as a community facility. |
Priority: |
4 |
Criteria: |
General Improvements |
Cost: |
£1,002,778 |
General Reserves: |
Nil |
Project Reserves: |
£158,459 |
Statement: |
The `Open Door' Project aims to use the Lymington United Reformed Church building as a place with an open door for all people who come in and for the people of the churches and outside agencies to reach out, responding to the needs of the community. |
Funding: |
New Forest District Council - £12,000 |
Recommendation: |
£6,000 as 50% of combined district and parish council contributions up to a maximum of £12,500. |
Name: |
Wallington Village Community Association |
Consultation: |
The local members, Councillor John Bryant and Councillor Ray Ellis, have been consulted. |
Project: |
Wall mounted heating and cooling unit in main hall. |
Priority: |
1 |
Criteria: |
Health and Safety |
Cost: |
£9,600 |
General Reserves: |
£110,000 |
Project Reserves: |
£6,500 |
Statement: |
There are currently electric convection heaters installed in the hall, but these are creating problems with high temperatures and ventilation. A recent OFSTED report and advice from Fareham Borough Council has raised issues relating to the temperature safety of the radiators. |
Funding: |
Fareham Borough Council - not applied |
Recommendation: |
£3,200 as one third of project cost. |
