Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report :

Contact name: Margaret Plumridge

Tel: 01962 84 6173 Email [email protected]

1. Executive Summary:

1.1 The County Council provides partnership funding from the Community Buildings Fund for capital projects to Community Associations, Village Hall Trusts and similar bodies as outlined in the fund's criteria. This enables the voluntary and community sector to maintain the quality of Hampshire's cultural assets, namely community centres and village halls, some of which are listed.

1.2 This report provides details of the financial position of the Community Buildings Fund in 2009/10 and details requests for partnership funding from this fund.

2. Applications considered in this report:

3. Contextual Information:

3.1 The County Council works in partnership with specific community organisations particularly community associations and village hall trusts 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.

3.2 Partnership funding from the Community Buildings Fund enables the voluntary and 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 and community sector enable local communities to access the services and facilities they need.

3.3 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 Quality of Place.

4. Budget Position:

4.1 The sum of £80,000 has been set aside in the 2009/10 capital programme for Culture, Communities and Rural Affairs to support the Community Buildings Fund. Recommendations totalling £56,987 were approved on 23 April so if the recommendations proposed in this report, which amount to £46,264, are approved the capital programme sum will be exceeded. A review of allocations made in 2005/06 shows at least £50,000 available to supplement this financial year which would leave an unallocated balance of £26,749 for the four remaining meetings of the year.

5. Criteria for Grant:

5.1 The partnership funding distribution criteria is set out in Appendix 1.

5.2 Projects listed in Appendix 2 meet fully the criteria and have been allocated a proposed level of partnership funding in line with the criteria.

6. Other Considerations

6.1 Legal Implications

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.

6.2 Impact Assessment

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 the application procedure includes equalities monitoring information as agreed as part of the corporate review of grants programmes and procedures.

7. Recommendations:

That partnership funding totalling £46,264 as listed below be approved for allocation from the Community Buildings Fund for 2009/10.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

Links to the Corporate Strategy

Appendix 1

CRITERIA FOR THESE GRANTS:

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 council 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

Name Abbotts Ann War Memorial Hall Trust

Consultation The local member, Councillor Gibson, has been consulted.

Project Replace heating and hot water system

Cost £10,664

General Reserves £6,500

Project Reserves £3,500

Statement The current central heating boiler is beyond economic repair. The boiler is inefficient and the surface temperature of the radiators is too high as noted in a recent Ofsted inspection.

Partnership Funding Test Valley Borough Council £2,342

Parish Council £1,250

Recommendation Up to £3,555 as one third of project cost

Name Bighton Village Hall Trust

Consultation The local member, Councillor Porter, has been consulted.

Project Refurbishment of windows and replacement stage curtains

Cost £4,400

General Reserves £9,000

Project Reserves None

Statement The village hall is used regularly by Hog the Limelight for various productions as well as by the local community for various events. The stage curtains are the original as bought in 1977 and are now beyond repair. The window frames are also in need of repair and refurbishment.

Partnership Funding Bighton Parish Council £400

Winchester City Council £400

Recommendation Up to £1,467 as one third of project cost

Name Broughton Village Hall Trust

Consultation The local member, Councillor Gibson, has been consulted.

Project Replacement kitchen

Cost £23,642

General Reserves £9,052

Project Reserves £4,366

Statement The current kitchen is approximately 25 years old and in desperate need of refurbishment as recommended by Test Valley Borough Council environmental services.

Partnership Funding Test Valley Borough Council £8,866

Parish Council £4,500

Recommendation Up to £6,683 as 50% of the combined District and Parish Council contributions up to a maximum of £12,500

Name Chawton Village Hall Trust

Consultation The local member, Councillor Kemp-Gee, has been consulted.

Project To build a rear extension to the existing hall

Cost £80,000

General Reserves £3,000

Project Reserves £20,000

Statement The current storage sheds at the rear of the building are no longer fit for purpose. The extension will provide new storage facilities as well as a new committee room for public use.

Partnership Funding Chawton Parish Council £3,500

East Hampshire District Council £10,000

Recommendation Up to £6,750 as 50% of the combined District and Parish Council contribution up to a maximum of £12,500

Name Copythorne Village Hall Trust

Consultation The local member, Councillor Heron, has been consulted.

Project To replace the windows and main door

Cost £11,884

General Reserves £25,000

Project Reserves £4,000

Statement The hall was built in the 1960's and the windows and door to the hall are the original. Despite maintenance, the frames have now deteriorated and the single glazed units are not as energy efficient as the new double glazed units that will replace them.

Partnership Funding New Forest Leader £8,400 (Applied for)

Recommendation Up to £3,961 as one third of project cost

Name Heath End Village Hall Trust

Consultation The local member, Councillor Tucker, has been consulted.

Project Replacement boiler

Cost £4,500

General Reserves £4,000

Project Reserves £2,000

Statement The current central heating boiler has been problematic over the winter months and heating engineers have recommended its replacement. The new boiler will also be more energy efficient which will help to reduce the running costs of the building.

Partnership Funding Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council £1,000 (Applied for)

Recommendation Up to £1,500 as one third of project cost

Name Hardway and Elson Community Association

Consultation The local member, Councillor Chegwyn, has been consulted and he strongly supports the recommendation.

Project To replace the boiler and flooring in two rooms

Cost £11,969

General Reserves £1,000

Project Reserves £2,500

Statement The current boiler has become obsolete due to the age of the boiler therefore the only option is to replace it. Also, the flooring in two rooms which are mainly used by the pre-school have now become a health and safety hazard as the lino is coming up from the floor.

Partnership Funding Gosport Borough Council £5,200 (Applied for)

Recommendation Up to £3,990 as one third of project cost

Name Hulse Hall Trust, Breamore

Consultation The local member, Councillor Heron, has been consulted.

Project Total refurbishment of the parish hall

Cost £45,000 (Phase1)

General Reserves £14,000

Project Reserves £10,000

Statement The hall provides the focal point for village life. Current usage is constrained by inadequate facilities and its general poor condition.

Partnership Funding New Forest District Council £25,000

Recommendation £12,500 as 50% of the combined District and Parish Council contribution up to a maximum of £12,500

Name Parish of Knights Enham (Church Centre)

Consultation The local member, Councillor Mutton, has been consulted.

Project Feasibility Study

Cost £2,185

General Reserves £15,000

Project Reserves £500

Statement The Church Centre, situated on the Roman Way Estate, is a major community space for the local area and is currently running at capacity. They would like to expand their current facilities due to community demand for space and would like to commission a feasibility study to gain input from the local community on the possibilities for expansion and external funding streams to support this.

Partnership Funding None

Recommendation Up to £500 towards the cost of the feasibility study

Name Sarisbury Community Association

Consultation The local member, Councillor Woodward, has been consulted and he supports the recommendation.

Project To replace the flat roof and patio doors

Cost £10,816

General Reserves £8,224

Project Reserves £3,606

Statement The ceiling above the ladies toilets has leaked and exposed rotted joists. This means that the flat roof will need completely replacing. The patio doors have also leaked and damaged the floor and can no longer be maintained through the general maintenance programme.

Partnership Funding Fareham Borough Council £3,605 (Applied for)

Recommendation Up to £3,605 as one third of project cost

Name Titchfield Community Centre

Consultation The local member, Councillor Hockley, has been consulted.

Project Resurface hall floor, install disabled alarms, upgrade stage lighting and central heating

Cost £5,259

General Reserves £87,112

Project Reserves £1,753

Statement The disabled toilets currently have no alarm fitted and the floor is becoming over worn and unusable. The central heating in two rooms is in desperate need of upgrading and the power supply for the stage lighting is not adequate.

Partnership Funding Fareham Borough Council £1,753 (Applied for)

Recommendation Up to £1,753 as one third of project cost