Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report

1. Executive Summary

1.1. The purpose of this paper is to consider 6 applications for financial assistance from the Policy and Resources budget which have been received in the current financial year and whose details are outlined in Appendix 2 to this report.

2. Budget position

2.1. The balance available for allocation at today's meeting is £297,744, after grants approved at the last decision day, commitments made in previous years and sums earmarked for specific purposes.

2.2. It should also be noted there have been requests for funding for a Royal Visit attended by Hampshire schools and from Community Action Hampshire towards a school for social entrepreneurs, which appear later on the agenda (Items 6 and 7 respectively) which will have an impact on the remaining budget sum.

3. Criteria of grant

3.1. A copy of the guidelines used for allocating grants is attached as Appendix 1 to this report.

4. Recommendation

4.1. That grants to those voluntary and community organisations as outlined in Appendix 2 of this report be approved.

4.2. That those grants being recommended in respect of items 6 and 7 on the agenda are taken from the Policy and Resources grants budget in 2009/10.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

Links to the Corporate Strategy

IMPACT ASSESSMENTS:

1. Equalities Impact Assessment:

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

2. Impact on Crime and Disorder:

2.1. The County Council has an obligation under Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to consider the impact of all decisions it makes on the prevention of crime. The proposals in this report aim to improve the wellbeing of Hampshire residents and reduce the risk of crime occurring.

FUNDING CRITERIA FOR THE POLICY AND RESOURCES GRANTS

The following criteria should be taken into consideration when preparing a submission for funding. They are intended as guidelines and not prescriptive rules

1. Assistance will be considered only in response to direct applications from properly constituted organisations seeking assistance. You must show in your application that your organisation is properly and legally organised and has its own bank account.

2. Where appropriate, applications will be referred to the relevant service department (e.g. Adult Services, Culture, Communities and Rural Affairs, Children's Services, etc) for consideration.

3. Preference will be given to applications for specific projects or activities rather than general running costs of organisations. These grants are not intended to replace shortfalls in service delivery budgets or replace funding for other support you may be able to obtain, or that you have obtained from us in the past.

4. Grants will not usually be made in respect of applications from the following:-

· District or Parish Councils

· Government Institutions

· Schools

· Overseas and out of County organisations which have no direct Hampshire involvement

· Branches or organisations assisted centrally with a sum from the County Council

· Bodies requesting funds for onward distribution to other charities e.g. mayoral appeals, carnivals, fetes, or for their own fundraising events.

5. Applications will not be accepted from political parties or groups affiliated with a political party or from lobbying/campaigning organisations.

6. Applications will only be considered from faith groups who can demonstrate their facilities are open and used by the local community other than for church related activities.

7. Requests may be considered from County wide groups (e.g. Guides, Scouts, Hampshire County Youth Orchestra) for specific trips, e.g. for an international jamboree or cultural tour. Individual requests will not usually be considered.

8. Where possible self-help within organisations should be encouraged and to this end, grants are normally a percentage of the sum required to complete the project.

9. As a general rule, grants in excess of £5,000 will not be awarded.

10. In general only award grants to projects which are taking place in the same year as application for funds.

HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE PAST MEMBERS ASSOCIATION HOG ORG NO:

PURPOSES FOR WHICH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS SOUGHT

To consider a contribution towards the cost of a memorial stone dedicated to those fire-fighters who have lost their lives during active service. The memorial will be placed along the front of the headquarters building in Eastleigh.

The stone will incorporate a bronze relief depiction of fire-fighters through the ages and will be the final addition to the four existing life-size bronze statues. Total cost: £15,488.

A sum of £2,100 has been raised from personal donations and other fundraising.

AMOUNT OF REQUEST

£5,000

PREVIOUS CONSIDERATION GIVEN BY OTHER EXECUTIVE MEMBERS AND GRANTS PREVIOUSLY AWARDED

05.05.94 - £3,000 - Fire-fighters sailing challenge

09.09.94 - £2,500 - Purchase of Bombay built whaler

28.04.95 - £10,000 - WWII Fire-fighter memorial

28.04.95 - £5,000 - Fire-fighters sailing challenge

26.04.96 - £500 - Renovation of landrover

27.03.97 - £2,000 - Purchase of trailer

19.02.98 - £1,000 - commissioning of Fire-fighter statue

28.4.2000 - £500 - cost of smoke alarms (Ringwood Station)

20.10.2000 - £500 - cost of smoke alarms (Yateley Station)

11.4.02 - Nil - cost of street party in Winchester

COMMENTS OF LOCAL MEMBER

Countywide application.

GENERAL COMMENTS

Chief Executive: A grant may be appropriate to recognise those firefighters who have helped to serve the people of Hampshire and make the County a more secure and safer place in which to live.

RECOMMENDATION

£5,000

ST NICHOLAS CHURCH, BROCKENHURST HOG ORG NO:

PURPOSES FOR WHICH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS SOUGHT

St Nicholas Church in Brockenhurst is seeking grant aid to help towards the cost of providing disabled access to the building and improved toilet/kitchen facilities.Total cost of project is £118,000. It is hoped the project will start by the end of the year and be completed in February 2010.

Funds have been sought from various sources including New Forest District and Brockenhurst Parish Council and National and Historic Churches Trust, leaving a shortfall of £17,000.

AMOUNT OF REQUEST

£5,000

PREVIOUS CONSIDERATION GIVEN BY OTHER EXECUTIVE MEMBERS AND GRANTS PREVIOUSLY AWARDED

Nil

COMMENTS OF LOCAL MEMBER

Councillor Thornber is the local member.

GENERAL COMMENTS

Director of Environment:This is a Grade II listed building located in a conservation area and plays an important part in the community. A grant of £5,000 would enhance the quality of place for its residents.

Chief Executive: The building is sometimes used by local schools for educational visits, the Royal British Legion and to give concert recitals. With the improvements being proposed, it is hoped the church will become more accessible to the wider community.

RECOMMENDATION

£5,000

NEW FOREST DISABILITY INFORMATION SERVICE, NEW MILTON HOG ORG NO:

PURPOSES FOR WHICH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS SOUGHT

New Forest Disability Information Service based in New Milton is seeking grant aid towards expanding their services.

They are currently experiencing a 30% increase in client enquiries and because of this they need to recruit and train more volunteers in welfare benefit. By holding this recruitment programme, it would allow the organisation to further expand their services. Total cost: £7,625.

They liaise, refer and mutually support colleagues in Citizens Advice Bureaux in the New Forest, Social Services and GP practices.

AMOUNT OF REQUEST

£5,000

PREVIOUS CONSIDERATION GIVEN BY OTHER EXECUTIVE MEMBERS AND GRANTS PREVIOUSLY AWARDED

In 2002, the organisation received a grant of £5,000 to help with the costs of running the Service.

The Service currently receives funding from the Adults Services Department - £10,250 in 2009/10

COMMENTS OF LOCAL MEMBER

Councillor Kendal is the local member.

GENERAL COMMENTS

Director of Adult Services: Comments to be reported.

RECOMMENDATION

£5,000

BE YOUR BEST FOUNDATION (GLOBAL ROCK CHALLENGE) HOG ORG NO:

PURPOSES FOR WHICH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS SOUGHT

This project aims to produce a drug-misuse and crime prevention initiative in the form of performing arts competition for young people with a focus on young people leading healthy lifestyles and having fun without need for tobacco, alcohol or any other substance. It provides a unique opportunity for young people to acquire new skills e.g. building sets, making costumes. The process culminates in schools coming together in professional theatre venue where they will experience working with professional stage and production staff, rehearsing in front of their peers and supporting one another.

The events will take place in the Southampton and Portsmouth Guildlhalls during March and April next year, with the final taking place in June.

AMOUNT OF REQUEST

£5,000

PREVIOUS CONSIDERATION GIVEN BY OTHER EXECUTIVE MEMBERS AND GRANTS PREVIOUSLY AWARDED

The County Council has awarded grants over several years to this event.

The Executive Member for Children's Services has agreed a grant of £10,000 at his meeting in October. Further details can be found at the following link: /decisions/decisions-docs/091015-excsed-R1008110415

COMMENTS OF LOCAL MEMBER

Countywide event

GENERAL COMMENTS

Director of Children's Services: Should the Rock Challenge continue to grow at the same speed and engage with our young people then they will continue to need funding to ensure they can accept a growing number of schools. The Primary Rock Challenge has grown from one event with six schools in 2005 to six events engaging with over 50 schools. A grant of £5,000 is recommended.

Chief Executive: This year, 25,000 young people aged between 8 and 18 years took part in the 47 staged events in Hampshire. Of these numbers, 38 out of the 68 schools involved were from Hampshire.

RECOMMENDATION

£5,000

SWAY TENNIS CLUB HOG ORG NO:

PURPOSES FOR WHICH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS SOUGHT

Sway Tennis Club is seeking assistance to help develop facilities which will include a designated tennis court for junior play and coaching; a kiddies zone and a practice wall for the young people in the area. Total cost: £64,300.

The new purpose-built facility will not only enhance learning and speed progression but raise the tennis profile, especially at beginner level and allow further expansion of the playing/coaching programme.

The Club has received confirmed funding of £39,000 from various sources including the parish council. Funding of £5,000 is also being sought from New Forest District Council (NFDC) and a loan of £20,000 has been applied for from the Hampshire Playing Fields Association (HPFA).

AMOUNT OF REQUEST

£8,000

PREVIOUS CONSIDERATION GIVEN BY OTHER EXECUTIVE MEMBERS AND GRANTS PREVIOUSLY AWARDED

Nil

COMMENTS OF LOCAL MEMBER

GENERAL COMMENTS

Chief Executive: Should all the monies requested come to fruition, all the costs needed for the project will be raised. The Club is waiting to hear the outcome from both NFDC and HPFA (expected in February and March next year).

In view of the above, it may be more appropriate for the applicant to reapply once the outcome of the two outstanding requests are known.

RECOMMENDATION

That the applicant reapplies once the outcome of other requests are known.

THE SOURCE YOUNG PEOPLE'S CHARITY, ALDERSHOT HOG ORG NO:

PURPOSES FOR WHICH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS SOUGHT

The Source Young People's Charity in Aldershot is seeking funding to help with its running costs, which are currently £335,000 per annum.

The charity runs a café in the High Street to give young people a safe and alcohol-free environment in which they have fun, make friends and get advice and support. It also provides mentoring sessions, anger management programmes and football programmes for more than 900 young people from the Rushmoor area.

Funding has been obtained/is being sought from the following:

Raised to date: - £176,980

Government's Hardship Fund - £84,000

Hampshire Children's Services - £30,000

Rushmoor Borough Council - £4,960

Total: £295,940

AMOUNT OF REQUEST

Not specified

PREVIOUS CONSIDERATION GIVEN BY OTHER EXECUTIVE MEMBERS AND GRANTS PREVIOUSLY AWARDED

Nil

COMMENTS OF LOCAL MEMBER

Councillors Neal and Kimber have been consulted.

GENERAL COMMENTS

Director of Children's Services: This is a well regarded organisation whose facilities are very popular. It should be noted that a request for £30,000 has also been submitted to the Children's Department.

Chief Executive: A one-off grant will allow the charity time to seek alternative funding to make this group more sustainable in future years.

RECOMMENDATION

One-off sum of £50,000 in 2009/10 to help cover the shortfall in funds