Archived decisions
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Decision Report
Decision Maker: |
Executive Member for Culture and Recreation |
Date of Decision: |
14 January 2010 |
Decision Title: |
Partnership funding for voluntary bodies and other organisations 2009/10 - Countryside Service |
Decision Reference: |
1151 |
Report From: |
Director of Culture, Communities and Rural Affairs |
Contact name: Peter Curbishley
Tel: 01962 845147 Email: [email protected]
1. Executive Summary
1.1 This report considers applications received for financial assistance for 2009/10 from voluntary groups and other organisations working in the field of countryside management and conservation. It recommends the distribution of £31,500 for the year.
2. Contextual information
2.1 Voluntary organisations working in the County have been invited to apply for funding to assist them with their essential running costs. The organisations concerned make direct contributions to the County Council's Corporate Strategy and in particular, Maximising well-being and Enhancing our quality of place.
2.2 In view of current spending pressures the recommendation is that the grants awarded for 2009/10 should be at the same level as 2008/09 and can be accommodated within the base budget.
2.3 This year the responsibility for the funding of Marwell Zoo was transferred to the Outdoor Service as it was decided that the education work the Zoo does is a closer fit to the work of the Outdoor Service than it is for Countryside. It was a straight funding transfer.
3. Financial situation
3.1 The base budget for grants in 2009/10 is £31,500.
3.2 The amount recommended is £31,500.
4. Legal Implications
4.1 The County Council has the power under the Local Government Act 2000 to do anything that is likely to achieve the promotion or improvement of the economic, social or environmental wellbeing of an area. In particular, S.2(4) of the Act enables the County Council to enter into arrangements or agreements with any person, and give financial assistance, for these purposes. Guidance issued by the Secretary of State confirms that this power can be used to contribute funding to groups and bodies if the authority is satisfied that this contributes to the economic social or environmental well being of its area. This is considered to be the case here, where the activities of the groups in question help the achievement of the aims of the Council's Community Strategy, particularly in relation to the conservation of natural resources.
5. Impact Assessment
5.1 Organisations applying for grants are either open to all the public or accessible to all the public as defined in their objects. Therefore no group or individual should be excluded from any benefit arising from these decisions.
6. Recommendation
6.1 That 5 grants totalling £31,500 are distributed from the 2009/10 budget as set out in Appendix 1
CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:
Links to the Corporate Strategy
Hampshire safer and more secure for all: |
no |
Corporate Business plan link number (if appropriate): | |
Maximising well-being: |
yes |
Corporate Business plan link number (if appropriate): | |
Enhancing our quality of place: |
yes |
Corporate Business plan link number (if appropriate): | |
Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents | |
The following documents discuss 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 and any documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.) | |
Document |
Location |
Grant applications |
Countryside Services, Mottisfont Court, Rm 116 |
Appendix 1
Schedule of Countryside Grants 2009/10
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
The Trust has enjoyed a close working partnership with the Countryside Service over many years and continues to provide support for a wide range of the County Council's Aims and in particular, working towards stewardship of the environment. The purpose of the grant is to support their programme of conservation work and in particular, their work on a number of nature reserves which are managed on a partnership basis between the Trust and ourselves.
Grant: £11,000
British Trust for Conservation Volunteers BTCV
BTCV is the leading national organisation which promotes and supports the work of conservation volunteers. In Hampshire, the organisation works with around 180 associated community groups and does work with a large number of schools. These activities are supported by a small project team which provides training, advice and other practical help for countryside conservation work in Hampshire. This work is of considerable benefit to the Countryside Service. They have been successful in attracting further outside funding. The purpose of the grant is to enable the Trust to continue its work in promoting local conservation initiatives.
Grant: £18,000
Hampshire Conservation Volunteers
HCV have requested a grant to support their programme of practical conservation work, carried out throughout Hampshire and including several projects on the County Council's countryside sites.
Grant: £1,000
Butterfly Conservation
This is an independent voluntary organisation concerned with the conservation of butterflies and moths in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The Trust is active in this work and has established its own nature reserves in the County. The grant is to assist them in the process of surveying and monitoring of target species of butterflies on sites managed by the Countryside Service.
Grant: £1,500