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 A sum of £80,000 was originally set aside in the 2009/10 capital programme for Culture, Communities and Rural Affairs to support the Community Buildings Fund. Since then an allocation of £25,000 has been made to the fund from the Rural Action Plan Fund to support applications from village halls bringing the total available for distribution to £105,000. To date £142,616 has been allocated this year and if the recommendations in this report, which amount to £26,551, are approved then this total will rise to £169,167. This over-commitment of £64,167 is within the sum identified as available following a review of the 2005/06 fund activity.

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 £26,551 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 Fair Oak Village Hall Management Committee

Consultation The local member, Councillor Angela Roling, has been consulted and she supports the application.

Project Window and door replacement

Cost £11,794

General Reserves £21,399

Project Reserves None

Statement The current window and door frames have rotted and the current units are single glazed and therefore not energy efficient. The management committee wishes to improve their energy efficiency and appearance of the hall by installing new windows and doors throughout the building to address these issues.

Partnership Funding None

Recommendation Up to £3,931 as one third of project costs

Name Selborne Village Hall Trust

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

Project Energy efficiency improvements to hall

Cost £19,534

General Reserves £4,000

Project Reserves £1,534

Statement The management committee wish to improve the energy efficiency of the village hall by installing new double glazed units to the front of the hall, new entrance doors and the installation of acoustic panelling in the roof. They also wish to create a new entrance lobby to improve the look and feel of the building

Partnership Funding Selborne Parish Council £3,000 (To be confirmed)

East Hampshire District Council £5,000 (Confirmed)

Recommendation Up to £4,000 as 50% of the combined District and Parish Council contribution up to a maximum of £12,500

Name St John the Evangelist Church Hall

Committee, Fareham

Consultation The local members, Councillors John Bryant and Ray Ellis, have been consulted.

Project Rebuild stage and install stage furnishings

Cost £3,405

General Reserves £23,717

Project Reserves £3,404

Statement The current stage is beyond economic repair and is starting to present a risk of splintering. Some wood worm damage has also been found. Therefore, the hall committee wish to replace the stage and also take the opportunity to include stage dressings which have not previously been provided to add to the appeal of the hall.

Partnership Funding None

Recommendation Up to £1,135 as one third of the project costs.

Name The Valley Church Andover Trust

Consultation The local member, Councillor David Kirk, has been consulted and he supports the application.

Project Repair and replace sash windows

Cost £14,955

General Reserves £0

Project Reserves £7,000

Statement The window frames of this Grade II listed building are now beginning to rot and are in need of urgent repair to prevent further risk to the public whilst still being in keeping with its listed status. New windows will also help to improve the efficiency of the building.

Partnership Funding None

Recommendation Up to £4,985 as one third of the project costs.

Name Woodley Village Hall Association

Consultation The local member, Councillor Roy Perry, has been consulted.

Project Waterproofing cellar, disability improvements and improvements to heating system

Cost £63,460

General Reserves £0

Project Reserves £5,000

Statement This project involves a number of phases to generally improve the look and accessibility of the hall. This should help to increase the hall's letting potential and bring it into line with current disability access requirements. The works to the heating system will also help to improve the energy efficiency of the building

Partnership Funding Romsey Extra Parish Council £6,250 approved in principle

Test Valley Borough Council £18,750 (Confirmed)

Recommendation Up to £12,500 as 50% of the combined District and Parish Council contribution.