Agenda and draft minutes

Community Grant Panel - Friday, 17th March, 2023 10.00 am

Venue: Council Chamber, Blackdown House, Honiton

Contact: Debbie Meakin Email: dmeakin@eastdevon.gov.uk 01395 517540 

Items
No. Item

108.

Public Speaking

Minutes:

The Chair advised that members of the public present would be invited to speak at the time that the relevant application was considered.

109.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 176 KB

To agree the minutes of the previous meeting held on 28 November 2022.

Minutes:

The minutes of the previous meeting held on the 28 November 2022 were agreed.

110.

Declarations of Interest

Guidance is available online to Councillors and co-opted members on making declarations of interest

 

Minutes:

There were no declarations under the Council’s Code of Conduct.

 

Regarding the applications from Project Food and Ottery Larder, it was noted that Cllr Jess Bailey is Devon County Councillor for Otter Valley.

111.

Matters of Urgency

Information on matters of urgency is available online

 

Minutes:

None.

112.

Confidential or exempt items

To agree any items to be dealt with after the public (including the press) have been excluded.   There are no items which Officers recommend should be dealt with in this way.

 

Minutes:

None.

113.

Community Buildings Fund pdf icon PDF 198 KB

To consider applications from Kilmington, Umborne and Payhembury.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel considered three applications under the Fund and a recommendation on the remaining balance of the fund.

 

Kilmington Village Hall

The application was for £5,000 to help fund solar panels on the hall; if successful in their application, there was still a shortfall of £1,565 for which plans were in place to raise.

 

Judith Chapman spoke in support of the application and advised that the Village Hall is well used at all times of the day.  The addition of solar panels and a battery would greatly help with evening use and would reduce the electricity bill by just over £2,000 per annum. 

 

The Panel commended the project which had the support of the whole parish and which also benefitted from local professional assistance.

 

The Panel thanked Judith Chapman for attending.

 

RESOLVED that the application by Kilmington Village Hall for £5,000 is approved.

 

 

Umborne Village Hall

The application was for £1,458.98 to help towards replacement decking costs.  The updated figure included a revised quotation which had increased due to inflationary costs.  All remaining funding for the works was in place.

 

Henry Smith, Chair of Umborne Village Hall spoke in support of the application.  The replacement of the decking which is now 10 years old is a health and safety issue.  The project had the support of the County Councillor and a working party was in place ready to start the work.

 

The Panel thanked Henry Smith for attending.

 

RESOLVED that the application by Umborne Village Hall for £1,458.98 is approved.

 

 

Payhembury Provisions Community Shop

The application was for £3,000 to fund solar panels on the shop; all remaining funding was in place.

 

It was noted that the Community Shop has significant electricity costs due to running freezers.  The Panel commended the shop which is open 7 days a week.

 

RESOLVED that the application by Payhembury Provisions Community Shop for £3,000 is approved.

 

 

Balance of the Community Buildings Fund

 

The Panel discussed the remaining balance of the fund and noted that it had not been possible to promote the fund as well as in previous years due to staffing resources.  The Panel suggested that the application process could be increased to 4 times per annum with an emphasis on green projects.

 

Officers advised that work was underway to make the process more flexible and that potential additional funding for community de-carbonisation projects may be available via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

 

 

RECOMMENDED to Cabinet

That the remaining balance of the Community Buildings Fund be carried forward to 2023/24 for future applications in that year and that the Fund is better promoted in future years, with an emphasis on green projects.

 

114.

Action on Poverty Fund pdf icon PDF 198 KB

To consider applications from Project Food and Ottery Larder.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel were asked to consider two applications for funding from the Action on Poverty Fund.

 

Project Food

The Panel considered the application for £4,968 to run family cooking courses in Ottery St Mary.  The remaining funding was in place.

 

Kerry Morgan from Project Food, Axminster, spoke in support of the application which seeks to duplicate the success of Project Food in Ottery St Mary.  As well as family cooking courses, the Project would run 1:1 cooking sessions with clients with mental health challenges referred from partner agencies.

 

The Panel commended the project and thanked Kerry Morgan for attending.

 

RESOLVED that the application by Project Food for £4,968 is approved.

 

Ottery Community Volunteers

The Panel considered the application for £1,400 for items to improve the Ottery Larder offer, including a heater and clothes rails to provide a “shop” in the main hall.  All remaining funding was in place.

 

It was noted that the project is very active and expanding and concern was expressed that applicants apply for sufficient funding for projects given the current cost of living crisis.

 

RESOLVED that the application by Ottery Community Volunteers for £1,400 is approved.

 

The Panel requested Officers to feedback to community groups to ensure that they are requesting sufficient funds in the current financial situation.

 

The Panel thanked the Chair, Cllr Jack Rowland, for his work during the year, and thanked the Officers for their support.