Issue - meetings

Following adjournment of the meeting held on the 30 March 2026, the Panel are asked to consider an update on the report from the Benefits and Financial Resilience Manager on funding the remaining applications.

Members of the Panel could consider recommending a change to the policy that permits applications that would normally be awarded but can’t be due to the funding limits in place for the Community buildings, to be rolled over to the next funding window without having to reapply. Therefore the following recommendation has been made, set out below:

Recommendation

To recommend to Cabinet to make the following change to the Community Grant Fund policy

• Applications that meet the policy criteria, but Members are unable to approve due to funding limits can be rolled over to the next grant window.

Subject to Cabinet approving the above recommendation the 6 Community building fund applications deferred for a decision will be carried forward to the next grant window.

Following adjournment of the meeting held on the 30 March 2026, the Panel considered an update on the report from the Benefits and Financial Resilience Manager on funding for the following remaining applications.

The Panel were in support of the community buildings applications but the total number of applications meant that the fund was over-subscribed. The Panel were also aware of the increase in costs for materials and works over time, and how delaying a decision by a long period may adversely affect the applicants. 

Members of the Panel debated recommending a change to the policy that permits applications that would normally be awarded but can’t be due to the funding limits in place for the Community buildings, to be rolled over to the next funding window without having to reapply.  Members also agreed that clear, positive communication should be sent to the six applicants to provide reassurance. Accordingly, the following recommendation was agreed, set out below:

Recommendation to Cabinet:

To make the following change to the Community Grant Fund policy

• Applications that meet the policy criteria, but Members are unable to approve due to funding limits, can be rolled over to the next grant window.

Subject to Cabinet approving the above recommendation the 6 Community building fund applications deferred for a decision will be carried forward to the next grant window.

The Panel considered the following small community grants that met the criteria and awarded grants as follows:

RESOLVED:

The Panel considered the following applications that still required further evidence and

RESOLVED

1.     that the remaining four applications that required further evidence should be referred to officers to obtain the outstanding evidence;

2.     that subject to the necessary evidence being obtained, the applications met the criteria and therefore were agreed in principle by the Panel; giving delegated authority as set out in the Community Grants Fund policy for the Chair, as Portfolio Holder for Finance, to make the final decision on the applications as the amount fell under the £3000 limit (paragraph 6.4 of the policy refers)

The Panel considered the following Community Buildings applications.  After discussion, the Panel agreed that some applications could be granted but that further information and consideration was required.  The Chair therefore agreed that after this resolution, the meeting be adjourned and the remaining applications be considered by the Panel on the 15^th April 2026 at 5.30pm.

RESOLVED that

1.     The applications for village halls listed in the table below, namely Dunkeswell, Escot, Aylesbeare, Umborne and Netherton Club Farway, be granted

2.     The remaining applications be deferred for further information and consideration by the Panel