Issue - meetings

To receive and consider report 119/07 of the Strategic Director and Monitoring Officer. 

Introduction and Report Summary

The purpose of this report is to update members of the Executive on the project to refurbish and extend the facilities at the North East Abingdon Community Association (NEACA); to draw the attention of Membersto the criteria of the Lottery and Other Grants Support Fund and to seek confirmation that a portion of the funding awarded in 2004 from this Fund can still be made available to NEACA for the revised project.

The contact officer for this report is Lorna Edwards, Community Strategy Officer (Tel: 01235 547626).

Relationship with the Council's Vision, Strategies and Policies

This report supports the Council’s Vision and Priorities.  It also supports the Vale Community Strategy.  It does not conflict with any Council strategy or any Council policy.

Recommendations

(a)       that Members note NEACA’s revised project resulting from its unsuccessful lottery bid;

(b)       that Members agree that NEACA should receive funding from the Lottery and Other Grants Support Fund to obtain WREN funding for the revised project, the precise amount being dependent on the amount of grant awarded by WREN; and

(c)       that the Council’s Community Funding Advice Service, provided by Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action (OCVA), be requested to work with NEACA to identify funding that may be needed to make up any shortfall for the project.  

(Time: 4.11pm to 4.22pm)

(Councillor Tony de Vere declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item and in accordance with Standing Order 34, he left the meeting during its consideration.  Councillor Mary de Vere declared a personal interest in this item and in accordance with Standing Order 34, she remained in the meeting during its consideration.) 

The Executive received and considered report 119/07 of the Strategic Director and Monitoring Officer, updating the Executive on the North East Abingdon Community Association's project to refurbish and extend its facilities.  The report also drew attention to the criteria of the Lottery and Other Grants Support Fund and sought confirmation that a portion of the funding awarded in 2004 from this Fund could still be made available to the Community Association for the revised project. 

It was noted that the lottery funding application from the Community Association had been rejected and therefore the project had been revised.  However, the project no longer met the criteria of the Council’s fund.  If the Council could offer a grant of £5,500, this would lever a WREN grant of £50,000 towards the project.  Members considered that the request for funding of 11% was reasonable.  If WREN later increased its grant offer, then the Executive could consider further funds also. 

RESOLVED  (by five votes to nil)

(a)       that Members note North East Abingdon Community Association’s revised project resulting from its unsuccessful lottery bid;

(b)       that project receives funding from the Lottery and Other Grants Support Fund to obtain WREN funding for the revised project, the precise amount being dependent on the amount of grant awarded by WREN; and

(c)       that the Council’s Community Funding Advice Service, provided by Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action, be requested to work with the Community Association to identify funding that may be needed to make up any shortfall for the project.