Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence. 

There were no apologies for absence.

To adopt and sign as a correct record the minutes of the committee meeting held on 19 September 2016 (attached). 

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2016 were agreed as an accurate record of the meeting and were signed by the Chairman.

To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests and other interests in respect of items on the agenda for this meeting.  

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive notification of any matters, which the chairman determines, should be considered as urgent business and the special circumstances, which have made the matters urgent. 

There was no urgent business.

The Chairman announced plans to allow for the delegation of grant awards below a certain threshhold, number of applications, and where there is no competition for resources; to the head of service, in consultation with the Chairman of the committee.

The views of members were sought and these will be compiled, together with those of the other area committees, and recommended to the Cabinet member for grants.

It was agreed that the grants team would work up some proposals based on consultation with the three area committees.

Any statements, petitions and questions from the public under standing order 32 will be made or presented at the meeting. 

All applicants had been invited to attend the meeting to represent the interests of their bid. The following speakers attended the meeting and spoke to support their applications and to respond to outstanding questions of clarification from the committee:

Russell Smith, Head Coach at Wantage Gymnastics Centre.

Stephen Day, Treasurer, Wantage Tennis Club.

The committee asked each of the speakers questions of clarification on their applications.

To consider the head of corporate strategy’s report. 

NEW HOMES BONUS SCHEME

Harwell Village Tennis Club: Replacement court fencing

The committee debated this item.

RESOLVED

The committee approved the officer’s recommended score of 9 points and therefore the project would be a medium funding priority.

RESOLVED

The committee approved the officer’s recommended award of £2,160 which was 75 percent of the amount requested by the organisation.

Wantage Tennis Club: Install floodlights on the public tennis courts

The committee debated this item.

RESOLVED

The committee agreed to increase the score in the “Community Benefit” section from 1 out of 3 to 2 out of 3. This was due to the club developing tennis sessions for people with physical disabilities and also for people with learning difficulties

Increase community benefit from 2 to 3.

This raises the total score for the project from 6 points to 7 points and therefore remains in the medium priority bracket; but has been raised slightly higher within that bracket.

The committee agreed to award the project £12,216, which was 75 percent of the amount requested by the organisation.

Informative:

Any award given would only be granted when there is confirmation that the rest of the funding has been received and the issues around the lease have been resolved. Grants are usually awarded for take up within a 12 month period.

CAPITAL GRANTS SCHEME

Wantage Gymnastics Centre: Install a sprung floor

The committee debated this item.

RESOLVED

The committee agreed to increase the score in the Community Benefit section from 1 out of 3 to 2 out of 3 as groups other than gymnastics use the facility and would benefit from a sprung floor. This gave a total score of 9 points and moved the project from a medium to a high funding priority.

RESOLVED

To award the maximum money available from the fund of £6,553 which was 95 percent of the amount requested by the organisation.