Agenda item

To consider the communication and grant manager’s report.

Faringdon Sensory Garden

 

Melanie Lane and Gerry Millington, of Faringdon Sensory Garden steering group, spoke in support of both applications made by the Sensory Garden, and answered questions from the committee about both the capital grant and New Homes Bonus applications. Later in the meeting, following debate on their applications, the Chairman suspended the speaking rules to allow the speakers to answer further questions pertinent to new information which they had provided when they initially spoke.

 

They updated the committee on their current finances, and outlined their funding requirements, as well as projected incomes. They explained that they required £120,000 in construction costs and a further £1000 per month in outgoings. With full funding the project would be completed by 11 November 2018. Maintenance and staffing costs had been costed and included in the figures. The aim of the project was to benefit the community across Oxfordshire. They confirmed that there would be open public access between dawn and dusk and that Tesco had agreed to give the project free and unrestricted access to their car park.

 

Capital Grant Fund application

 

The officer introduced the application by Faringdon Sensory Garden for a grant of £4,872 towards a £9,745 project to lay turf in the garden. The officer confirmed that there was no Section 106 funding available for this application.

 

The committee debated the item. As the speakers had provided substantial new financial information, it was suggested that provisional approval to change the score could be given and then later ratified by officers after consideration of the new information. The officer advised that while this could be considered, there was little precedent to do this and it was not in accordance with delegated powers.

 

It was agreed that a final decision would be made at the meeting, and that, because the officer was not able to offer a new recommended score without further consideration, no changes should be made to the initial recommendation.

 

Due to available funding being largely awarded to high priority applications, in accordance with the council’s capital grant policy, the committee could only grant £1,233.

 

RESOLVED:

1. To approve the officer’s recommended score of 6 points out of a possible 9.
2. To amend the officer’s suggested grant to 12.65 per cent of the total cost, capped to £1,233, £3,639 less than the amount requested.

 

NHB Grant Fund application

 

The officer introduced the application by Faringdon Sensory Garden for a New Homes Bonus grant of £20,380 towards a £40,760 project to lay pathways in the garden.

 

The committee debated the item.

 

Due to budget constraints, the committee could only grant £10,505, despite the high priority recommendation received by the application.

 

RESOLVED:

1. To approve the officers’ recommended score of 8 points out of a possible 12.
2. To amend the officers’ suggested grant to 25.77 per cent of the total cost, capped to £10,505, £9,875 less than amount requested.

 

Stanford-in-the-Vale Parish Council

 

The officer introduced the application by Stanford-in-the-Vale Parish Council for a grant of £10,833 towards a £21,665 project to relocate a pylon on the new recreation ground.

 

Councillor Tina Jenkins, of Stanford-in-the-Vale Parish Council, answered questions from the committee. She confirmed that the energy provider was unwilling to fund the project, but would carry out the work. The relocation was urgent because no other aspects of the recreation ground renovation could take place before the pylon had been moved. The new pylon would be underground, and would not, therefore, pose a risk to the users of the renovated recreation ground.

 

The committee debated the item.

 

RESOLVED:

1. To approve the officers’ recommended score of 9 points out of a possible 9.
2. To approve the officers’ suggested grant of 50.00 per cent of the total cost, capped to £10,833, the amount requested by the parish council.

 

Southmoor Pre-School Nursery

 

The officer introduced the application by Southmoor Pre-School Nursery for a grant of £1,037 towards a £2,074 project to provide new computer equipment at the nursery.

 

The committee was informed that new information had been received since the publication of the report which would have changed the recommended finance score from 1 to 3. This would take the overall recommended score to 6 out of 9, but would not change the recommended priority.

 

There were no public speakers present for this item.

 

The committee debated the item and agreed to change the score from 4 to 6 out of 9.

 

Due to available funding being largely awarded to high priority applications, in accordance with the council’s capital grant policy, the committee could only grant £263.

 

RESOLVED:

1. To amend the officer’s recommended score to 6 points out of a possible 9.
2. To amend the officer’s suggested grant to 25.36 per cent of the total cost, capped to £263, £774 less than the amount requested.

 

 

 

Shrivenham Fete Committee

 

Councillors Elaine Ware and Simon Howell stood down from the committee and left the room for this item. Councillor Eric Batts chaired the item.

 

The officer introduced the application by Shrivenham Fete Committee for a grant of £1,121 towards a £2,242 project to replace the existing band tent and sound equipment.

 

The committee was informed that new information had been received since the publication of the report which would have changed the recommended finance score from 1 to 3. This would take the overall recommended score to 8 out of a possible 9, and would change the recommended priority from medium to high.

 

There were no public speakers present for this item.

 

The committee debated the item and agreed to change the score from 6 to 8 out of 9. It was also agreed that funding would only be granted if Shrivenham Fete Committee sought another quote for the work, following concerns over the pricing in the application.

 

RESOLVED:

1. To amend the officer’s recommended score to 8 points out of a possible 9.
2. To amend the officer’s suggested grant to 50.00 per cent of the total cost, capped to £1,121, subject to the Shrivenham Fete Committee obtaining a new quote for the price of the work.

 

 

Watchfield Parish Council

 

The officer introduced the application by Watchfield Parish Council for a grant of £1,147 towards a £2,295 project to purchase and install a defibrillator in the village.

 

There were no public speakers present for this item.

 

The committee debated the item.

 

RESOLVED:

1. To approve the officers’ recommended score of 9 points out of a possible 9.
2. To approve the officers’ suggested grant of 49.98 per cent of the total cost, capped to £1147, the amount requested by the parish council.

 

 

Buscot Park Cricket Club

 

The officer introduced the application by Buscot Park Cricket Club for a grant of £1,439 towards a £2,878 project to provide replacement site screens at the club.

 

There were no public speakers present for this item.

 

The committee debated the item.

 

 

RESOLVED:

1. To approve the officers’ recommended score of 3 points out of a possible 9.
2. To refuse the application for a capital grant.

 

Fernham Village Trust

 

The officer introduced the application by Fernham Village Trust for a grant of £1,818 towards a £3,636 project to renovate the existing leadlight window at the village hall.

 

There were no public speakers present for this item.

 

The committee was informed that new information had been received since the publication of the report which would have changed the recommended finance score from 1 to 3. This would take the overall recommended score to 7 out of a possible 9, and would change the recommended priority from low to medium.

 

The committee debated the item.

 

RESOLVED:

1. To change the officers’ recommended score to 7 points out of a possible 9.
2. To approve the officers’ suggested grant of 50.00 per cent of the total cost, capped to £1818, the amount requested by Fernham Village Trust.

 

 

NHB Grant Fund application

 

Watchfield Parish Council

 

The officer introduced the application by Watchfield Parish Council for a New Homes Bonus grant of £9,999 towards a £33,959 project to make improvements to the play area on Watchfield Recreation Ground.

 

There were no public speakers present for this item.

 

The committee was informed that new information had been received since the publication of the report which meant that possible Section 106 funding for this project was no longer available. This did not change the officer’s recommended score, but did change the suggested grant to £9,999, the full amount requested by the applicant.

 

The committee debated the item.

 

RESOLVED:

1. To approve the officers’ recommended score of 9 points out of a possible 12.
2. To approve the officers’ suggested grant of 29.44 per cent of the requested amount, capped to £9,999, the amount requested by the parish council.

 

The officer updated the committee on remaining finance, and informed the meeting that the committee had awarded all of its capital and NHB budgets, so will not open for a third round of applications in 2017/18.

 

 

                    

The meeting closed at 8.20 pm