Agenda item

New Homes Bonus Grants 2019/20

To consider the head of corporate strategy’s report. 

Minutes:

The committee considered the head of corporate services’ report, which set out details of seven applications for New Homes Bonus grants. The committee noted that it had a budget of £14,963. The officer’s report had assessed each application against the grants criteria and had scored the applications against the policy matrix.

 

Charney Bassett Parish Council

The officer introduced the application by Charney Bassett Parish Council which sought £1,010 towards the scheme total of £2,020, representing a 50% contribution towards the total cost. This fund would contribute to public seating upgrades. The officer explained the scoring recommendation and the subsequent suggested award. The officer clarified questions on whether the applicant had asked for funding elsewhere explaining that they had the required money and would fund the remaining cost themselves.

 

There were no speakers present for the item.

 

RESOLVED: To approve the officer’s recommended score of 9 out of 12 points.

 

Shrivenham Fete Committee

Councillor Elaine Ware declared a personal interest and left the room for the duration of the item.

 

The officer introduced the application by Shrivenham Fete Committee which sought £1,290 towards the scheme total of £2,580, representing a 50% contribution towards the total cost. This fund would contribute to a new stretch tent. The officer explained the scoring recommendation and the subsequent suggested award.

 

Councillors asked questions on how many people the new stretch tent would accommodate, and the frequency of events ran by Shrivenham Fete Committee. The officer confirmed that the tent would be suitable for many people and that main events took place in the summer and winter periods, with other events taking place across the year.

 

RESOLVED: To approve the officer’s recommended score of 9 out of 12 points.

 

Ashbury Village Hall

The officer introduced the application by Ashbury Village Hall which sought £1,347 towards the scheme total of £2,695, representing a 49.98% towards the total cost. This fund would contribute to the purchase of a staging unit for Ashbury Village Hall. The officer explained the scoring recommendation and the subsequent suggested award.

 

There was one speaker present for the item. Maggie Simons spoke in support of the application and answered questions from committee members regarding the application.

 

RESOLVED: To approve the officer’s recommended score of 8 out of 12 points.

 

Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor Tennis Club

Councillor Eric Batts declared a personal interest and left the room for the duration of the item.

 

The officer introduced the application by Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor Tennis which sought £11,500 towards the scheme total of £123,294, representing an 18.65% contribution towards the total cost. This fund would contribute to the extension and upgrade of club tennis facilities Project. The officer explained the scoring recommendation and the subsequent suggested award.

 

Councillors asked questions on the sources for the funding of the project and a question on whether the courts would be floodlit. Officers confirmed that most of the money was through Section 106 and that the courts would be floodlit.

 

Councillors were also keen on promoting sustainability where possible and while the project did not use LED lighting, councillors promoted the consideration of LED lighting due to the benefits it provided.

 

RESOLVED: To approve the officer’s recommended score of 7 out of 12 points.

 

Kingston Colts Football Club

The officer introduced the application by Kingston Colts Football Club which sought £2,626 towards the scheme total of £5,353, representing a 49.06% contribution towards the total cost. This fund would contribute to the pitch upgrade. The officer explained the scoring recommendation and the subsequent suggested award. It was noted by councillors that currently the pitch was seeing increased usage which had exasperated the need for replacement.

 

Councillors asked a question on whether the applicant had approached the Football Association for funding. The officer confirmed the applicant had not approached them.

 

Councillors noted positively the new planned girls’ team which would enable more children in the community to become involved in sports.

 

RESOLVED: To approve the officer’s recommended score of 7 out of 12 points.

 

West Vale Canal Group – Wilts & Berks Canal Trust

Councillor Elaine Ware declared a personal interest and left the room for the duration of the item.

 

The officer introduced the application by West Vale Canal Group – Wilts & Berks Canal Trust which sought £1,550 towards the scheme total of £3,100, representing a 50% contribution towards the total cost. This fund would contribute to a mower to improve public access on footpaths along the canal. The officer explained the scoring recommendation and the subsequent suggested award.

 

RESOLVED: To approve the officer’s recommended score of 7 out of 12 points.

 

Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor Parish Council

The officer introduced the application by Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor Parish Council which sought £3,309 towards the scheme total of £6,619, representing a 49.99% contribution towards the total cost. This fund would contribute to the replacement of the Jubilee slide safety play surface. The officer explained the scoring recommendation and the subsequent suggested award.

 

There was one speaker present for the application. David Weeks, on behalf of the parish council, was present to answer questions from the committee regarding the application.

 

The speaker answered questions regarding the feedback from the previous inspection on the condition of the slide and on whether any complaints had been received from residents. The speaker also explained where their funding came from, clarifying that most of their funds had come from Section 106 Grants.

 

Councillors were concerned that the parish council had not already undertaken the necessary repairs itself. Councillors highlighted that this type of maintenance was a health and safety concern and other parishes would have contingencies for these issues.

 

Councillors discussed the wider benefits for the community that this would provide and the benefits to both parents and children who would use the facility.

 

A motion was proposed and approved by the committee to defer a decision until better financial information was known and a clearer financial breakdown of the project and ability of the parish to pay for it itself was given.

 

Councillors noted that Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor Parish Council should pay for the necessary maintenance immediately out of their own reserves due to the health and safety risk posed.

 

RESOLVED: To defer consideration of this application to the next round of funding applications subject to the receipt of clearer financial information relating to the breakdown of costs in respect of the project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having approved the scoring of each application against the grants criteria, the committee went on to consider the amounts that should be awarded to each applicant.

 

RESOLVED:

a.)  To award New Homes Bonus Grants as follows:

Applicant

Scheme

Grant

Charney Bassett Parish Council

Public Seating Upgrade

50% of the total cost capped to £1,010.

Shrivenham Fete Committee

New Stretch Tent

50% of the total cost capped to £1,290.

Ashbury Village Hall

Purchase of staging unit for Ashbury Village Hall

75% of the amount applied for, capped to £1,010.

Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor Tennis Club

Extension and Upgrade of Club Tennis Facilities Project

74.3% of the amount applied for capped to £8,545

Kingston Colts Football Club

Pitch Upgrades

74.3% of the amount applied for capped to £1,951.

West Vale Canal Group – Wilts & Berks Canal Trust

Mower to improve public access on footpaths

74.3% of the amount applied for capped to £1,152.

 

b.)  The following application was deferred until clearer financial information was available to councillors:

Applicant

Scheme

Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor Parish Council

KBSPC Replacement of Jubilee slide safety play surface

 

Supporting documents:

 

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