Any statements and/or petitions from the public under Standing Order 32 will be made or presented at the meeting.
Minutes:
The Executive also received six statements from members of the public all in support of applications for Community Grants.
(1) Colin Cure made a statement on behalf of the Oxfordshire Association for the Blind in support of its grant application. The Association supported those affected by blindness or who had impared vision; in the Vale this mounted to 994 people. It was estimated that this figure might double if all those affected used the service. The Association wished to expand its service to those in need, providing advice, support, information and the loan equipment. The service worked closely with Social Services to avoid duplication.
(2) Eleanor Cowan made a statement on behalf of the South and Vale Carers Centre in support of their grant application. She gave an example of the support that had been provided to a child that had acted as a carer for an adult family member. She outlined the support given and advice and information the service provided for others also. She sought a grant to help run the outreach service provided by the Centre.
(3) Rita Atkinson made a statement on behalf of Sutton Courtenay Village Hall Management Committee in support of its grant application. The Management Committee had already carried out a first phase to improve the Village Hall car park, toilets, hall floor and kitchen. A grant was being sought for the second phase to improve storage facilities to allow other community groups to use the facilities. The contract for the works to the Village Hall was being managed by the Parish Council to provide efficiency and overcome VAT costs. If successful the grant application would secure third party funding from WREN.
(4) David Calvert made a statement on behalf of the Wootton and Dry Sandford Community Centre Management Committee that sought funding towards the cost of redeveloping the Centre. The total cost of the project was estimated at £800,000. An application had been made to the National Lottery Fund. This had resulted in a £25,000 development grant to allow a full application to be prepared. An application to the Trust for the Oxfordshire Environment had been made and a grant from the Executive would secure third party funding of £50,000.
(5) Councillor Chris Wise also made a statement on behalf of the Wootton and Dry Sandford Community Centre Management Committee that sought funding towards the cost of redeveloping the Centre. He supported the contribution of David Calvert and added that it was intended to transform the Community Centre to be fit for purpose for the local community. The project would benefit many community groups and would ensure vitality for the village and provide much needed recreational facilities. A grant from the Council would be a significant boost and would unlock further funding from third party sources.
(In accordance with the revised Code of Conduct, Councillor Wise left the meeting immediately after making his statement.)
(6) Elizabeth D’Ahele made a statement on behalf of Charney Bassett Village Hall and Field Trust. Support was sought towards the cost of upgrading the Victorian chapel that was used as the Village Hall. Health and safety requirements meant modernisation of facilities and new storage would be required. The Big Lottery Fund application had been unsuccessful due to insufficient funds being available. However, the Parish Council had been supportive and a further contribution had been received from the Doris Field Trust. A grant form the Council would unlock further third party funding.
The Chair thanked all speakers for their statements and informed them that these would be taken into account during consideration of the Community Grants item later in the meeting (minute Ex.65 refers).