Agenda item

To consider applications to the Community Area Grants Scheme, as follows:

·       Royal Wootton Bassett Rugby Club requesting £5,000 towards solar panels.

·       Jubilee Gardens 1978 Ltd, requesting £5,000 towards a new greenhouse.

To consider the following application to the Older and Vulnerable People’s Grants Scheme:

·       Wiltshire Music Centre requesting £1,500 towards Celebrating Age Wiltshire.

To consider the following application to the Youth Grants Scheme:

·       Cricklade Town Council requesting £2,915 towards Cricklade Local Youth Newtwork.

Members considered the applications to the Community Area Grant scheme as outlined in the agenda pack.

Royal Wootton Bassett Rugby Club requesting £5,000 towards solar panels

Th SEPM introduced the grant application, highlighting that the solar panels had already been installed. He explained that, although retrospective grant applications were not normally permitted under grant criteria, this application had received approval from Wiltshire Council’s Grant Assessment Panel to be considered in the same way as other applications. Chris from Royal Wootton Bassett Rugby Club spoke in favour of their application noting that they had made their application in good faith, but the opportunity had arisen to have the panels installed earlier than originally planned in November. He reported that the project was environmentally friendly and would cover around half of their energy costs during the winter.

During the discussion members welcomed the environmental credentials of the project as well as the work of sporting groups in the community in supporting health and wellbeing. Some members did express concern about the level of funding and that the panels had already been installed, noting that they would have been more comfortable with a smaller grant. On the proposal of the Vice-Chairman, seconded by Cllr Steve Bucknell, it was resolved:

Decision

To award Royal Wootton Bassett Rugby Club £5,000 towards solar panels.

Reason

The application was permitted for consideration by Wiltshire Council’s Grant Assessment Panel.

Jubilee Gardens 1978 Ltd. requesting £5,000 towards a new greenhouse

Peter from Jubilee Gardens spoke in favour of their application noting that they provided training to 18 people with additional needs. They had raised £2,500 for a new greenhouse and highlighted that they provided fresh vegetables for the local community. The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, SEND and Inclusion reported that there had been an increase in enquires from people with SEND looking for day opportunities.

During the discussion members welcomed the support provided to vulnerable individuals by Jubilee Gardens, as well as that it had received support from Swindon Borough Council during the pandemic. Some members did note that they would feel more comfortable with a lower grant than £5,000 as only five of the 18 individuals currently benefiting from the scheme were Wiltshire based. However, the applicant did note that historically there had been an even split in those attending between Wiltshire and Swindon and they hoped to increase numbers. He also confirmed that they were open to the idea of using environmentally friendly heating options for the new greenhouse. 

It was suggested that the Area Board might consider a future application for environmentally friendly heating options, and offers were made from others in the room to advise on this.

On the proposal of Cllr Lay, seconded by Cllr Steve Bucknell, it was resolved:

Decision

To award Jubilee Gardens 1978 Ltd. £4,000 towards a new greenhouse.

Reason

The application met Community Area grant Criteria for 2022/23. A lower amount was awarded than requested to reflect that the number of Wiltshire residents directly benefiting from the project.

Members considered an application to the Older and Vulnerable People’s Grant Scheme as outlined in the agenda pack:

Wiltshire Music Centre requesting £1,500 towards their Celebrating Age Project

Pat Hughes, a volunteer with Celebrating Age Wiltshire explained that they helped older and isolated individuals in the community, recently including 72 individuals in the Area Board’s area. The projects that they offered included creative conversations and live music performances.

Members welcomed the scheme, and it was noted that the group also received National lottery funding. On the proposal of Cllr Lay, seconded by Cllr Champion, it was resolved:

Decision

To award Wiltshire Music Centre £1,500 towards their Celebrating Age project.

Reason

The application met Older and Vulnerable People’s Grant Criteria for 2022/23.

Members considered an application to the Youth Grant Scheme as outlined in the agenda pack:

Cricklade Town Council requesting £2,915 towards Cricklade Local Youth Network

The Vice-Chairman of Cricklade Town Council spoke in favour of their application, which would enable youth workers to attend on a bi-weekly basis. She explained that the town council would pay for 50 percent of the funding, and she felt that the project met Wiltshire Council’s grant criteria. It was a popular scheme with 47 children signed up at attend an event with the Rise Trust on Tuesday nights.

The SEPM confirmed that revenue funding criteria, in place since 2015, allowed Area Boards to help set up innovative projects but cannot support continued year-on-year running costs for groups.

On the proposal of the Chairman, seconded by Cllr Steve Bucknell, it was resolved to:

Decision

To award Cricklade Town Council £2,915 towards Cricklade Local Youth Network.

Reason

The application met Youth Grant criteria for 2022/23.