Agenda item

To note the remaining budgets and to consider any applications for funding, as detailed in the attached report and summarised below:

Remaining Budgets:

Area Board Initiatives:

Community Area Grants:

Older & Vulnerable Grants:

Local Highway and Footway Improvement Groups (LHFIG)

The LHFIG is taking place on 13 November 2024 at 2pm. Cllr Wayman as chair of LHFIG will give a verbal update. There will be no notes from the meeting or funding recommendations for approval at this area board meeting. 

Further information on the LHFIG process can be found here.

The Area Board noted the budgets remaining for allocation at the meeting and in noted what the remaining budgets would be if all grants were awarded in full at the meeting.

The Area Board heard from grant applicants in attendance who gave a brief overview of, and were questioned about, their project.

Area Board Initiatives

·       South West Wiltshire Area Board requested £500 towards their Techie Tea Parties mobile phone support project for older and vulnerable adults (Older and Vulnerable grant budget).

Karen Linaker, Strategic Engagement and Partnership Manager (SEPM) briefly explained the project.

Cllr Richard Budden moved a motion to award the grant in full. This was seconded by Cllr Bridget Wayman.

Decision:

The South West Wiltshire Area Board initiative was awarded £500 towards their Techie Tea Parties mobile phone support project for older and vulnerable adults.

Reason – The application met the Older and Vulnerable Grants Criteria 2024/25

Community Area Grants

·       Fovant Village Hall requested £1,218.50 towards a high traffic floor sustainable upgrade.

Representatives of Fovant Village Hall explained the project and spoke in support of the application.

In response to questions regarding the use of the village hall and therefore the floor for tap dancing, the representatives explained that they had taken time to investigate how to make the floor tap dancing proof and had taken advice on the best solution. They also highlighted that the tap dancing group was one of the longest lived groups to use the hall and that the income that provided was important to the running of the hall. The hall would be working to create financial reserves for future use. Area Board Members highlighted that village halls were a critical part of rural village life and in isolated locations served a key need.  

Cllr Nabil Najjar proposed a motion to award the grant in full, this was seconded by Cllr Bridget Wayman.

Decision:

Fovant Village Hall was awarded £1,218.50 towards a high traffic floor sustainable upgrade.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2024/25

Older & Vulnerable Grants:

·       Carer Support Wiltshire requested £3,230.00 towards peer support cafes for unpaid carers in Mere, Tisbury and Broadchalke.

A representative from Carer Support Wiltshire spoke in support of the application, explained their project, and highlighted that the cafes were a lifeline for unpaid carers.

Area Board Members asked whether the cafes could be extended to other areas such as Wilton. The group would take that away and investigate the possibility. Members also queried how the cafes were publicised and whether the Area Board could help to promote them. The representative welcomed any support the Area Board could give in publicising the cafes. Funding streams were discussed and explained. Members highlighted that they were supportive but may not be able to provide funding every year, so the group needed to be sustainable.

Cllr Bridget Wayman proposed a motion to award the grant in full. This was seconded by Cllr Nabil Najjar.

Decision:

Carer Support Wiltshire was awarded £3,230.00 towards peer support cafes for unpaid carers in Mere, Tisbury and Broadchalke

Reason – The application met the Older and Vulnerable Grants Criteria 2024/25

Information links: Area Board Grants and Grants Criteria

Local Highway and Footway Improvement Groups (LHFIG)

Cllr Bridget Wayman as Chairman of the LHFIG gave an update, it was highlighted that the LHFIG meeting had taken place earlier that day, which was not something that happened very often. There had been no recommendations to allocate funding to any new schemes, as the group were overspent. It was noted that the Cabinet Member for Highways would be initiating a review of the LHFIG’s and how they worked.