Agenda item

The Chairman invited a representative from each of the grant applicants to give a brief overview of their project to the Board.  After each of the applicants had spoken the Chairman invited questions and discussion, then asked for a show of hands from those present to reflect public opinion. The Board members then voted on each application.

The Chairman also reported that the Performance Reward Grant, which was a county-wide grant pot funded by the Government, had been discontinued.

Decision

Bemerton Heath Interagency Group was awarded £1,835 to develop a series of intergenerational opportunities through five activities (kite making, IT, cookery, crochet and art workshops).

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2011/12 and would allow these intergenerational workshops to proceed, developing community spirit.

Decision

Ask Wiltshire was awarded £3,964 to run a series of four “Bus Stop” and “Making the Most of Teenagers” parenting groups in Salisbury.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2011/12 and would help to develop parenting skills.

In relation to the application from the Douglas Arter Centre Day Service, it was confirmed that there were two on-going applications for funding towards the project.  Of these, one was outstanding, and the other was awaiting the outcome of the application to the Area Board.

Decision

Subject to the successful receipt of remaining match funding towards the project, the Douglas Arter Centre Day Service was awarded £1,850 towards a pilot community involvement project working with community groups and residents of the Douglas Arter Centre creating large Batik flags for public display in the Centre’s gardens.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2011/12 and would support this project to the benefit of people with disabilities, helping to promote better understanding in the community of people with disabilities.

In relation to the application from Circular Arts, it was noted that the report recommended refusal as the application did not meet the Community Area Grants Criteria 2011/12.  The organisation had previously received funding for the same project in 2010/11 and the Criteria sought to avoid the provision of year-on-year funding, as this encouraged financial dependency.

Alex Grant, speaking on behalf of Circular Arts, reported that work was on-going to form a partnership with Salisbury Cathedral, as part of a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund.  However, this would not proceed until 2012, and so alternative funding was required for the 2011 Lanterns Parade to proceed in the meantime.

It was suggested that Circular Arts should contact Wessex Community Action (WCA) regarding volunteers, as WCA maintained a database of volunteers in the area. 

In approving the application, the Area Board made clear that the decision was based on the specific merits of this application, and did not set a precedent for future applications.  All future applications for Community Area Grants (including any from Circular Arts) would be determined on their own individual merits and based on the criteria in force at the time.

Decision

Circular Arts was awarded £5,000 to run a city community involvement multi-workshop project leading to a large Christmas parade.

Reason – The application did not meet the Community Area Grants Criteria 2011/12 in that the organisation had been previously funded by Wiltshire Council, and had received funding from Wiltshire Council for the same project.  However, the Area Board considered that an exception to the criteria was justified in this case (as permitted within the criteria) due to the wider community benefit which would be realised by the hugely successful, well-established, and well-supported project working with over 20 minority groups from the city, culminating in a well-attended and popular festive event.

ACTION: MARIANNA DODD