Agenda item

To determine any applications for Community Area Grant funding.

In addition, to consider a motion which would allow the Area Board flexibility to award small grants between meetings, should a matter of urgency arise.

In the absence of Councillor John Noeken (Lead Member for Grants), the Chairman introduced this item, thanking the other members of the grants panel who had assisted in reviewing the bids: Roger Fisher (Amesbury Town Council), and Trevor Woodbridge (independent representative).

Decision

Wiltshire Heritage Museum was awarded £2,040 towards the cost of piloting a new Henge Hopper Bus Service linking Stonehenge and Amesbury in the spring of 2011.

Reason The application met the Community Area Grants criteria for 2010/11 and would support the provision of sustainable transport to local facilities and attractions, benefiting tourism, trade, and local communities.

Decision

The Stonehenge School was awarded £990 towards two Solomon Theatre Company evening performances to the community, to highlight the issues of domestic abuse and alcohol misuse.

Reason The application met the Community Area Grants criteria for 2010/11 and would help address identified issues of concern in the Amesbury Community Area (i.e. domestic abuse and alcohol misuse) in an innovate and accessible way.

It was noted that the application from Amesbury Community Carnival Committee had been withdrawn.

It was noted that the application from Life Education Centre was recommended for refusal, on the basis that the application was for a contribution to running costs, and as such did not meet the Community Area Grant Criteria.  However, Councillors were invited to consider whether the application demonstrated wider community benefit and so justified an exception to the criteria.

During discussion, Councillor Mike Hewitt, speaking as Chairman of the Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee, expressed the hope that long-term funding could be secured for the project.  Karen Linaker commented that the applicants were currently looking at long-term funding opportunities, in consultation with the Charities Information Bureau.

Decision

Life Education Centre was awarded £2,100 towards the cost of delivering an education programme to primary school children in the Amesbury Area on forming healthy living lifestyle choices.

Reason – The application did not meet the Community Area Grants Criteria 2010/11 in that the funding would be used for on-going costs, and the project had already started.  However, the Area Board considered that the exception to the criteria was justified in this case due to the wider community benefit which would be realised by the project working directly with primary school children to encourage healthy lifestyle choices.

Decision

Idmiston, Porton and Gomeldon Village Design Statement Team was awarded £997 towards funding the generation of a Village Design Statement.

Reason The application met the Community Area Grants criteria for 2010/11 and would help the community ensure that new development fitted the local surroundings and complemented local character.

Decision

Newton Toney Memorial Hall Committee was awarded £3,400 towards providing an all-weather (synthetic) cricket pitch on the village recreational field.

Reason The application met the Community Area Grants criteria for 2010/11 and would help provide a local sports facility for this and nearby communities.

Decision

The Amesbury Area Board agreed that, in respect of urgent matters that may arise from time to time between meetings of the Area Board, the Amesbury Community Area Manager, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Amesbury Area Board, be granted delegated authority to approve expenditure not exceeding £1000 from the budget delegated to the Area Board.  A report explaining any such decision and the reasons why it was considered to be urgent shall be reported to the next ordinary meeting of the Area Board to ensure that such decisions are subject to public examination.