Report to	Bradford on Avon
Date of Meeting	11/03/2015
Title of Report	Community Area Grants

1. Purpose of the report:
To ask Councillors to consider the following applications seeking funding from the Bradford on Avon Area Board.

Application	Grant Amount
Applicant: Bradford on Avon Youth and Community Centre Users Group Project Title: Bradford on Avon Youth and Community Centre Repairs	£5,000.00
Applicant: Holt Sports & Recreation Committee Project Title: Holt MUGA New Surface	£5,000.00
Applicant: Winsley Cricket Club Project Title: Winsley Cricket Club Youth Facilities	£1,380.00
Applicant: Lock-Up Patch Up Team Project Title: Lock-Up Patch Up Bradford on Avon Town Bridge	£1,000.00
Applicant: Bradford on Avon Community Emergency Volunteers Project Title: Community Emergency Volunteers Equipment Store	£1,750.00
Applicant: BoACAN Project Title: Disabled Friendly Bradford on Avon	£3,000.00
Total grant amount requested at this meeting	£17,130.00

2. Main Considerations

Councillors will need to be satisfied that grants awarded in the 2014/15 year are made to projects that can realistically proceed within a year of the award being made.

Area Boards have authority to approve Area Grants under powers delegated to them by the Cabinet member for Communities, Campuses, Area Boards, Leisure, Libraries and Flooding. Under the Scheme of Delegation Area Boards must adhere to the Area Board Grants Guidance 2014/2015.

Community Area Grants will contribute to the continuance and/or improvement of cultural, social and community activity and wellbeing in the community area, the extent and specifics of which will be dependent upon the individual project.

Community Area Grants give all local community and voluntary groups, Town and Parish Councils an equal opportunity to receive funding towards community based projects and schemes.

There is £ 9,665 remaining in the budget for 2014/15 and the total grants requested at this meeting is £ 17,130. If Councillors wish to support these applications it will be possible to pre-allocate grants from the 2015/16 budget.


3. The applications

Applicant: BoA Youth and Community Centre Users Group Project Title: Bradford on Avon Youth and Community Centre Repairs	Amount Requested from Area Board: £5,000.00
This application meets the grant criteria for 2014/15. Project Summary: This application is made by the 'Users Group' of the newly re-opened Bradford on Avon Youth and Community Centre. A lease has recently been taken on by the Bradford on Avon Town Council but the premises require some minor investment to bring them up to a suitable standard to enable the full use of the facilities by our organisations and by the wider community. Works will include painting and decorating, repairs to windows and doors, installing double glazing and a Belfast sink, improving the kitchen, new carpet, new signage, IT networks and minor building repairs. The application has the full support of the BoA Local Youth Network. Please tell us WHO will benefit and HOW they will benefit from your project and benefit your local community: This project will benefit youth and community organisations and local residents in Bradford on Avon through providing access to facilities which are otherwise lacking in the area e.g. sports hall, kitchen, sound-proofed music room, arts and crafts room, lounge area, outside terrace, with disabled access throughout which is second-to-none in the local area. It is already used by groups ranging from a Youth Club, to a Toddler Group, to University of the Third Age and a Senior Citizens' Luncheon Club. It is hoped to retain the attendance of young people at the centre and to make the premises available to the local school; also to expand the uses by the wider community and introducing new activities such as childrens' parties, more sports, arts, crafts, music etc. Comments of WC Estates Manager: I would like to see the detail of the windows and the carpet to be replaced, just to see if this is wear and tear or something more substantial. The request is for just half the cost and will ensure the building is maintained through the life of the lease. There is a profit-rent arrangement here, so we would want to see this grant netting off their costs in the accounts.
Applicant: Holt Sports & Recreation Committee Project Title: Holt MUGA New Surface	Amount Requested from Area Board: £5,000.00
This application meets the grant criteria for 2014/15. Project Summary:Holt Multi-Use-Games Area was built in the year 2000. We now need to re-surface it. We are planning on a Tarmacadam surface to replace the synapave surface as porous tarmacadam is a preferred surface. Cost @ £17,000. Please tell us WHO will benefit and HOW they will benefit from your project and benefit your local community: The court has been in use for 14 years and has always been available to the public for tennis, netball, football, basketball, coaching and free play. We have decided to change the surface for a porous Tarmacadam, as the synapave surface needs sweeping after rain or the court is not playable. There are cracks all over the court and it is worn in places, so work must be done in order that the court remains safe for current users. Present users range in age from young families with primary age children, teenagers, adults of all ages. Comments of Sports Development Officer: I’m not familiar with that particular facility but if it was put down in 2000 I would suggest that it is likely in need of an upgrade though. Might be worth a site visit or a request for photos of existing damage. They state that they will monitor recreational use of the court but do not detail how. This is something which is very difficult to do without staffing 24/7 or by having some kind of access system which would be expensive. Good to see that the committee does some of its own fund raising. Would be good to encourage them to create a sinking fund to allow for future maintenance/replacement of the surface and so as they don’t require further funding? I would encourage the club to set up a formal tennis club (as detailed in the application) and this is something the WC Sports Development team would be able to support both with additional funding and officer support. It would also be good to ask how the committee plans to encourage more individuals to make use of the facility? Could this mean more organised sessions taking place on the courts, holiday activities or links to our Fun in the Sun programme. Again this is something we can support. All in all sounds like a worthwhile project which could provide opportunities to increase sports participation in the area. Comments of Play and Leisure Strategy Officer: I would have to agree, with special emphasis on Holt PC setting up a replacement fund and that advice would go for all of their recreational assets. Are you aware if they have gone out to tender? The quote seems reasonable however the market is quite tight with the price of oil going down they might get a better deal if they haven’t and I would say that they are advised to look for a supplier who is a member of The Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA).
Applicant: Winsley Cricket Club Project Title: Winsley Cricket Club Youth Facilities	Amount Requested from Area Board: £1,380.00
This application meets the grant criteria for 2014/15. Project Summary: Last season, Winsley Cricket Club had over 140 young people aged 6 to 15 playing and learning cricket. We have identified a need for a bowling machine that young batsmen can better practice batting while the bowlers can be coached elsewhere reducing the frustration of the young players. We would also need netting to reduce risk. Please tell us WHO will benefit and HOW they will benefit from your project and benefit your local community: The young people that are registering to play cricket. Last season, we ran 3 Under11s, 1 under13 and 1 under 15 youth cricket sides. Our Youth structure is well established with under 10s Kwik Cricket and play being particularly successful. For a village cricket club to have 21 interested and mainly qualified coaches helping all these youngsters to enjoy cricket is creditable and emphasises the importance the Club gives for this part of our enterprise. One Under X1 side won its league and cup in the Bath and District Youth League. Comments of Sports Development Officer: Not much detail provided, but I can see the benefits for existing players. I’m interested in what the club will do in return for the area board funding this and how more people can benefit? Would the club be prepared to offer after school sessions at local schools using the new equipment? Participants could then be encouraged to join the club. The club could also look to deliver adult nets sessions through our Return to Sport programme with the view of setting up a veterans team or simply to attract more adult players. Funding this could open further development opportunities but more details or discussions would be required.
Applicant: Lock-Up Patch Up Team Project Title: Lock-Up Patch Up Bradford on Avon Town Bridge	Amount Requested from Area Board: £1,000.00
This application meets the grant criteria for 2014/15. Project Summary:The aim is to refurbish the interior of the Bradford on Avon Town Bridge Lock-Up to make it safe for visitors and to prevent further deterioration. English Heritage have given Scheduled Ancient Monument Consent for the work and Wiltshire Council are in agreement. Please tell us WHO will benefit and HOW they will benefit from your project and benefit your local community: The Bradford on Avon Town Bridge Lock-Up is a Grade 1 Scheduled Ancient Monument. It\'s history and it\'s position is a great tourist attraction and town asset. On Heritage Open Days it is visited by hundred of people who enjoy the experience of entering the ancient lock-up cells and seeing the ancient fittings including the long-drops into the river below. Deterioration of the interior has after hundreds of years resulted in stone work and iron work needing, in the interest of visitor safety and preservation, refurbishment. Quotations have been obtained for the detailed work approved by English Heritage. The sum is shown above at 10b. Comments of Asset Portfolio Manager: Wiltshire Council are nominated as the guardians of this Heritage Asset.  We would be happy for the ‘Lock-up and Patch up’ team to do the works to the building subject to: 1. That the group takes the appropriate advice, and gains the required permissions from the Council Historic buildings team and… 2. Has all the necessary permissions and health and safety policies and procedures in place to enable the work to be carried out safely. As an aside, has the group or the Bradford on Avon Preservation Trust considered the possibility of a transfer of the guardianship of this structure from the Council? I’m not entirely sure of the detail or the possibility of this but it seems to make sense. Comments of Principal Conservation Officer: The application suggests that Scheduled Monument Consent has been granted (which might have involved consultations with the Archaeology Service rather than ourselves) and, provided that this is the case, we would not object to the works going ahead. Listed building consent would not be required for appropriate low-key maintenance in any case.
Applicant: Bradford on Avon Community Emergency Volunteers Project Title: Community Emergency Volunteers Equipment Store	Amount Requested from Area Board: £1,750.00
This application meets the grant criteria for 2014/15. Project Summary: The purchase of a reconditioned 15ft ISO Container for the storage of equipment provided by Wiltshire Council under their flood and Snow Warden Schemes to the CEVs (Flood Warning Signs, Sandbags, Spare Personal Protective Equipment, Push along gritters) along with other equipment purchased by the Town Council such as buckets, shovels, spades, and brooms. The Container will need to be ply lined with shelving to prevent condensation and provide mounting points for equipment storage. Please tell us WHO will benefit and HOW they will benefit from your project and benefit your local community: The whole community will potentially benefit from the Community Emergency Volunteers Scheme and the equipment stored in the container. During severe weather events such as flood and snow the whole of the community is effected whether directly by inundation of property or through disruption to travel and walking. Other civil emergencies such as utility failures can also have a debilitating effect on the community. The provision of this equipment store allows the CEVs to provide fast, effective, local relief to the community of Bradford on Avon at the time of their greatest need Comments of Head of Public Protection: The application by the Bradford on Avon Community Emergency Volunteers is one for which I am very supportive. The group has spent a great deal of time and effort setting up comprehensive plans, recruiting volunteers and developing partnerships with key organisations. The money will be spent on developing a site, which will become the central muster point for CEVs. Because of the value of the equipment they will hold, I think a secure store and rendez-vous point will be very useful. The issue was discussed and supported at the recent meeting of the Bradford on Avon Emergency Planning Committee.
Applicant: BoACAN Project Title: Disabled Friendly Bradford on Avon	Amount Requested from Area Board: £3,000.00
This application meets the grant criteria for 2014/15. Project Summary: Disabled Friendly Bradford on Avon is a demonstration project designed to improve the accessibility of key public buildings in Bradford on Avon and to encourage shops and services in the town centre to provide enhanced disabled access facilities for the mobility and sensory impaired. The project will include a series of access audits on key buildings and a documentary film and public information campaign on the difficulties currently experienced in navigating this historic town by wheelchair, motorised scooter or push chair. Please tell us WHO will benefit and HOW they will benefit from your project and benefit your local community: The benefits are two-fold: 1. Making Bradford on Avon more user-friendly for disabled service users/customers to navigate the town centre and visit public buildings, shops, cafes etc. 2. Boosting trade in the town through improving access to shops and services for those in wheelchairs, motorised scooters, pushchairs etc. Disabled Friendly Bradford on Avon is a demonstration project which aims to highlight the difficulties and offer solutions regarding disabled access within the central area of the town which suffers from major issues that hamper good accessibility for people with physical or sensory impairments. Primarily the topography of many streets makes it difficult for many elderly and mobility impaired people to reach their destination without assistance. The town’s street layout, buildings and footways are historic and protected by law and it is problematic to change the fabric of buildings or the street to aid better access. Stage 1 will involve written audits of all public buildings offering a public service. This should demonstrate whether Wiltshire Council and its public sector partners have successfully opened up their publicly accessible spaces and properties to be useable by everyone. It will help demonstrate best practice to other local businesses and service providers. The 2nd stage will be a film in a documentary style with suggested solutions for the central core area of Bradford on Avon. The idea being to stimulate businesses to do more and to take action on issues. It will give guidance to owners on best practice and where to look for help. To better promote awareness we will disseminate leaflets to shops and service owners throughout the town as well as running the film for local councillors, chamber of commerce and business owners. It may well be a useful tool to include on websites promoting the town for tourism and shopping. It should give the impression that Bradford is changing and becoming more inclusive for all visitors and residents alike. As an introductory exercise we are currently auditing the new Hub @ BA15 building in Church Street, Bradford on Avon, at no cost. We believe that the quality and usefulness of the audit as a tool will be sufficient to convince other businesses and services to make use of our expertise in the future. Comments of Equalities Officer and other consultees: To be reported to the meeting.
Report Author: Peter Dunford, Bradford on Avon Area Board 01225 713060