Decision details

To confirm a decision to approve a recommendation from Salisbury Area Board as set out in the attached report.

DECISION MADE

I approve that the requirements of the Council’s Youth Funding Grants Policy are waived to enable Salisbury Area Board to approve a grant to The Sound Emporium (Option 2) as set out in the report attached.

This decision was published on 06/11/2014 and will come into force on      14/11/2014      

To determine the future of the Bass Connection facility at Grosvenor House in Salisbury.

The Area Board has considered a range of options including closure of the service and a range of potential alternative venues.  The alternative suggestion received during the decision notice period has been assessed as set out above.

Salisbury Area Board has consulted with users of the Bass Connection Service and the operators of various potential alternative venues.  The matter was considered by the Board at its meeting on 18^th September.

Following expiry of the notice to take a decision on this matter, the Cabinet member received one representation.  The representation was received from a local community group in Salisbury questioning the suitability of The Sound Emporium (TSE) as a provider of the Bass Connection support service and pointing to other possible alternatives, including involvement of local charity The Rose Gale Trust.  The Rose Gale Trust have been consulted about the matter and have made clear that they are supporting the Sound Emporium proposal and wish to work with them to extend the offer.  TSE are happy to accommodate this arrangement.

Consequently, the matter for decision relates to the recommendation from Salisbury Area Board.  The question to decide is whether the requirements of the Council’s policy can be waived in this case to enable the Area Board to award a grant to The Sound Emporium (TSE) so that it can continue to provide the Bass Connection service at Grosvenor House.  In terms of the suitability of TSE to provide the service, that is properly a matter for the local Area Board to decide.  The Board has undertaken appropriate checks and is satisfied that TSE is indeed a suitable provider.   In terms of possible alternatives, the Rose Gale Trust has indicated its support for TSE and consequently it is considered that the Area Board recommendation offers the best available solution at this time.  It will be a matter for the Area Board to consider the longer term arrangements, at which time consultations may be held with other interested parties.