Agenda item

The Board will consider funding applications as set out in the funding report and summarised below:

 

Community Area Grants:

•              • Underground Studios Music - £5,000

•              • Hamptworth Croquet Club Enhancing Community Links - £1,568

•              • Allington and Boscombe Defibrillator project - £1500

•              • Winterslow VH resurfacing Tennis courts - £5,000

 

Health & Wellbeing Grants:

•              • Silver Salisbury – Downton & Surrounds project - £990

 

Officer: Karen Linaker, Community Engagement Manager

The Area Board considered the funding requests as set out in the agenda pack. Applicants present were invited to speak in support of their projects.

 

Community Area Grants:

 

Underground Studios Music - £5,000

The applicant Alex Mobaraki spoke in support of the application.

 

It was clarified that the applicant had also applied for funding from the Salisbury AB and Stonehenge AB and that it was expected that young people would travel from all three areas to use the facility. There was also collaboration with the schools Wyvern St Edmunds and Trafalgar school, which had confirmed they were interested in making use of the facility as part of the extra-curricular programme.

 

Questions included:

·         Why were the costs to renovate so high, when works were carried out in 2015?

Answer: The bunker itself was a unique building in terms of maintenance, there were a number of requirements that were not met during the shutdown period. The ventilation and heating systems had not been running all of the time which had caused severe issues with mould.  The hours it would take to bring the facility back up to the required standard were extensive.

 

·         What had happened to the previous equipment, as the application includes £11k for equipment?

Answer: Underground Studios was a different entity than the Bunker. The equipment was not part of what was taken on. The Applicant was bringing in equipment from his personal stock, however what was required, was above and beyond what he could provide.

 

·         The Bunker struggled to be self-sustaining, how would you operate without council input?

Answer: Underground Studios would be offering a hybrid model and there had been positive talks with other local trusts that would contribute. In addition, young people from affluent backgrounds would be asked to pay for sessions. The previous models were limited, this model offered video and photography classes as well as coding and game workshops.

 

·         Was there a business plan showing the operation becoming sustainable?

Answer: Yes, we are living in complicated times, but we are fairly optimistic that we would be self-sustaining within the first few months.

 

·         The Board preferred to fund specific items or elements of a project, rather than to award funds into a large pot. There was also the unknown factor of how many young people would benefit from our community area.

·         Did you have help with the activities school liaison?

Answer: We work with Wiltshire Creative and the Wiltshire Music Connect. When we are at the point we need to take in more staff we would achieve that.

 

·         Why didn’t the previous equipment come with the venue?

Answer: We didn’t have any involvement in the previous management and have only taken on the lease of the building.

 

·         How would means testing be achieved?

Answer: Depending on Pupil Premium or social workers, that would be able to determine this.

 

·         Whilst this model is more appealing as there is a larger offer, there was still an issue of how sustainable it would be, however as all of the equipment would be owned by the project it was more reassuring.

 

·         As you are working with the Schools and Wiltshire Creative, assume you would be providing lessons? Answer: Yes, on the music side there would be one to one and group classes, all of the information was available on the website. School of Rock was for young people who had not had opportunity to play with others. With marketing through the schools to increase the uptake.

 

Cllr Rogers proposed to fund in full. This was seconded by Cllr R Clewer.

 

The Board voted on the motion.

 

Decision

The Area Board awarded £5000 to Underground Studios Music towards the project.

Reason

The application met the Funding Criteria for 2021/22

 

 

Hamptworth Croquet Club Enhancing Community Links - £1,568

The Applicant Stephen Bennet spoke in support of the application.

 

He noted that a previous funding award from the Board in October 2020 had helped to keep the club open. At that time the Board had commented that it would be nice to see the club provide for younger members. The club had since formed a link with Trafalgar school at Downton to attract some younger members as an offer towards the DofE scheme.

 

Cllr Z Clewer proposed the full amount. This was seconded by Cllr Britton.

 

The Board voted on the motion.

 

Decision

The Board awarded £1,568 to Hamptworth Croquet Club towards the project Enhancing Community Links.

Reason

The application met the Funding Criteria for 2021/22

 

 

Allington and Boscombe Defibrillator project - £1500

The applicant Jane Tier spoke in support of the application.

 

The defibrillators would be located in the newly built village hall and at the other end of the village at the social club. The running costs would be covered by the PC. 

 

 

Decision

The Area Board awarded £1500 towards the Allington and Boscombe Defibrillator project.

Reason

The application met the Funding Criteria for 2021/22

 

Winterslow VH resurfacing Tennis courts - £5,000

The applicant Mike Morgan Jones spoke in support of the application.

 

The tennis court had been built in 1992 and was well used with over 100 regular users. Last repatched in 2012 it was now deteriorating and required resurfacing. The village Primary school had also requested the courts be made available to them.

 

The PC had awarded £5,000 of funding towards the project.

 

Cllr McLennan noted that further funding may be available through the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) or Sports England and recommended the Applicant enquire further with those organisations with the view of developing the Tennis Courts to an even higher standard.

 

Cllr Rogers proposed the full amount be awarded. This was seconded by Cllr Britton.

 

The Board voted on the motion.

 

Decision

The Area Board awarded £5,000 to Winterslow Village Hall towards the resurfacing of Tennis courts with an advisory:

 

·         Applicant to explore avenues for further funding from LTA & Sports England.

 

Reason

The application met the Funding Criteria for 2021/22

 

 

 

 

Health & Wellbeing Grants:

 

Silver Salisbury – Downton & Surrounds project - £990

Karen Linaker, Community Engagement Manager presented the application, noting that the funding would come from the allocated funds of 2020/21 Health & Wellbeing budget.

 

Cllr R Clewer proposed the full amount. This was seconded by Cllr Britton.

 

The Board voted on the motion.

 

Decision

The Board awarded £990 to Silver Salisbury towards the Downton & Surrounds project.

Reason

The application met the Funding Criteria for 2021/22