Agenda item

To consider the following applications for youth grant funding:

·         Marlborough Area Development Trust, Digital Makers - £2990.00 for further equipment and support resources.

To consider applications to the Community Area Grants Scheme.

·         Marlborough Parkrun - £1850.00 to establish a new parkrun event for the town;

·         Ogbourne Village Hall - £4816.00 to refurbish and update the hall’s flooring;

·         Winterbourne Bassett Community Pub - £5000.00 to rebuild the porch and create new disabled access;

·         Winterbourne Bassett Community Pub - £5000.00 to install a brand new kitchen.

An application to Youth Grant Funding was considered.

Richard Pitts from MADT spoke in support of the application. The Local Youth Network recommended that the Area Board approve the funding and it was;

Resolved

To grant the Marlborough Area Development Trust, Digital Makers project

£2990.00 for further equipment and support resources.

Applications to the Community Area Grants Scheme were considered.

A representative of parkrun spoke in support of the Marlborough parkrun application. Their intention was to run parkrun events - a 5km walk or run, every Saturday morning on Marlborough common. They are free events open to everyone. In response to questions the representative stated that the funds would be used to train staff, purchase a laptop, barcode scanners, timers and to set up the website. After the initial set up fee there would be no ongoing fees for this. Participants would be encouraged not to drive to the events however there was hard standing available on the common as well as overflow parking. Marlborough Town Council were in support of the project and arrangements. The Board had further questions regarding the number of volunteers and whether this would be sufficient.

A representative of Ogbourne Parish Council spoke in support of the application to refurbish the Parish Hall’s flooring.

Mr Howard Witt, Vice Chairman of Winterbourne Bassett Community Pub spoke in support of both their applications. Mr Witt explained that the pub had been in trouble so a community alliance was formed which raised £288,000, including a £100,000 loan and they purchased the pub in March 2018. They planned to add value to the pub and diversify including a microbrewery, community shop, using renewable energy and making the pub core to the  community. Unplanned projects had used a lot of funds so they needed to focus on planned projects including installing a kitchen, which would cost £42,000 and creating disabled access, as wheelchair users had to use the back door.

In response to questions from the Board Mr Witt stated that the Parish Council had not increased the precept for the parish to raise funds for the project as several of the community alliance were members of the Parish Council and they were worried about a conflict of interest. They also did not want to show favouritism as there were several other pubs in the parish. The Plunkett Foundation (which supports community pubs) had recommended that they go the tenant route and employ a manger for the pub. There would be an expectation setting document which would be contractual, detailing their requirements of the tenant manager. The pub would be a free house and would try to use local breweries.

It was,

Resolved

To approve in principal the application from Marlborough parkrun for £1850.00 to establish a new parkrun event for the town, delegating powers to the Community Engagement Manager to grant the funds once the boards questions had been answered and concerns addressed.

To grant Ogbourne Village Hall £4816.00 to refurbish and update the hall’s flooring with the condition that the money would be repaid if the owner of the village hall was to change in the next 5 years.

To refuse Winterbourne Bassett Community Pub £5000.00 to rebuild

the porch and create new disabled access. The reason for refusal was to preserve available Area Board funds further into the financial year, as there was only a limited amount available.

To grant Winterbourne Bassett Community Pub £5000.00 to install a

brand new kitchen.

To note that Cllr Jane Davies supported both of the Winterbourne Bassett Community Pub’s applications.