Agenda and minutes

None.

To adopt and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2015 (attached).

RESOLVED: to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2015 as a correct record and agree that the Chairman signs them as such.

The grant policy and procedure rules were noted.

The panel received a brief overview from officers on each application and heard addresses from representatives of the applicants and answers to questions as summarised below.

St Leonard and St Catherine Church, Drayton St Leonard – Church bell restoration

Hilary Rogers, a representative of the church, spoke in support of the application.  She reported that the project was being funded by an appeal rather than from church funds and explained that the new, lighter bells could be used throughout the year rather than only in summer.  They could also be rung by younger children.

Shiplake Memorial Hall and Institute – Window and door replacements

The grants officer outlined this proposal and reported that the energy strategy and projects officer had recommended that the applicants investigate the costs and benefits of alternative window options before proceeding with the project.

Garsington Parish Council – Play area improvements

The grants officer outlined this proposal and reported that the applicants had now claimed the grant awarded by the council in 2014/15 for defibrillators.

The Merry Bells Village Hall, Wheatley – Exterior repairs

The grants officer outlined this proposal and reported that this was the first stage of a series of improvements but, as yet, no details of estimated future expenditure had been provided.

Dorchester Parish Council – Re-covering flat roof of sports pavilion

The grants officer outlined this proposal which would enable continued use of the building.

Wallingford Sports Trust – Replacement changing rooms

The grants officer outlined this proposal and reported that, if this application was successful, then the council’s previous award of £100,000 in 2014 towards the project would be withdrawn.

Didcot All Saints’ Church PCC – Rebuilding a boundary wall

The grants officer outlined this proposal and reported that it didn’t appear to offer any direct benefit to the community or allow any community activities to take place.

Harpsden Cricket Club – Astroturf surface, pitch covers and roller engine

The grants officer outlined this proposal and reported that the total cost of the project could be broken down as follows:

            astroturf surface                   £ 3,456

            pitch covers                           £ 4,680

            roller engine                         £ 4,410

                        total                             £12,546

Allsorts Preschool, Brightwell-Cum-Sotwell – Garden improvements

Sally Jackson, a representative of Allsorts preschool, spoke in support of the application. She reported on the proposed improvements which would provide shelter and shade so enabling greater use of the garden.  In response to members’ questions, she reported that the preschool was currently only open in term time but that the feasibility of opening during the summer holidays was being investigated

Little Milton Parish Council – Three defibrillators

The grants officer outlined this proposal.

WatlingtonParish Council – Play area improvements

The grants officer outlined this proposal and confirmed that the application was for a different play area than the one the council previously funded.

Horspath Parish Council – Two defibrillators

The grants officer outlined this proposal.

Marsh Baldon Parish Council – One defibrillator

The grants officer outlined this proposal.

Warborough Parish Council – Refurbishment of tennis courts

Councillor  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

The panel will review and amend officer scores as necessary.

The panel considered the applications, taking into account the report of the grants officer on each application, the presentations from the registered public speakers and site photographs.

Using the scoring matrix set out in the report and taking account of the grant officer’s provisional scores, the panel awarded scores for each application.

After discussion the panel agreed the grants officer’s recommended scores for all applications except for the following:

St Leonard and St Catherine Church, Drayton St Leonard – Church bell restoration

Increase new facilities or activities score from 6 to 10 points

Increase community benefit score from 6 to10 points

Increase organisation’s contribution score from -4 to 0 points

Allsorts Preschool, Brightwell-Cum-Sotwell – Garden improvements

Increase new facilities or activities score from 8 to 11 points

Warborough Parish Council – Refurbishment of tennis courts

Increase new facilities or activities score from 9 to 10 points

Increase community benefit score from 8 to 10 points

Chinnor Parish Council – Play area improvements

Increase new facilities or activities score from 11 to 12 points

Increase community benefit score from 11 to 12 points

Increase organisation’s contribution score from -4 to -2 points

Stadhampton Parish Council – Pavilion upgrade and sport equipment

Increase new facilities or activities score from 10 to 12 points

Increase organisation’s contribution score from -4 to 0 points

Long Wittenham Football Club – Pavilion improvements

Increase funding the project score from 6 to 8 points

Sonning Common Parish Council – Landscaping of skatepark and replacement village bins

Increase new facilities or activities score from 8 to 10 points

Increase community benefit score from 9 to 10 points

Increase organisation’s contribution score from -4 to 0 points

The final scores as agreed were:

The panel will finalise award recommendations for the consideration of the Cabinet member grants.

RESOLVED: to

a)     agree that both projects recommended for medium priority awards (15-28 points) should receive 75% of the amount requested.

b)     recommend that the cabinet member for development management, building control and housing, and grants make the following capital grant award decisions:

1.     to award St Leonard and St Catherine Church, Drayton St Leonard up to £9,900 towards the church bell restoration as set out in its application.

2.     to award Shiplake Memorial Hall and Institute up to £4,205 towards the window and door replacements as set out in its application.

3.     to award Garsington Parish council up to £8,739 towards the play area improvements as set out in its application.

4.     to award The Merry Bells Village Hall, Wheatley up to £7,500 towards the exterior repairs as set out in its application.

5.     to award Dorchester Parish Council up to £1,875 towards re-covering the flat roof of the sports pavilion as set out in its application.

6.     to award Wallingford Sports Trust up to £187,074 towards replacement changing rooms as set out in its application.

7.     not to award a grant to Didcot All Saints’ Church PCC towards rebuilding a boundary wall as set out in its application.

8.     to award Harpsden Cricket Club up to £6,273 towards a new astroturf surface, pitch covers and roller engine as set out in its application.

9.     to award Allsorts Preschool, Brightwell-Cum-Sotwell up to £4,173 towards garden improvements as set out in its application.

10.  to award Little Milton Parish Council up to £2,373 towards three defibrillators as set out in its application.

11.  to award Watlington Parish Council up to £9,998 towards play area improvements as set out in its application.

12.  to award Horspath Parish Council up to £1,382 towards two defibrillators as set out in its application.

13.  to award Marsh Baldon Parish Council up to £1,000 towards one defibrillator as set out in its application.

14.  to award Warborough Parish Council up to £14,167 towards the refurbishment of tennis courts as set out in its application.

15.  to award Goring Heath Parish Council up to £9,575 towards play area improvements and one defibrillator as set out in its application.

16.  to award Chinnor Parish Council up to £17,354 towards play area improvements as set out in its application.

17.  to award Stadhampton Parish Council up to £12,445 towards a pavilion upgrade and sport equipment as set out in its application.

18.  to award Long Wittenham Football Club up to £5,610 towards pavilion improvements as set out in its application, with a special condition that any payments will not be released until it has secured all its other funding.

19.  to award Benson Parish Council up to £5,335 towards new front doors for the parish hall as set out in its application.

20.  to award Towersey Playing Fields Management Committee up to £1,550 towards mobile goal posts as set out in its application.

21.  to award Sonning Common Parish Council up to £12,493 towards landscaping of skatepark  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.