Agenda and draft minutes

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.

Mrs E Gillespie informed the committee that she could consider the application by the Baldons and Nuneham Community Society without bias or predetermination as while she sat on the parish council and knew people who had donated to the project, she had no involvement.

Mrs J Thompson, Democratic Services Officer, informed the committee that she lived in Chalgrove, where two of the applications were sited, and knew the speakers.

Ward councillors may attend to address the committee for up to five minutes about applications in their ward.

Members of the public may attend to address the committee for up to five minutes about any of the applications considered at item, provided they have registered with democratic services by noon on Monday 24 June.

The committee heard addresses from the applicants, ward councillors, and other registered speakers as summarised below.

Sandford on Thames Parish Council

Two representatives of the parish council spoke in support of the application for a grant to redevelop the village hall to provide improved community facilities in the village. These would include a refurbished hall, community shop and community pub. They answered questions from the committee.

Mr John Cotton, ward councillor, spoke in support of the application.

St John the Evangelist, Stoke Row, Parochial Church Council

Two representatives of the parish church spoke in support of the application for a grant to provide a kitchen and toilet in an extension to the church building to improve facilities for the school, church, and wider community. They answered questions from the committee.

East Hagbourne Parish Council

One representative of the parish council spoke in support of the application for a grant to replace the pavilion to provide satisfactory changing facilities. He answered questions from the committee.

Warborough Parish Council

Two representatives of the parish council spoke in support of the application for a grant to refurbish the Greet Hall to provide a modern, more energy efficient large meeting space for the community. They answered questions from the committee.

St Mary’s Church, Chalgrove

Two representatives of the parish church spoke in support of the application for a grant to reorder and renovate the interior of the church to provide a space for community groups, music and drama performances, and better facilities for tourists viewing the medieval ward paintings. They answered questions from the committee.

Chalgrove Parish Council

Two representatives of the parish council spoke in support of the application for a grant to replace and increase the play equipment on the recreation ground to provide up to date equipment for a wider age range. They answered questions from the committee.

The clerk read out a written statement from Mr David Turner, ward councillor, supporting the application.

Baldons and Nuneham Courtenay Community Society Limited

Two representatives of the parish council spoke in support of the application for a grant to redevelop the dining room at the Seven Stars community pub to provide increased space for dining, increase the viability of the pub, and generate funding for the longer-term aims of the Society. They answered questions from the committee.

Mrs Elizabeth Gillespie, ward councillor, spoke in support of the application.

The Friends of Horspath

Two representatives of the parish council spoke in support of the application for a grant to purchase the former Methodist chapel for use as a community building. They answered questions from the committee.

Parish Councillor Mr Harris explained that the extant planning permission for the extension to the village hall would not provide the same facilities, and outlined the parish council’s commitments which prevented it from purchasing the chapel. He said that there was strong community support for the project. He answered questions from the committee.

Mr Roger Bell, ward councillor, spoke in support of the application.

The clerk read out  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

The Grants Team Leader will update the Panel on the procedure for the next item and any matters they need to take into account.

The chairman reconvened the meeting at 1.05pm.

Mrs Jayne Bolton, Shared Grants Team Leader, reminded members of the Panel of the main points they should consider and the scoring criteria they must use in making their recommendations for the award of grants from the Community Investment Fund. The Leader of the Council would then formally consider the Panel’s recommendations and either make the decision to award grants under her delegated powers, or refer the decision to Cabinet if she was so minded.

Purpose:

1.      to consider the applications for funding from the Community Investment Fund;

2.      to make recommendations to the Leader of the Council on the allocation of funds for large capital grants as shown below; and

3.      to make recommendations to the Leader of the Council on the total allocation of funds for capital grants of less than £15,000 in the 2013/14 financial year.

Applications for consideration:

The Leader of the Council will award grants taking into account the recommendations of the Panel. The decision will be circulated to all councillors and, subject to the council’s call-in procedure, be implemented five working days later

Background papers: information on individual grants; applications; and officer’s evaluation.

The panel considered the applications for funding from the Community Investment Fund over £15,000 capital awards scheme, taking into account the reports of the Grants Team Leader on each application, the presentations from the registered public speakers, and the visits to each site carried out on 18 and 20 June 2013.

The applications considered were:

Community Investment Fund Grant applications 2013

Scores for each application

The panel discussed the Grants Team Leader’s provisional scores for each application under each criterion and amended a number of these.

The panel agreed final scores as follows:

Cut off score and recommendation of awards

Cabinet had agreed on 13 February 2012 to make no award to applications scoring 90 points or less and an award of 80 per cent of requested funding to applications scoring between 91 and 119 points when considering the under £15,000 capital grant scheme bids.

The panel considered that while four of the bids scored between 100 and 120 points, these were very good projects which were capable of success if fully supported and would bring a significant benefit to their communities. The panel considered that awarding only 80 per cent of the amount requested would increase the probability that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.