Agenda item

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.

 

Aston Tirrold and Upthorpe Village Hall – Replacement boiler and book trolley

 

The grants officer outlined this proposal and recommended that any grant is conditional on them completing an energy audit before installing the new boiler, to ensure they’re installing the best option.

 

Marsh Baldon Village Hall Committee – Replacement windows and doors

 

The grants officer outlined this proposal and recommended that any grant is conditional on them completing an energy audit before installing the new windows/doors, to ensure they’re installing the best option.

 

Great Haseley Parish Council – Two defibrillators

 

The grants officer outlined this proposal and recommended that any grant offer includes a condition that they will register the units with the ambulance trust.

 

Eye and Dunsden Village Hall – Extension and improvements to layout

 

Beth Timms and Gilly Lea, representatives of the village hall, spoke in support of their application. They reported that the proposed improvements would make the village hall more accessible to all; most notably those with mobility issues. The current configuration of the building is not fit for purpose.

 

Lord Phillimore, a local benefactor, has verbally pledged at least £50,000. In response to members’ questions, they reported that they’ve received no response from Binfield Heath parish council regarding funding.

 

The grants officer recommended that any grant offer includes a condition that they will register a charge (or if a charge isn’t possible a restriction) on the registered title of the property.

 

Sonning Common Parish Council – Kitchen upgrade

 

The grants officer outlined the proposal and advised that there was some debate if it’s more appropriate for the village hall committee to take on the work. The Memorandum of Undertaking implied the kitchen (as a fitting of the building) falls within the remit of the committee and not the parish council.   The grants officer recommended that any grant offered to the parish council is transferrable to the village hall management committee and that if the management committee do take on the project the award amount should increase to £9,418 to include the VAT they will need to pay.

 

Kidmore End Parish Council – Play area improvements (two sites)

 

Sue Biggs, a representative of the parish council, spoke in support of their application. She reported on the fundraising activities that have been taking place and funding updates for the project. In response to members’ questions, she reported that it is possible to install a disabled access platform but they are waiting for a price from the supplier. The Chairman read out a statement in support of the project from Robert Simister, the local ward member.

 

The grants officer recommended that any grant offer include a condition that they will register a charge (or if a charge isn’t possible a restriction) on the registered title of the property in the council’s favour.

 

Sydenham Parish Council – Play area equipment and field gate

 

The grants officer outlined this proposal.

 

The panel noted that the surrounding groundwork appeared under maintained, that some other equipment needed updating, the project didn’t include any accessible equipment, and that they should have considered improving the access to/from the new gate for disabled users.  The panel also noted they would lose the existing kissing gate as part of this project 

 

The general opinion of the committee was that the project didn’t fully cover the work required and that they had some concerns about the quality of the existing and future maintenance of the site.

 

Clifton Hampden and Burcot Sea Scouts – Boating equipment

 

Paul Rogers, a representative of Clifton Hampden and Burcot Sea Scouts, spoke in support of their application. He reported that the boats this project will partly replace are 25 years old, and are at the end of their useful life.  The new boats would allow smaller and younger children to get involved. In response to members’ questions, he reported that the current landing areas had access for the disabled and the amount of wider community events they take part in as a group to encourage membership.

 

Shiplake Parish Council – Replace two parish noticeboards

 

The grants officer outlined this proposal.

River and Rowing Museum (Henley) – New roof section

 

Ludo Keston, a representative of the museum, spoke in support of their application. He reported on the activities and success of the museum in general. 

 

In response to questions from members, he reported that the 2015/16 accounts are not yet audited.  He reported that most of their reserves are invested, but that the endowment releases £75,000 per annum in interest for revenue purposes and that they are drawing down some of the fund to cover their contribution to the project. The museum is currently running at a loss each year when you look at their annual income and expenditure (excluding their savings and investments). 

 

Stefan Gawrysiak, one of the local ward members, also spoke in support of the application.

 

Peppard War Memorial Hall – Roof, window and lighting improvements

 

Brian Cresswell, a representative of Peppard War Memorial Hall, spoke in support of their application. He reported that since submitting their application, they had received a donation of £16,000 from the bowls club (following its closure this year) and £1,700 from the tennis table club. Their bank balance now totals £27,000.

 

Stanton St John Parish Council – Play area improvements

 

The grants officer outlined this proposal. The panel noted that the equalities officer had highlighted possible disabled access alternatives.

 

The grants officer recommended that any grant includes a condition that they include some accessible equipment in the final design and change the surfacing to be more accessible than mulch.

 

The Henley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (HAODS) – Stage and studio upgrade

 

The grants officer outlined this proposal.

 

Cuxham with Easington Parish Council – Defibrillator

 

The grants officer outlined this proposal and recommended that any grant offer include a condition that they will register the unit with the ambulance trust.

 

The officer also recommended funding the usual maximum of 50 per cent of the total cost, not 100 per cent as requested, as they could potentially raise the balance in other grants or through community fundraising.

 

The panel also suggested the applicant could reapply for further funding if they’re unable to raise the other 50 per cent through other fundraising activities.

 

Chinnor Village Hall – Resurfacing front car park

 

The grants officer outlined this proposal and recommended any grant offered include a condition that they should include at least one suitably marked out disabled parking bay in the project.

 

Krakatoa Preschool (Brightwell-Cum-Sotwell) – Outdoor resurfacing and benches

 

The grants officer outlined the proposal.

 

Henley Cricket Club – Resurface access track and machinery

 

David Winter, a representative of the cricket club, spoke in support of their application. He reported that the club is used extensively every day, that a wide variety of groups regularly use the site and that there is now an urgent need to resurface the track to make it fit for purpose.

 

In response to members’ questions, he reported that the club is used for a baby sensory group; a bridge group; pilates class; frequent children’s parties; and occasional use by the council.

 

The grants officer recommended that any grant offered include a condition that they will register a charge (or if a charge isn’t possible a restriction) on the registered title of the property.

 

Henley Town Football Club – Access improvements and spectator stands

 

Tony Kingston, a representative of the football club, spoke in support of their application. He reported that the need for making these improvements is due to the club being promoted up a league particularly access improvements for wheelchair users.

 

Stefan Gawrysiak also spoke in support of the application.

 

In response to members’ questions, they reported that Henley town council will not confirm funding until the district council confirms their contribution.

 

The grants officer suggested that due to concerns over the club’s current finances and the extra costs involved in entering the Hellenic league, any grant offered should include a condition that they must provide the council with a satisfactory forward funding plan before any funds are released.