24 05 2006

The Mayor (ex-officio), Chairman of the Policy and Organisation Board (Councillor Hook) (P), Councillors Mrs Champion, Chegwyn (P), Dickson (P), Mrs Salter (P), Taylor (P) and Wright (P)

 

It was reported that, in accordance with Standing Orders, Councillor Hook had been nominated to attend this meeting in place of Councillor Mrs Champion.

 

 

 

 

 

RESOLVED: That Councillors Dickson and Mrs Champion be elected Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively of the Grants Sub-Board for the Municipal Year 2006/07.

 

 

 

 

An apology for inability to attend the meeting was submitted on behalf of Councillor Mrs Champion.

 

 

 

 

There were no declarations of interest.

 

 

 

 

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Sub-Board held on 22 February 2006 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.

 

 

 

 

 

Consideration was given to a joint report of the Financial Services Manager and the Leisure and Cultural Services Manager (a copy of which is affixed in the Minute Book as Appendix ‘A’) concerning a number of applications for Revenue Grant Aid.

 

 

(i)

Homestart, Gosport and Fareham

 

Ms Jackie Morris advised that Homestart worked as part of a national organisation and as an individual charity supporting families in Gosport and Fareham with children under the age of five years, who were currently experiencing difficulties.

 

Homestart were able to match volunteers with families to be supported but there were, at times, difficulties meeting travel costs for volunteers who did not have their own transport.

 

Income for the organisation was obtained from a number of sources including Hampshire County Council, the lottery fund, the Sure Start grant and SRB6 and others. The financial support provided by Hampshire County Council and SRB6 was not guaranteed each year.

 

An application for grant aid had also been made to Fareham Borough Council.

 

Concern was expressed that the application was for funds to partly cover volunteer travel costs, for which the Sub-Board did not normally award grant aid. It was therefore decided that no grant should be paid on this occasion.

 

(ii)

Hardway District Guiding

 

Members were concerned that grant aid was being requested to provide funds towards the cost of a ‘Family Fun Day’ and therefore agreed not to support the application.

 

(iii)

The Bivol Trust

 

Members agreed that this application should be deferred in order to give the organisation the opportunity to be represented at a future meeting of the Sub-Board so that it could provide further information to support its request for grant aid.

 

(iv)

The Junction Project

 

Members were advised that the organisation was likely to attract other grant aid, which would lead to over-subscription. It was therefore decided not to support the application.

 

(v)

Forton Bowling Club

 

Members were advised that the club was developing a summer programme, which was likely to attract young people.

 

It was proposed and agreed that a grant of £200 be paid.

 

(vi)

St Mary’s Church – Organ Recitals

 

Members were advised that a grant of £250 had been paid towards this event in 2000.

 

The view was expressed that this was a stand alone arts event and should be supported by the Sub-Board.

 

It was proposed and agreed that a grant of £100 should be paid.

 

RESOLVED: That:

 

 

(i)

no grant be paid to Home Start, Gosport and Fareham;

 

 

(ii)

no grant be paid to Hardway District Guiding;

 

 

(iii)

the application from the Bivol Trust be deferred and that the Trust be invited to send a representative to a future meeting of the Sub-Board;

 

 

(iv)

no grant be paid to the Junction Project;

 

 

(v)

a grant of £200 be paid to the Forton Bowling Club; and

 

 

(vi)

a grant of £100 be paid towards the cost of providing organ recitals at St Mary’s Church.

 

 

 

 

Consideration was given to a report of the Financial Services Manager (a copy of which is affixed in the Minute Book as Appendix ‘B’) concerning a number of applications for Capital Grant Aid.

 

(i)

Logos Community Church

 

The view was expressed that the organisation did a lot of good work in the community but there were concerns that a large balance was currently held in its Business Premium Account. Much of the work for which grant aid was being requested, had already been completed and the Sub-Board did not normally provide grant aid in such circumstances. Members therefore decided not to support the application.

 

 

(ii)

Gosport Voluntary Action

 

Mr David Miles addressed the Sub-Board on behalf of Gosport Voluntary Action and advised that funding was in place for Phase 1 of the new building. To date £185,000 had been raised to fit out Phase 2. This comprised grants from the following organisations:

 

 

An application to Hampshire County Council for grant aid was due to be considered during June 2006.

 

Members agreed that a grant of £10,000 be paid to Gosport Voluntary Action but this would be the last occasion on which the Sub-Board would provide grant aid for this particular project.

 

(iii)

Bridgemary Methodist Church

 

Members were advised that the church, situated on the corner of Gregson Avenue and Prideaux Brune Avenue, carried out considerable work in the community. The church was experiencing problems with its perimeter fencing which had become a health and safety issue and was in need of replacement. A request for grant aid towards replacement fencing was therefore being sought.

 

The view was expressed that a loan from the Gosport/Fareham Methodist Circuit together with the use of some of the balances held by the church would provide the majority of the funds required to replace the fencing. It was proposed and agreed that a grant of £1,500 be paid.

 

(iv)

6th Gosport Scout Group

 

Mr Bennett addressed the Sub-Board on behalf of the 6th Gosport Scout Group and advised that efforts had been made in a number of areas to obtain grant funding towards the cost of roofing materials but without success. The group had taken part in a number of events to raise funds towards the provision of a new roof.

 

Mr Bennett advised the Sub-Board that an elderly persons’ club had stopped using the building due to the roofing problems but would return once the new roof was in place.

 

It was proposed and agreed that a grant of £1,000 be paid to the Gosport 6th Scout Group.

 

RESOLVED: That:

 

 

(i)

no grant be paid to Logos Community Church;

 

 

(ii)

a grant of £10,000 be paid to Gosport Voluntary Action and that this payment be the final grant awarded by the Sub-Board for the new building project;

 

 

(iii)

a grant of £1,500 be paid to Bridgemary Methodist Church;

 

 

(iv)

a grant of £1,000 be paid to 6th Gosport Scout Group.

 

 

The meeting commenced at 6.00 p.m. and concluded at 7.15 p.m.