Agenda item

Regina Choudhury, Community Development Officer, introduced the report which presented 15 Community and Economic Development Grants, 14 of which are intended to be used to provide Silver Sunday events.

Each application had been assessed against a standard check-list and considered by a ‘Grants Assessment Group’ to ensure a consistent approach to the awarding of grants.

The Community & Economic Development Grants which are recommended for consideration and approval by the Panel are set out below:-

A Member sought reassurances that the two Befriended applications are not a duplication.

The Community Development Officer confirmed that they are two separate events.

The Chairman enquired whether the Bridging Ages Community Interest Company is an established event.

The Community Development Officer explained that it is an established business which seeks to come into the area and is hoping to bring different generations together; the overall ethos of the organisation is charitable.

The Chairman noted that the Bridging Ages Community Interest Company is running their event at Imberhorne School, East Grinstead and highlighted the spread of events across the District, with more seemingly in the north of the District. He suggested that the grant for the Befriended event in Burgess Hill be increased as it is the only event taking place in the town.

Tom Clark, Head of Regulatory Services, confirmed that the grant can be increased.

Members were supportive of the application.

The Community Development Officer presented the Community and Economic Development Grant application from Haywards Heath Town Team which sought a grant of £4250 to fund the STEM Challenge 2019/20. She noted that the event was very successful last year and that the Team are looking at holding it again with increased attendance from more schools. The Assessment Team felt that whilst it is a great project, the event should consider seeking sponsorships from other businesses as the grant is offered to only grass-roots projects.

The Chairman noted that it is not the Council’s role to support such events on a continuous basis and he believed an argument could be made that the event is no longer a grass-roots project.

The Vice-Chairman believed that the event falls in-like with the Council’s priorities. He noted that the applicant seeks to hold the event next year and therefore suggested sending a letter to the organisers saying they should seek further sponsorship elsewhere in future.

Members were supportive of the suggestion to write a letter and the application.

The Vice-Chairman left the chamber for the consideration of the Bentswood Community Partnership application.

Members were supportive of the remaining 13 applications.

RESOLVED

The Cabinet Grant Panel agreed:

                      i.        that a Community & Economic Development of £250 be granted to Age UK West Sussex to fund a Silver Sunday free afternoon tea at Lamb House, Haywards Heath.

                     ii.        that a Community & Economic Development of £500 be granted to Befriended to fund a Silver Sunday Full Roast Lunch for 200 people at St Paul’s College, Burgess Hill.

                    iii.        that a Community & Economic Development of £250 be granted to Befriended to fund a Silver Sunday Big Lunch at Court Bushes Community Hub.

                   iv.        that a Community & Economic Development of £250 be granted to Bentswood Community Partnership to fund a Silver Sunday Intergenerational Tea Party at Warden Park Primary Academy.

                    v.        that a Community & Economic Development of £250 be granted to Brendoncare Stildon to fund a Silver Sunday Afternoon tea and entertainment in East Grinstead.

                   vi.        that a Community & Economic Development of £250 be granted to Bridging Ages Community Interest Company to fund a Silver Sunday Intergenerational Life Stories event with afternoon tea in East Grinstead.

                  vii.        that a Community & Economic Development of £250 be granted to Cuckfield Parish Council to fund a Silver Sunday Afternoon tea party in Cuckfield.

                 viii.        that a Community & Economic Development of £250 be granted to Haywards Heath U3A to fund a Silver Sunday Tea dance, raffle and refreshments at King Edward Hall, Lindfield.

                   ix.        that a Community & Economic Development of £250 be granted to Mid Sussex Older People’s Council to fund a Silver Sunday Information stalls and entertainment.

                    x.        that a Community & Economic Development of £250 be granted to Newtimber Parish to fund a Silver Sunday Village meal and film show in Newtimber.

                   xi.        that a Community & Economic Development of £250 be granted to Pyecombe Social Committee to fund a Silver Sunday visit to Sussex Prairie Gardens and afternoon tea from Pyecombe.

                  xii.        that a Community & Economic Development of £250 is not granted to The Koorana Foundation the Assessment Team feels that although the project idea is good, Silver Sunday falls outside the scope of their remit.

                 xiii.        that a Community & Economic Development of £250 be granted to East Grinstead Museum to fund a Silver Sunday tours of the ‘Rebuilding Bodies and Souls’ exhibition and refreshments in East Grinstead.

                xiv.        that a Community & Economic Development of £250 be granted to Trinity Methodist Church to fund a Silver Sunday Hot meal and entertainment at the Trinity Welcome Cafe?, East Grinstead.

                 xv.        that a Community & Economic Development of £4250 be granted to Haywards Heath Town Team to fund the 2019/20 STEM Challenge.