Agenda item

Emma Sheridan, Business Unit Leader for Community Services, Policy and Performance, introduced the report which presented thirty-one applications received from Community and Voluntary Sector organisations, in response to the Mid Sussex Covid-19 Recovery Grant Fund, to help businesses and community organisations in supporting and recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic. She noted that the revised Mid Sussex District Council Corporate Plan established the Fund with the provision of £300,000 deriving from Council reserves and that a small amount of the grants were not recommended for an award however they have been directed to other funding.

 

The applications which were recommended for consideration by the Panel are set out below:

 

Table 1
Organisation	Grant Purpose	Award Requested	Award Suggested
107 Meridian FM	Home broadcasting equipment for volunteers	£2,280	£2,280
4Sight Vision Support	Costs towards increased newsletter printing and distribution	£868	£868
Aspire Sussex Ltd	Additional cleaning materials for Marle Place centre	£1,000	£1,000
Bolney Community Café Centre	Purchase Covid screens and outdoor shelter	£5,000	£2,352
Bolnore Village Community Partnership	Improvements to the facilities to ensure that they can be cleaned more easily and be Covid safe	£5,000	£5,000
Concordia	Set up virtual e-learning zone for Youth Action programme	£3,620	£3,620
Crawley and East Grinstead Branch of Parkinson’s UK	Develop website to promote services and raise awareness	£1,500	£1,500
East Grinstead Rugby Football Club	Cleaning requirements and sports equipment	£4,492	£4,492
East Grinstead Sports Club	Works to facilitate social distancing measures and regular cleaning regimes for the club	£2,900	£2,900
Friends of Bolney School	Purchase ‘Buddy Bench’ for children feeling anxious	£176	£176
Handcross Rosemary Club	Cost of Christmas hampers to replace Christmas lunch, monthly tea and visits	£1,000	£1,000
Hope	Fund hall hire where groups can no longer meet in own homes	£992	£992
Hurstpierpoint Gymnastics Club	Additional cleaning materials, equipment and coaches to assist with smaller groups	£5,000	£5,000
Mid Sussex Marlins Swimming Club	Additional pool hire costs to make lessons Covid compliant	£5,000	£5,000
Mid Sussex Older People’s Council	Costs towards increased newsletter printing and posting	£1,000	£1,000
Mid Sussex Voluntary Action	Cost of new CRM and to migrate onto Cloud	£5,000	£5,000
Mycarematters 2020 CIC	Set up Buddy system for people struggling to plan for later life and end of life	£5,000	£5,000
Revitalise Respite Holidays	Cost of PPE for the respite centre	£3,600	£3,600
SASBAH	Online workshops	£873	£873
*Slaugham Parish Council	Purchase free standing sanitation stations	£1,500	£1,500
St Peter & St James Hospice	Expansion of telephone befriending service	£2,000	£2,000
The Ashdown Hub CIO	Set up social networking groups (Covid compliant) with expert clinician to advise on wellbeing	£1,210	£1,210
UK Harvest	Food deliveries to vulnerable residents and set up online chefing course	£5,000	£5,000
Age UK East Grinstead & District	Analysis of survey and purchase new IT, marketing and postage	£5,000	£3,500
Being Neighbourly	Set up website, information packs and social events	£4,965	£2,851
St Peter’s Preschool & Toddler Group	New website, film virtual tour and fit new carpet	£1,500	£1,152
Victim Support	Purchase two new laptops for volunteer and Kickstart employee	£2,485	£1,242.50
	TOTAL	£75,313	£70,108.50

 

Applications Considered but NO GRANT Award Recommended

 

Table 2
Organisation	Purpose for which grant is sought	Award requested
Christians Against Poverty Debt Centre	Contribution towards emergency aid payments and insolvency/bankruptcy fees for clients	£1,000
Coro Nuovo	Commemoration Concert and bursary costs	£8,000
Hurstpierpoint Scout Group	Lettings and general running costs	£1,000
Haywards Heath Dementia Action Alliance	Set up and deliver services for people living with dementia	£15,000
	TOTAL	£25,000

 

Franca Currall, Solicitor, advised that the Panel consider and vote on all applications except for the two where Members have interests in.

 

The Chairman expressed hope that businesses whom had not received grant funding were not being left unsupported.

 

The Business Unit Leader for Community Services, Policy and Performance referred the Chairman to Paragraphs 17 to 20 of the report which explained the actions taken to direct organisations to alternative funding .

 

The Chairman highlighted the application from Friends of Bolney School for the purchase of ‘Buddy Bench’ and thought it was an excellent initiative which for a small amount of cost would have great results.

 

The Vice-Chairman thanked officers for the huge amount of work on bringing forward the grants. He referred to the application from Bolney Community Café Centre and asked whether the outdoor shelter is more of a capital improvement or whether it is a temporary improvement in light of Covid-19. He also asked whether the Council is completely subsidising the Crawley and East Grinstead Branch of Parkinson’s UK with their application or whether there is also funding from Crawley.

 

The Business Unit Leader for Community Services, Policy and Performance confirmed that the works were a permanent capital improvement and that officers had  investigated if S106 Capital funding was available for the Bolney Community Café Centre, however, there was not. She added that both Parish and District Council have contributed to the project to allow people to access the Café in a covid secure manner  which they otherwise would not be able to do so inside, given the government regulations.

 

Paul Turner, Community Services Manager, confirmed that the application from Crawley and East Grinstead Branch of Parkinson’s UK requests only 50% of the total project cost with the remainder raised from alternative sources.

 

The Member noted that the recommendation includes reopening the grant funding for another round of bidding and felt sure that demand for the funding will be there. He believed the key to the engagement of the funding were bidders understanding what the grant is for and making sure the Council can connect with the right people. He asked if there was anything the Council would do differently to get more people aware of the scheme. He noted that a couple of applications such as the UK Food Harvest seek funding for food deliveries, however, he noted that food donations to the Food Bank wouldn’t qualify so enquired what would and wouldn’t qualify for a grant.

 

The Business Unit Leader for Community Services, Policy and Performance explained that the availability of government grants as a result of the November lockdown had caused some confusion for businesses. All relevant officers were, however, working collaboratively; meeting on a weekly basis to make sure all businesses and organisations were being directed to the most relevant funding streams. Workshops were held for the voluntary sector which proved successful and had resulted in good  quality bids being made. She felt that the grant round came a bit too soon for some organisations especially given that the second lockdown was shortly announced after the grant funding was announced, with some businesses only now getting to grips with the new world they were facing. With respect to food, there has been an increase in the demand for basic needs and the Council has carried out a lot of work in partnership with the County, Town and Parish Councils to support food banks and those who need food. When grants of that nature are received, the Council reviews them on a case by case basis so that they can be signposted and provided with what they require. Support is available for any resident in need of food.

 

The Member noted that the next round of bidding concludes on 14 January however the next meeting of the Panel takes place on February. He confirmed that he would make himself available should the meeting be brought forward or additional meetings scheduled.

 

The Chairman confirmed that the facility does exist to arrange additional meetings should the need arise. He then moved to the voting on the applications which were to be take all at once except for the applications from Age UK East Grinstead & District Haywards Heath Dementia Action Alliance.

 

The Panel voted unanimously in favour of the recommendations.

 

[Cllr Belsey left room at 16:29]

 

The Vice-Chairman thanked the officers for their work and agreed with their comments.

 

The Chairman then moved to the vote on the application from Age UK East Grinstead & District which was agreed unanimously.

 

[Cllr Belsey returned 16:31]

 

[Cllr Webster left room at 16:32]

 

The Vice-Chairman expressed that he was happy with the officer’s recommendation. He then moved to the vote on the application which was approved unanimously.

 

[Cllr Webster returned 16:33]

 

The Chairman then took the Panel to vote on Recommendation 3.c to approve a second grant round of the Covid19 Recovery Fund as proposed in paragraph 25 which was approved unanimously.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.     That £2,280 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to 107 Meridian FM to fund home broadcasting equipment for volunteers to keep the radio station on air.

 

2.     That £868 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to 4Sight Vision Support to fund the increase of newsletters that will be available online, through audio or braille.

 

3.     That £1,000 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Aspire Sussex Ltd to fund a contribution towards the cost of additional cleaning regimes for the centre (Marle Place).

 

4.     That £2,352 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Bolney Community Café Society to fund the purchase of 2 Covid screens and an outdoor shelter to be erected on the café terrace.

 

5.     That £5,000 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Bolnore Village Community Partnership to fund improvements to the facilities to ensure that they can be cleaned more easily and be Covid safe.

 

6.     That £3,620 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released Concordia to fund the set-up a virtual e-learning zone for the Youth Action Programme.

 

7.     That £1,500 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Crawley and East Grinstead Branch of Parkinson’s UK to fund the creation of a website to promote the subsidised care and transportation services offered and to raise awareness of Parkinsons.

 

8.     That £4,492 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to East Grinstead Rugby Football Club to fund the extra costs associated with cleaning requirements and sports equipment.

 

9.     That £2,900 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to East Grinstead Sports Club to fund improvement works to help facilitate safer social distancing and safer access routes for club users and to implement a regular cleaning regime in the changing facilities.

 

10.  That £176 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Friends of Bolney School to the purchase of a ‘Buddy Bench’ for children feeling anxious to promote good mental health. 

 

11.  That £1,000 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Handcross Rosemary Club to fund Christmas hampers to replace Christmas lunch, monthly tea and visit.

 

12.  That £992 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Hope to fund the cost of hiring venues for support groups to meet who can no longer meet in their homes as happened pre-Covid.

 

13.  That £5,000 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Hurstpierpoint Gymnastics Club to fund additional cleaning materials, equipment  and coaches to assist with smaller groups, cleaning and supervision of arrival & departure of children.

 

14.  That £5,000 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Mid Sussex Marlins Swimming Club to fund additional pool hire costs to make lessons Covid compliant.

 

15.  That £1,000 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Mid Sussex Older People’s Council to fund additional costs incurred with increase in postal newsletters.

 

16.  That £5,000 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Mid Sussex Voluntary Action to fund costs towards a new CRM which can be placed on the Cloud and migrating existing systems on to the Cloud.

 

17.  That £5,000 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Mycarematters 2020 CIC to fund the set-up a Buddy system for people who are struggling to plan for later life and end of life, specifically the elderly, including those living with early stages of dementia.

 

18.  That £3,600 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Revitalise Respite Holidays to fund the cost of PPE for the respite centre (Netley Waterside House) for 6 months.

 

19.  That £873 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to SASBAH to fund a schedule of online workshops, groups and activities, including fitness, cookery, art, discussions and quizzes.

 

20.  That £1,500 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Slaugham Parish Council to fund the installation of eight free-standing sanitation stations. Refer the bid to the Covid Emergency Fund.

 

21.  That £2,000 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to St Peter & St James Hospice to fund the expansion of telephone befriending service; focusing on elderly people living alone and carers including volunteer training.

 

22.  That £1,210 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to The Ashdown Hub CIO to fund the set-up of groups in East Grinstead which are Covid compliant to promote walking and ecotherapy and arts therapies with expert clinician to advise on wellbeing.

 

23.  That £5,000 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to UK Harvest to fund food provision to vulnerable people in the district supported by online educational cookery courses.

 

24.  That £3,500 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Age UK East Grinstead & District to fund the undertaking of an analysis of survey conducted during lockdown and the purchase of new IT equipment, marketing, postage and activity equipment.

 

25.  That £2,851 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Being Neighbourly to fund the set-up of a website and hosting and purchase of card readers, volunteer information packs, resident leaflets and social events.

 

26.  That £1,152 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to St Peter’s Preschool & Toddler Group to fund a new website and film a virtual tour of the playgroup.

 

27.  That £1,242.50 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Victim Support to fund the purchase of two laptops for a volunteer and a young person to be recruited by the Kickstart scheme.

 

28.  That no grant be released to Christians Against Poverty Debt Centre as contributions towards emergency aid payments and insolvency/bankruptcy fees for clients does not meet any criteria of the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund.

 

29.  That no grant be released to Coro Nuovo to as the application has been referred to the Community & Economic Development Grant fund.

 

30.  That no grant be released to Hurstpierpoint Scout Group as the group have been referred to the government discretionary and business grants.

 

31.  That no grant be released to Haywards Heath Dementia Action Alliance to the application has been referred to alternative funding schemes.

 

32.  That a a second grant round of the Covid19 Recovery Fund be held for further applications.