Agenda item

Emma Sheridan, Business Unit Leader for Community Services, Policy and Performance, introduced the report which listed twenty applications received from Community and Voluntary Sector organisations, in response to the Mid Sussex Covid-19 Recovery Grant Fund. She explained that a number of organisations are community halls, five of which are seeking to improve their digital offer, two seeking the purchase of PPE and three seeking to change or offer new activities as a result of Covid-19. She noted the application from the Dementia Action Alliance project which was deferred at the last meeting of the Panel, to see if they could seek alternative grant funding. Officers have since exhausted all opportunities and have not found it possible to fund the activities that the grant was requested for.

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

The Chairman noted that no Member wished to speak so moved the Panel to vote on all applications except the application from Haywards Heath Dementia Friendly Community.

Members were supportive of the applications and recommendations.

[The Chairman was removed from the voting and discussion at 16:30]

The Vice-Chairman noted that no Member wished to speak so moved the Panel to vote on the application from Haywards Heath Dementia Friendly Community.

Members were supportive of the application.

[The Chairman returned to the meeting at 16:32]

RESOLVED

The Cabinet Grants Panel agreed:

1. That £5,000 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Action in Rural Sussex (AirS) to fund the establishment of a Centre Manager Steering Group for community halls and similar buildings to support recovery from Covid19 closures and the impacts of related restrictions, development of a dedicated ‘Basecamp’ online forum and message board for Mid Sussex as well as funding website development, training and associated staffing costs.

2. That £5,000 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Ansty Village Centre Trust to fund additional costs to the fit out of the new village centre to meet a post Covid19 standard and installation of electronic door access control and proximity taps.

3. That £3,764 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Aspire Sussex Ltd to fund the purchase of digital hardware to enable tutors to put courses online and interact remotely with students.

4. That £270 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Being Neighbourly East Grinstead to fund the purchase of 2 Covid screens and an outdoor shelter to be erected on the café terrace.

5. That £1,000 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Befriended to fund an Easter basket with an Easter egg and related seasonal items with a hand-written letter to hand delivered to isolated older people.

6. That £3,500 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released Burgess Hill Community Radio to fund the purchase of equipment which will improve the service offered to users and allow more presenters to work from home, along with equipment to ensure studios are Covid secure.

7. That £1,000 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Burgess Hill Guide Hall to fund the purchase of PPE, enhanced cleaning equipment and consumables, notices, signs.

8. That £2,000 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Coro Nuovo to fund a COVID-19 Commemoration concert (pending restrictions that may be in place) - free to frontline NHS workers.

9. That £5,000 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Crawley Down Phoenix Netball Club to fund the construction of a covered hard standing area to enhance the ability to provide refreshment, food and social facilities for parents & players.

10. That £1,000 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Dicker House Preschool to fund a year’s supply of cleaning products to help ensure Preschool remains as clean and sterile as possible to help combat the risk of COVID-19 within the setting.

11. That £5,000 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to East Grinstead Hockey Club to fund the construction of a covered hard standing area to enhance the ability to provide refreshment, food and social facilities for parents & players.

12. That £5,000 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to East Grinstead Meads Football Club to fund the provision of shed/hut so refreshments can be provided outdoors for parents attending whilst their children take part in football training and matches.

13. That £4,877 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to East Grinstead Tennis, Squash and Racketball Club to fund the provision of an outside shelter and tennis ball feeder allowing individuals to practice on their own.

14. That £15,000 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Haywards Heath Dementia Friendly Community to support planned work for 2021 across the three towns - Haywards Heath, East Grinstead and Burgess Hill- including work in schools, local businesses, collaboration with primary care, cafes, pop up events and local groups, minority groups and rural areas.

15. That £5,000 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to Hurstpierpoint Village Centre to fund the purchase of audio-visual equipment for the Village centre to enable residents to attend in person and remotely.

16. That £4,315 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to The Escape Youth Clubto fund the purchase equipment to allow use of outside space – cover and seating.

17. That £4,000 from the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund be released to The Kings Church to fund the Re-Work Programme - a free course that equips anyone who has lost their job during the pandemic with the skills, mind-set and confidence they need to re-enter the workplace.

18. That no grant be released to Chequer Mead Arts & Community Trust as it is a retrospective application for IT system already purchased.

19. That no grant be released to East Grinstead Sports Club Ltd to as the application does not meet any criteria of the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund.

20. That no grant be released to Hurstpierpoint Scout Group as the application does not meet any criteria of the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund.

21. That no grant be released to Haywards Heath Dementia Action Alliance as the application does not meet any criteria of the Mid Sussex Covid 19 Recovery Grant Fund.