Agenda item

Emma Sheridan, Business Unit Leader for Community Services, Policy and Performance, introduced the report which presented to the Cabinet Grants Panel 13 Community Grant applications. She noted where applications that have no award recommended, due to applications not meeting the criteria of the Community  Grants scheme, officers were providing ongoing assistance to organisations to seek other sources of grant funding. She drew attention to the application from Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove which is significantly larger than most grants issued under the scheme however confirmed that it is linked to wider investment in the Keymer Brick and Tile development where the developer has provided the building but additional funding is required for fixtures and fittings.

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

The Vice-Chairman enquired whether there are break options in the contract Burgess Hill Shed have with their landlord. He also felt pleased to see the application from Hassocks Baby Group come forward as during the pandemic parent and toddler baby groups have not functioned with parents not able to access essential peer to peer support.

The Chairman echoed the comments of the Vice-Chairman.

The Member expressed that he was happy to support the recommendations. He noted that there was a number of applications arising from the southern part of the District and not from the north and asked whether there was any particular reason for it. He referred to the application from Albion in the Community and queried whether they could organise events in the northern part of the District as many residents are fans of Brighton and Hove Albion F.C.

The Business Unit Leader for Community Services, Policy and Performance confirmed that in relation to the geographic spread, there was a comprehensive review over the last year which provided an indication of an equitable split across the three towns, the rural areas and the north and south of the District. She added that it seems particular to this meeting of the Panel that the majority of the applications arise from the south of the District. However, the split is generally even and officers would raise it with Members’ if they felt that applications where not coming from a particular area of the District or sector of the community. She also confirmed that she would talk to Albion in the Community to encourage a greater engagement in the north of the District and that she does not consider break clauses to bring a risk, as they are included in every lease.

The Chairman took the Panel to vote on all applications.

Members were supportive of the applications.

RESOLVED

The Cabinet Grants Panel agreed:

1. That a Community Grant of £20,000 be awarded Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove to fund the support of the costs towards opening the Kings Weald Community Centre (Keymer Brick & Tile), Burgess Hill.

2. That a Community Grant of £2,700 be awarded to Burgess Hill Shed to fund the materials to set up a workshop for “The Kiln”.

3. That a Community Grant of £5,000 be awarded to Carers Support West Sussex to fund their Check in and Chat befriending service.

4. That a Community Grant of £400 be awarded to Hassocks Baby Group to fund a volunteer run parent and baby group.

5. That a Community Grant of £3,157.60 be awarded to Sheddingdean Community Association to fund their annual rental cost of Sheddingdean Community Centre up to the end of their current lease.

6. That a Community Grant of £5,000 be awarded to Sussex Clubs for Young People to fund youth sessions at Court Bushes.

7. That a Community Grant of £537.95 be awarded to Windmills Opportunity Playgroup to their annual rental cost of Sheddingdean Community Centre up to the end of their current lease.

8. That a Community & Economic Development Grant of £4,999 be awarded to Albion in the Community to part fund Premier League Kicks project in Burgess Hill and Oathall.

9. That no Community  Grant be awarded to Burgess Hill Town Council as their application has been referred to the Economic Development Team to be considered under the ‘Welcome Back Fund’ for high streets as the application seek to encourage gatherings in public spaces post Covid.
10. That no Community  Grant be awarded to Hurst Festival as their application has been referred to the Economic Development Team to be considered under the ‘Welcome Back Fund’ for high streets as the application seek to encourage gatherings in public spaces post Covid.

11. That no Community Grant be awarded to Warninglid Primary Academy as their applications cannot be funded under the criteria that states, ‘education activities will not be funded where central government, the health authority or county council are the most appropriate funder’.

12. That no Community Grant be awarded to Warden Primary Academy as their applications cannot be funded under the criteria that states, ‘education activities will not be funded where central government, the health authority or county council are the most appropriate funder’.

13. That no Community Grant be awarded to Sussex Association of Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus as the set-up costs to re-design the service was funded through a previous Covid-19 Recovery fund application and the criteria set in the Community Grants fund excludes funding for ongoing project costs.