Agenda item

Regina Choudhury, Community Development Officer, which presented eight Community Grant to the Cabinet Grants Panel applications for consideration.

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

*application to be referred to the Ukrainian Support Fund

** £5,000 will be paid from the Ukrainian Support Fund if the bid is successful

The applications that were considered but no grant award was recommended:

The Vice-Chairman enquired on the sources of funding for the Hassocks Baby Group and sought clarification on the size of the Ukrainian Refugee Support Fund mentioned in the report.

The Community Development Officer explained that the Hassocks Baby Group charge £1 per session and do seek outside funding. She stated that she was not aware of the size of the Ukrainian Refugee Support Fund however would research the answer and inform the councillor at a later date.

The Vice-Chairman sought reassurances that the STEM Challenge will be considered by the Economic Development Team.

Nathan Spilstead, Regeneration and Economy Programme Manager, confirmed that he had been approached by the Haywards Heath Town Team and that the Council agrees with the application in principle subject to the submission of the correct paperwork.

The Member questioned whether the Ukrainian Refugee Support Fund is funded by money put aside by Mid Sussex District Council or whether it is part of a wider pot.

The Community Development Officer replied that it is a separate fund through West Sussex County Council.

The Member sought clarity on why some organisations have been successful and others have not.

The Community Development Officer outlined that some applications are retrospective and/or are to continue with existing projects in the same format and therefore do not meet the criteria.

The Member noted the application from the East Grinstead Society and that Mid Sussex have been very supportive of the society. He highlighted that only £2,000 has been offered with the project costing over £10,000. He asked whether the Society could go forward with the project given the funding provided.

The Community Development Officer responded that when the application was assessed the applicant mentioned seeking potential sources of funding going forward and with the project having an environmental factor it was felt that they could easily attract other funding. She added that there would be no reason they could not come back should they not be able to source alternative funding.

The Chairman enquired whether the applicant could come back to request additional funding.

Tom Clark, Head of Regulatory Services, confirmed that the applicant could obtain a different application for a different part of the project.

The Member expressed that the application should ideally be completed within the year given that it's to mark the Queen’s Jubilee. He understood the pressure of costs however thought that it was a good project and proposed offering the organisation £4,000 to get the project over the line.

The Chairman noted the long and hard discussions locally in East Grinstead. He expressed that he would like Mid Sussex District Council to be seen to be a significant sponsor of the project and so agreed with the Member to increase the award to £4,000.

The Chairman noted that no Member wished to speak so moved to vote on the applications which was agreed unanimously.

RESOLVED

The Cabinet Grants Panel agreed:             

1. That £4,000 from the Community Grants Fund be released to East Grinstead Society to fund the renovation of the Grade II Listed Victorian Jubilee Drinking Water Foundation in East Grinstead’s historic High Street.

2. That £100 from the Community Grants Fund be released to Hassocks Baby Group to fund the purchase toys/equipment to expand the existing parent and baby group to an older age group.

3. That £495 from the Community Grants Fund be released to Maple Drive Community Group to fund the Summer Family Fun Afternoon at Leylands Field, Burgess Hill.

4. That the application from Community Transport Sussex CIO to support Ukrainian refugee families be referred to the Ukrainian Support Fund for consideration.

5. That no grant be awarded to Sussex Clubs for Young People as their application did not meet the criteria of the Community Development Grants Scheme.

6. That no grant be awarded to Burgess Hill Community Cupboard CIO as their application did not meet the criteria of the Community Development Grants Scheme.

7. That no grant be awarded to Haywards Heath Town Team as their application did not meet the criteria of the Community Development Grants Scheme.

8. That no grant be awarded to Sussex Association of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus SASBAH as their application did not meet the criteria of the Community Development Grants Scheme.