Agenda, decisions and minutes

Any apologies for absence that have been received will be noted at this point.

Apologies of absence had been received from Councillor Norma Graves.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Grants and Concessions Panel meeting held on Wednesday 16 September 2020.

Cllr Sharp noted that the time Mrs Apel left the meeting (p.18 of the agenda pack) was 12.25pm and not 12.35pm, as the meeting closed at 12.30pm.

No further comments were made.

The minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 16 September 2020 were agreed as a correct record.

Any matters arising as a result of the previous minutes.

There were no matters arising from the previous minutes.

Members and officers are reminded to make any declarations of disclosable pecuniary, personal and/or prejudicial interests they may have in respect of matters on the agenda for this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest made.

Consideration of the Annual Report by the Grants and Concessions Panel, provides an opportunity to the programme’s guidance, supporting continuous improvement of the grants and concessions processes and also to make recommendations to Cabinet for any changes to Policy.

Miss Williams introduced the report to the Panel. She explained to the Panel that the report documented the decisions made by the Grants and Concessions Panel during the previous year. The report is in draft format but once approved by Cabinet will be made publically available in accordance with the Council’s commitment to transparency.

Miss Williams explained that some of the information was still outstanding; and drew the Panel’s attention to section 3.2 Concessionary Rents (p.39).

In response to an observation by members Miss Williams agreed to expand acronyms within the report.

Following a short discussion the Panel agreed that they were content for officers to complete the report for Cabinet and that there was no need for the report to be presented to the Panel again.

Miss Williams explained that the Grants and Concessions Panel would normally begin discussions about funding priorities for the new financial year as part of the presentation of the Annual Report, however, due to the current pandemic and uncertainty surrounding future priorities she recommended that this be considered at the next meeting of the Panel. Mr Briscoe agreed with Miss Williams’s recommendation and asked members of the Panel to consider the funding priorities ahead of the next meeting. 

Resolved;

The Grants and Concessions Panel noted the report.

For decision.

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET MEMBER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES AND CULTURE IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GRANTS AND CONCESSIONS PANEL:

That the proposed variation to funding awarded to Southbourne parish Council from the New Homes Bonus (Parish Allocations) 2018 as set out in section 2.1 of the report be approved.

Alternative options considered and rejected;

That the proposed variation to funding awarded to Southbourne Parish Council from the New Homes Bonus (Parish Allocations) 2018 as set out in section 2.1 of the report be refused.

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET MEMBER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES AND CULTURE IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GRANTS AND CONCESSIONS PANEL:

That the proposed variation to funding awarded to Southbourne parish Council from the New Homes Bonus (Parish Allocations) 2018 as set out in section 2.1 of the report be approved.

Alternative options considered and rejected;

That the proposed variation to funding awarded to Southbourne Parish Council from the New Homes Bonus (Parish Allocations) 2018 as set out in section 2.1 of the report be refused.

For decision; Report will follow as supplement

Decision deferred to the meeting of the Grants and Concessions Panel on Wednesday 20 January 2021.

Decision deferred to the meeting of the Grants and Concessions Panel on Wednesday 20 January 2021.

The Panel are asked to note the financial information; fast track grants approved since the last meeting and any grants nearing the three year cut off.

They are also asked to decide on New Homes Bonus (Parish Allocations) Extensions Requests from Funtington & District Village Hall and Hunston Parish Council.

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET MEMBER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES AND CULTURE IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GRANTS AND CONCESSIONS PANEL

1. That an extension until October 2021 would be granted to Funtington and District Village Hall (now operating as West Ashling and Funtington District Hall) for the unspent sum of £10,000.

Alternative options considered and rejected:

That the Panel refuses the extension request

2. That an extension until April 2021 would be granted to Hunston Parish Council for the unspent sum of £13,393.

Alternative options considered and rejected:

That the Panel refuses to approve the extension request

The Panel considered the report. Mr Cooper drew the Panel’s attention to the value of the applications to be considered at the meeting. He reminded the Panel that the budget allocation was a maximum of £175,000 for the year and that a sum of £106,991.70 was still available.

Mr Cooper informed the Panel that since 24 June 2020 a total of £3,812 had been approved through the Fast Track scheme. The Panel noted the following delegated decisions;

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET MEMBER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES AND CULTURE IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GRANTS AND CONCESSIONS FAST TRACK PANEL:

Applicant: Sussex Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (SASBAH)

Priority: Targeted Projects

Purpose: Contribution towards an advisor and social inclusion services.

Sum Requested: £1000

Sum Approved: £1000

Reasons: To improve the physical, mental and financial well-being of those who access the service.

Grant Conditions: Subject to a Funding Agreement

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET MEMBER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GRANTS AND CONCESSIONS FAST TRACK PANEL:

Applicant: Bosham Football Club

Priority: Improving Places and Spaces

Purpose: Contribution towards the renovation of the clubhouse.

Sum Requested: £812

Sum Approved: £812

Reasons: To provide a modern facility for the community and increase participation

Grant Conditions: Subject to a Funding Agreement; restricted to beneficiaries from the Chichester District

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET MEMBER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GRANTS AND CONCESSIONS FAST TRACK PANEL:

Applicant: Chichester Festival Theatre

Priority: Economy & Improving Living Spaces

Purpose: Contribution towards the signing of the event.

Sum Requested: £1000

Sum Approved: £1000

Reasons:  To support a local business to provide an outdoor community event.

Grant Conditions: Subject to a Funding Agreement

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET MEMBER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GRANTS AND CONCESSIONS FAST TRACK PANEL:

Applicant: Chichester New Park

Priority: Economy

Purpose: Contribution towards the screen and film hire.

Sum Requested: £1000

Sum Approved: £1000

Reasons:  To support a local business to provide an outdoor community event.

Grant Conditions: Subject to a Funding Agreement

Mr Cooper also drew the Panel’s attention to the grant applications which were nearing there cut off point

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET MEMBER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES AND CULTURE IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GRANTS AND CONCESSIONS PANEL

1. That an extension until October 2021 would be granted to Funtington and District Village Hall (now operating as West Ashling and Funtington District Hall) for the unspent sum of £10,000.

Alternative options considered and rejected:

That the Panel refuses the extension request

2. That an extension until November 2020 would be granted to Hunston Parish Council for the unspent sum of £13,393.

Alternative options considered and rejected:

That the Panel refuses to approve the extension request

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET MEMBER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES AND CULTURE IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GRANTS AND CONCESSIONS PANEL:

Applicant: Manhood Wildlife and Heritage Group

Declarations of interest: N/a

Purpose: To set up a series of tree nurseries throughout the community.

Sum requested: £7,500

Sum approved: £7,500

Reasons: To help make the local area more resilient to climate change.

Grant conditions: Subject to a funding agreement.

Alternative options considered and rejected:

The Panel considers whether or not to support every application so will always consider not granting an application.

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET MEMBER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES AND CULTURE IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GRANTS AND CONCESSIONS PANEL:

Applicant: Manhood Wildlife and Heritage Group

Declarations of interest: N/a

Purpose: To set up a series of tree nurseries throughout the community.

Sum requested: £7,500

Sum approved: £7,500

Reasons: To help make the local area more resilient to climate change.

Grant conditions: Subject to a funding agreement.

Alternative options considered and rejected:

The Panel considers whether or not to support every application so will always consider not granting an application.

For decision.

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET MEMBER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES AND CULTURE IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GRANTS AND CONCESSIONS PANEL:

Applicant: Home-Start Chichester & District

Declarations of interest: N/a

Purpose: To support Home-Start’s work to offer emotional and practical support to disadvantaged families (with a child under five) within the District.

Sum requested: £10,000

Sum approved: £10,000

Reasons: To provide support for families in the most disadvantaged areas within the District.
Grant conditions: Subject to a funding agreement.

Alternative options considered and rejected:

The Panel considers whether or not to support every application so will always consider not granting an application.

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET MEMBER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES AND CULTURE IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GRANTS AND CONCESSIONS PANEL:

Applicant: Home-Start Chichester & District

Declarations of interest: N/a

Purpose: To support Home-Start’s work to offer emotional and practical support to disadvantaged families (with a child under five) within the District.

Sum requested: £10,000

Sum approved: £10,000

Reasons: To provide support for families in the most disadvantaged areas within the District.
Grant conditions: Subject to a funding agreement.

Alternative options considered and rejected:

The Panel considers whether or not to support every application so will always consider not granting an application.

To consider the Covid-19 recover grants and make recommendations to Cabinet.

Mr Hyland provided the Panel with an update on the Covid-19 Recovery Grants. Ms Burgonye, Economic Development Manager and Mr Irvine, Economic Development Officer, were also present for the discussion. He reminded the Panel that at the meeting of Full Council on 21 July 2020 it was agreed that a sum £250,000 would be made available for the creation of the Community Recovery Grants and a further £250,000 would be made available for the creation of the Economic Recovery Grants. It was also agreed that certain powers would be delegated to both the Director of Housing and Communities and the Director of Growth and Place.

Following a discussion with the Panel, a formal grants scheme was approved by the Director (Appendix 1). The funding pots were further split between small and large funding applications.

To date there have been;

·         43 small Economic Recovery Grants;

·         53 large Economic Recovery Grants;

·         39 small Community Recovery Grants;

·         18 large Community Recovery Grants;

The original closing date for the funds had been set as 18 September, as it has been anticipated that there would be a high demand for the grant. At the meeting of the Grants and Concessions Panel on 16 September 2020 the Panel agreed to extend the deadline to 23 October 2020. Mr Hyland explained that take up from businesses had been high and the large economic recovery grant was now over bid, however, he explained that there was still large sums of money left in the community recovery grant.

Mr Hyland drew the Panel’s attention to page 89 of the agenda pack – 7.Alternatives considered and asked the Panel to advise how they would like the funding to continue. He explained that given the sums of money been discussed any recommendation would likely be a recommendation to Cabinet for a recommendation to Full Council.

Following an in depth discussion over the various alternative options available the Panel agreed the following recommendations;

Resolved;

1.    That the Grants and Concessions Panel recommend to Cabinet to recommend to Full Council that the remaining sums of money allocated to businesses and communities through the Covid-19 Recovery Grant be merged into one single funding pot.

2.    That the Grants and Concessions Panel recommend to the Director of Housing and Communities and the Director of Growth and Place that through their delegated powers they remove the current deadline for receiving funding applications from both business and community groups to the Covid-19 recovery fund.

3.    That the Grants and Concession Panel recommend to the Director of Housing and Communities and the Director of Growth and Place that through their delegated powers they revise the split

To note the date of the next meeting as Wednesday 24 March 2021at 9.30am, the meeting will be held virtually.

To note future meeting dates and agree proposed change;

Wednesday 30 June 2020

Wednesday 15 September 2020

Wednesday 27 October 2020 – propose new date Thursday 21 October 2020

Wednesday 19 January 2020

Wednesday 30 March 2020

The next meeting will be held virtually on Wednesday 20 January 2021 at 9.30am.