Chichester District Council
Agenda, decisions and minutes

Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Virtually

Contact: Katherine Davis on 01243 534674  Email:  kdavis@chichester.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

49.

Chairman's Announcements

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

Minutes:

The Chairman advised that a late item would be dealt with at the beginning of the meeting to consider the response received from Chichester City Council’s in respect of this Panel’s allocation of the New Homes Bonus at its previous meeting.

 

50.

Approval of the Minutes pdf icon PDF 366 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Grants and Concessions Panel meeting held on 15 September 2021.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2021 were agreed as a correct record.

 

51.

Matters Arising from the Minutes

Any matters arising as a result of the previous minutes.

Minutes:

There were no matters arising.

 

52.

Declarations of Interest

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.

Minutes:

Mrs Apel declared a prejudicial interest in respect of a late item relating to the response received from Chichester City Council’s in respect of this Panel’s allocation of the New Homes Bonus at its previous meeting.

 

53.

New Homes Bonus (Parish Allocations) Scheme application from Chichester City Council

Minutes:

Mr Hyland referred to the Panel’s decision to increase the funds awarded to the Chichester City Council’s New Homes Bonus application in respect of a 300m running track at Chichester College, in light of the refusal of the separate bid in respect of the Nelson/Murray statue.  Panel had made a recommendation to Cabinet subject to consultation with Chichester City Council.

 

He had received an email front the City Council advising that at the City Council’s Finance Working Group meeting yesterday agreed, with some hesitation, to the £25,000 failed NHB application (Nelson/Murray Statue) to be added to the Chichester Runners £18,000 allocation to make £43,000, rather than lose the money.

 

Councillors wanted it noted that they were not happy with the allocation process and suggested that it should be addressed by CDC’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

The Chairman advised that it was not this Panel’s remit to refer itself to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  It would be for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to call in the decisions once it was considered by Cabinet.

 

Mr Hyland confirmed that a report to Cabinet recommending the allocation of £43,000 to Chichester City Council in favour of Chichester Runners and Athletics Club had been drafted.

 

The Panel agreed that the report should be considered by Cabinet on 2 November 2021.

 

54.

Annual Report of the Chichester District Council Grants and Concessions Panel for the Financial Year 2020/21

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.

Minutes:

Miss Williams introduced the draft annual report to the Panel that documented all grants and funding allocations made by the Council to external organisations over the previous financial year. Miss Williams invited members to feedback any comments they may have about the draft report before the final version was presented to the next Panel meeting on 19 January 2021for approval.  The report highlighted some of the difficulties reported and also the different support the Council had made available as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic.  It was noted that Councils were compensated for any relief granted under section 31 of The Local Government Finance Act 2003 and an explanatory note would be added to the report to this effect.  A paragraph would also be added that recognised the scale of the corporate effort to support around 3,000 businesses during the pandemic. 

 

Due to the large size of appendix 4 the information had not been included in today’s report.  The Panel agreed to delegate final approval of this appendix to the Chairman.

 

It was suggested that a press release should be issued detailing the support that the Council and the Government has given to businesses during the pandemic.  Miss Williams undertook to talk to the Council services that had been involved.

 

Officers had discussed how best to address the climate change emergency in respect of the priorities to encourage the projects coming forward to consider their environmental impacts.

 

Mr Hyland advised members that the priorities covered a wide range of most of the bids received and not many had been discouraged at an early stage as they did not meet the priorities.  A report revising the priorities and principles would be brought to the Panel’s January 2022 meeting to consider proposals from the future services framework concerning other funding that might be guided through the concessionary grants scheme before being considered by Cabinet.

 

The Chairman commended Miss Williams on the amount of work that have gone in to preparing the report.  It was agreed that a revised version of the report would be presented to the January meeting for approval by the Panel before publication on the Council’s website.

 

55.

New Homes Bonus (Parish Allocations) Policy

That the Council be recommended to approve the revisions to the New Homes Bonus (Parish Allocations) Policy and the delegations therein

Minutes:

Mr Hyland presented the draft report on the future of the New Homes Bonus (Parish Allocations) Policy that would be considered by Cabinet following consultation with the parishes.  He reminded the panel that following consideration of the two options the parishes had chosen Option 1, which would extend the current scheme by a further year, changing it from a four year policy to a five year policy.

 

Resolved

 

That the Council be recommended to approve the revisions to the New homes Bonus (Parish Allocations) Policy and the delegations therein.

 

56.

Voluntary and Community Sector Infrastructure Support

The Panel is asked to recommend that the Cabinet recommends to Council the continuation of funding to Voluntary Action Arun and Chichester for the provision of infrastructure support to the voluntary and community groups and charities in Chichester District. 

 

The Panel is asked to recommend that the Cabinet delegates authority to the Director of Housing and Communities, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Services, to agree a service specification and signing of a three-year funding agreement and delegates to the Grants and Concessions Panel the annual monitoring of performance.

 

Minutes:

Mr Hyland outlined the report concerning the continuation of Voluntary Action Arun and Chichester’s (VAAC) funding agreement due to end in March 2022. 

 

Mr Hyland responded to a comment made that the organisations that the VAAC supported seemed mainly to be located along the coastal plain with no presence in the North of the District and undertook to pass the comment to the VAAC.  However, since the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic, VAAC’s activities had demonstrated that they had been very engaged with organisations throughout the District. 

 

Miss Williams advised that she would include more information on the VAAC’s activities on who they had engaged with when she reported the recurring funding agreements with voluntary organisations to the January 2022 meeting.  It was agreed that officers would contact the VAAC to see if a map of the District showing where the organisations they helped were located.

 

Recommended

 

1)    That that the Cabinet recommends to Council the continuation of funding to Voluntary Action Arun and Chichester for the provision of infrastructure support to the voluntary and community groups and charities in Chichester District; and

2)    That the Cabinet delegates authority to the Director of Housing and Communities, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Services, to agree a service specification and signing of a three-year funding agreement and delegates to the Grants and Concessions Panel the annual monitoring of performance.

 

57.

Enabling Grants Update

The Panel will receive an update on the Council’s funding bid to the West Sussex County Council’s Pooled Business Rates Fund

Minutes:

The Panel received an update on the Council’s Enabling Grant fund.

 

Responding to members’ questions, Ms Burgoyne advised that the current Enabling Grant funding was required to be spent by 31 March 2022, although there was currently some flexibility if some monies were unspent but the grant had been allocated.  It was not definite that the funding would be repeated during the next financial year however, the Council was now the lead local authority for a new bid to the business pooled rates on behalf of the other local authorities in West Sussex. The chief executives of each local authority had met and agreed that the bid should be considered at the Leaders meeting on 29 October 2021.  Feedback was received from the recipients of the grant and the Council had publicised their success.  The reason that some applications had been declined was mainly due to the fact that the Council had stopped using a first come first serve approach and now adopted criteria for scoring the applications.

 

The Chairman thanked Ms Burgoyne for taking on this additional work and the effort being made to help the businesses.

 

Post Meeting Note: Subsequent to this Panel meeting, funding for 2022/2023 from the pooled business rates has now been approved by West Sussex Leaders.

 

58.

Concessionary Rent Application

For decision.

Decision:

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

 

That the Chichester Rugby Clubs request for a concessionary rent as set out in section 6.1 of the supplement report be approved.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected;

 

That the Chichester Rugby Clubs request for a concessionary rent as set out in section 6.0 of the report be rejected.

Minutes:

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET MEMBER FOR COMMUNITIESAND CULTURE IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GRANTSAND CONCESSIONS PANEL:

 

That the Chichester Rugby FootballClub’s requestfora concessionaryrent as setout in section6.1 of thesupplement report be approved.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected:

 

That the Chichester Rugby Football Club’s requestfora concessionaryrent as setout in section6.0 of thereport be rejected.

 

59.

Grant Applications Financial Summary

The Panel is requested to consider the individual summary sheets for applications for funding for 2021-22.

Minutes:

The Panel considered the report.  Mr Cooper drew attention to the value of applications to be considered at the meeting and provided an update to the report.  The applicant’s 4sight had reduced their request and now were seeking £5168.  The total value of the Targeted Projects was now £37,712 and the total value of the applications was now £61,712.  If members supported all the applications presented at the meeting, there would be £91,529 remaining.

 

The Panel agreed that they would allow a six month extension to the Chichester and Ship Canal Trust to ensure all funded works were completed.

 

60.

Grant Application - Improving Places and Spaces 1

For decision

Decision:

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

 

Applicant: Rogate Tennis Club (RTC)

Declarations of Interest: N/A

Purpose: Tennis Court Resurfacing

Sum Requested: £9,000

Sum Approved: £9,000

Reasons: To encourage and facilitate the playing of tennis in the Rogate area and amongst the community at an affordable cost.

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.

Minutes:

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET MEMBER FOR COMMUNITYSERVICES ANDCULTURE IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GRANTSAND CONCESSIONS PANEL:

 

Applicant:RogateTennis Club (RTC)

Declarations ofInterest:N/A

Purpose: TennisCourt Resurfacing

Sum Requested:£9,000

Sum Approved:£9,000

Reasons: Toencourage and facilitatethe playingoftennis inthe Rogate area andamongst the communityatan affordablecost.

GrantConditions: Subject to aFundingAgreement

Alternative options considered and rejected:The Panel considers whether or notto support every application so will always consider not grantingan application.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

61.

Grant Application - Improving Places and Spaces 2

For decision

Decision:

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

 

Applicant: Sussex Bat Group

Declarations of Interest: N/A

Purpose:Greater Horseshoe Bat Roost

Sum Requested: £15,000

Sum Approved: NIL

Reasons: Whilst sympathetic to the project, the proposal to purchase of a private asset was not an appropriate use of public funding.

Grant Conditions: N/A

Alternative options considered and rejected: The Panel considers whether or not to support every application so will always consider not granting an application.

Minutes:

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET MEMBER FOR COMMUNITYSERVICES ANDCULTURE IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GRANTSAND CONCESSIONS PANEL:

 

Applicant:SussexBat Group Declarations ofInterest:N/A

Purpose:Greater Horseshoe Bat Roost

Sum Requested:£15,000

SumApproved:NIL

Reasons:Whilst sympathetic to theproject, the proposal topurchase of a private asset was not an appropriate use of publicfunding.  Applicant to be advised that if at a later date the applicant submitted a request for funding towards improving the private asset for public safety and the benefit of the roosting bats once it was in their ownership, that would be considered by the Panel.  

GrantConditions:N/A

Alternative options considered and rejected:The Panel considers whether or notto support every application so will always consider not grantingan application.

 

62.

Grant Application - Targeted Projects 1

For decision.

Decision:

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

 

Applicant: 4Sight Vision Support

Declarations of Interest: N/A

Purpose: Volunteer Buddies Project

Sum Requested: £5,168

Sum Approved: £5,168

Reasons: To provide the ‘volunteer buddies’ project to recruit and train a team of skilled volunteers to support people with sight loss regain their independence.

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.

Minutes:

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET MEMBER FOR COMMUNITYSERVICES ANDCULTURE IN CONSULTATION WITHTHEGRANTSAND CONCESSIONS PANEL:

 

Applicant:4Sight Vision Support

Declarations ofInterest:N/A

Purpose:Volunteer BuddiesProject

Sum Requested:£5,168

SumApproved:£5,168

Reasons: Toprovidethe ‘volunteer buddies’project to recruitand train ateam of skilled volunteers to support peoplewith sight loss regaintheir independence.

GrantConditions: Subject to aFundingAgreement

Alternative options considered and rejected:The Panel considers whether or notto support every application so will always consider not grantingan application.

 

63.

Grant Application - Targeted Projects 2

For decision.

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: Helping vulnerable families with young children in Chichester District who are struggling to cope to improve their confidence, wellbeing and resilience

Sum Requested: £10,000

Sum Approved: £10,000

Reasons: To support disadvantage families in 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.

Minutes:

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET MEMBER FOR COMMUNITYSERVICES ANDCULTURE IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GRANTSAND CONCESSIONS PANEL:

 

Applicant:Home-StartChichesterDistrict

Declarations ofInterest:N/A

Purpose:Helpingvulnerablefamilies with youngchildren in ChichesterDistrictwho arestruggling to copeto improve theirconfidence,wellbeingand resilience

Sum Requested:£10,000

SumApproved:£10,000

Reasons:Tosupportdisadvantagefamilies in the District.

GrantConditions: Subject to aFundingAgreement.

Alternative options considered and rejected:The Panel considers whether or notto support every application so will always consider not grantingan application.

 

64.

Grant Application - Targeted Projects 3

For decision.

Decision:

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

 

Applicant: My Sisters’ House CIO

Declarations of Interest: N/A

Purpose: Chichester Hub Courses and Peer Groups

Sum Requested: £6,174

Sum Approved: £6,174

Reasons: To provide a new service in the District supporting vulnerable women who experience multiple disadvantages

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.

Minutes:

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET MEMBER FOR COMMUNITYSERVICES ANDCULTURE IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GRANTSAND CONCESSIONS PANEL:

 

Applicant:MySisters’ House CIO

Declarations ofInterest:N/A

Purpose:ChichesterHub Coursesand PeerGroups

Sum Requested:£6,174

SumApproved:£6,174

Reasons: Toprovidea newservice in the District supporting vulnerable women who experience multipledisadvantages

GrantConditions: Subject to aFundingAgreement

Alternative options considered and rejected:The Panel considers whether or notto support every application so will always consider not grantingan application.

 

65.

Grant Application - Targeted Projects 4

For decision.

Decision:

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

 

Applicant: Petworth Community Garden CIC

Declarations of Interest: N/A

Purpose: ‘Thriving Thursdays’ Therapeutic Horticulture sessions

Sum Requested: £5,965

Sum Approved: £5,965

Reasons: To provide specialist sessions to support people with mental health support needs in an appropriate and tailored way.

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.

Minutes:

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET MEMBERFOR COMMUNITYSERVICES ANDCULTURE IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GRANTSAND CONCESSIONS PANEL:

 

Applicant:Petworth CommunityGarden CIC

Declarations ofInterest:N/A

Purpose:Thriving Thursdays’ TherapeuticHorticulturesessions

Sum Requested:£5,965

SumApproved:£5,965

Reasons: Toprovidespecialist sessions to support peoplewith mental health support needs in an appropriateand tailoredway.

GrantConditions: Subject to aFundingAgreement

Alternative options considered and rejected:The Panel considerswhether or notto support every application so will always consider not grantingan application.

 

66.

Grant Application - Targeted Projects 5

For decision.

Decision:

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

 

Applicant: St Wilfrid’s Hospice (South Coast)

Declarations of Interest: N/A

Purpose: Ambulance Bay Canopy

Sum Requested: £5406

Sum Approved: £5406

Reasons: To protect patients from the elements on arrival at the hospital

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.

Minutes:

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET MEMBER FOR COMMUNITYSERVICES ANDCULTURE IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GRANTSAND CONCESSIONS PANEL:

 

Applicant:StWilfrids Hospice (South Coast)

Declarations ofInterest:N/A Purpose:AmbulanceBay Canopy

Sum Requested:£5406

SumApproved:£5406

Reasons: Toprotect patientsfromthe elements on arrival at thehospital

GrantConditions: Subject to aFundingAgreement

Alternative options considered and rejected:The Panel considers whether or notto support every application so will always consider not grantingan application.

 

67.

Grant Application - Targeted Projects 6

For decision.

Decision:

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

 

Applicant: Youth Dream (Selsey) Ltd

Declarations of Interest: N/A

Purpose: Activities & support provided by Youth Dream

Sum Requested: £5,000

Sum Approved: £5,000

Reasons: To support young people (under the age of 24) with mental health issues, education and outreach

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.

Minutes:

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET MEMBER FOR COMMUNITYSERVICES ANDCULTURE IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GRANTSAND CONCESSIONS PANEL:

 

Applicant:Youth Dream(Selsey)Ltd

Declarations ofInterest:N/A

Purpose:Activities &support providedby YouthDream

Sum Requested: £5,000

SumApproved:£5,000

Reasons: Tosupport youngpeople(under the age of 24) with mental health issues, educationandoutreach

GrantConditions: Subject to aFundingAgreement

Alternative options considered and rejected:The Panel considerswhether or notto support every application so will always consider not grantingan application.

 

68.

Fast Track Panel membership and funding allocation

To decide the membership of the Fast Track Panel and its funding allocation

Minutes:

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

 

Mrs Apel be appointed to the Fast Track Panel following a vacancy.

 

69.

Next Meeting

To note the date of the next meeting as 19 January 2022.

Minutes:


The next meeting of the Panel will take place on 19 January 2022 at 9.30am on Zoom.

 

 

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