SHEFFIELD CITY COUNCIL South Community Assembly Report

7 SHEFFIELD CITY COUNCIL South Community Assembly Report

Report of: South Community Assembly Manager ______

Date: 5th January 2012 ______

Subject: South Community Assembly Climate Change Fund ______

Author of Report: Martin Hughes South Community Assembly Manager ______

Summary:

The South Community Assembly has a Climate Change Fund budget of £40,000 for 2011/12. £10,000 has been allocated to the Eco-schools programme within the Assembly area. This report focuses on the allocation of the ‘mainstream’ £30,000.

The Climate Change Fund provides grants between £1,000 and £30,000 to local community groups for energy or non-energy capital projects that meet the aim of improving energy efficiency and reducing the potential impacts of climate change. The closing date for applications was 25 th November 2011, and successful organisations have to spend the grant by 31 st March 2013 .

The South Community Assembly received 9 applications requesting £83,306. These applications were assessed by a panel of 2 Councillors and 3 Council Officers on Friday 9 th December.

This report proposes recommendations for the allocation of this funding within the South Community Assembly area.

Reasons for Recommendations:

1 • Urban Tree Renewal and Maintenance • Tackling Climate Change • Increasing activities for Children and Young People • Promoting initiatives and projects that improve community cohesion in targeted areas • Improving the quality and access to community buildings and schools • Improving the health and wellbeing of older people • Tackling health inequalities in targeted neighbourhoods • Contributing to the development of the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector ______

Recommendations:

That the South Community Assembly

1. Regard having been had to the Sheffield City Strategy and to the relevant Secretary of State’s guidance, confirms its belief that the granting of funding as envisaged in this report is likely to achieve the promotion and improvement of the social and environmental well-being of residents of the South Community Assembly Area.

2. Consider the information contained in this report and allocates the mainstream Climate Change Fund of £30,000 to the following 7 projects:

Organisation Project Amount

Friends of Greenhill Park Tree Planting in Greenhill Park £3,000 Gleadless Valley Double Glazing of premises to be used £5,000 Community Forum for Community Café on Gaunt Road shops GROW Sheffield Local Food Growing on St. Peters £2,750 Common Ground, Abbeydale Club Double Six New door and rainwater harvesting at £3,431 Youth Club in Woodseats The Terminus Initiative Insulation and thermostatic valves at £1,000 café in Lowedges LBJ Forum Double Glazing and Insulation of £6,916 Greenhill / Bradway Youth Club Heeley City Farm Refurbishment of Meersbrook Local £7,903 Food Growing Centre

2 3. Delegates authority to the South Community Assembly Manager, in consultation with the Chair, to allocate the £10,000 Eco-schools element towards projects that support the aims and objectives of the Climate Change fund, before 31 st March 2012.

4. Agrees that if appropriate to achieve the purpose of the grant the Director of Community Services may vary the amount of these grants by not more than ten per cent in each case subject to funding being available.

5. Authorises the Director of Community Services, in consultation with the Director of Legal Services, to agree the terms on which all funding referred to in this report is made available and to enter into such funding agreements with recipients of the funding and any other related agreements or arrangements, and on such terms, that she considers appropriate. ______

Background Papers:

Appendix A – Full list of applications

Category of Report: OPEN

Statutory and Council Policy Checklist Financial Implications

YES Cleared by: Liz Orme

Legal Implications

YES Cleared by: Andrew Bullock

Equality of Opportunity Implications

YES (South Community Plan EIA) Cleared by: Phil Reid

Tackling Health Inequalities Implications

YES

Human rights Implications

Environmental and Sustainability implications

YES

Economic impact

Community safety implications

Human resources implications

Property implications

YES

Area(s) affected

South Community Assembly area of Sheffield

Relevant Scrutiny Committee if decision called in

Successful Neighbourhoods

Is the item a matter which is reserved for approval by the C ity Council? NO

Press release

4 1. Summary

The South Community Assembly received 9 applications requesting £83,306. These applications were assessed by a panel of 2 Councillors and 3 Council Officers on Friday 9 th December.

This report proposes recommendations for the allocation of this funding within the South Community Assembly area

2. What does this mean for people within the South Community Assembly Area?

The 2011/12 Community Plan, based as it is on consultation with local people, reflects the priorities of the local community in making the area a better place to live. Any projects identified for funding in this report will benefit residents in the South Community Assembly. In particular it will assist in – • Improving Parks and Open Spaces • Urban Tree Renewal and Maintenance • Tackling Climate Change • Increasing activities for Children and Young People • Promoting initiatives and projects that improve community cohesion in targeted areas • Improving the quality and access to community buildings and schools • Improving the health and wellbeing of older people • Tackling health inequalities in targeted neighbourhoods • Contributing to the development of the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector

3. Outcomes and Sustainability

The funding identified in this report will contribute to the delivery of the priorities in the South Community Assembly Plan, thus benefiting residents in the South Community Assembly Area.

5 The projects and activity within this report contribute to all five of the key ambitions as indicated in the Sheffield City Strategy 2010-2020 (Sheffield 2020 – Where People Shape the Future) –

• Distinctive ; using the immense sense of pride local people have in the city and South of Sheffield to bring local projects forward for funding. • Successful ; working with partners at a local level with joint employment and community projects and strategically through our formal partnerships. • Inclusive ; support projects that enable all sections of our community to benefit and join in new activities. • Vibrant ; support the community and voluntary sector in working to achieve the priorities for the area. • Sustainable ; ensure that future generations can enjoy the open spaces in our area and that the Assembly plays a key role in protecting our environment.

The funding also supports the City Council’s priorities, values and outcomes as set out in the Corporate Plan ‘Standing Up For Sheffield’. In particular:

Priorities • Supporting and protecting communities

Values • Spend public money wisely • Long term view • Enable individuals and communities

Outcomes • Better Health and Wellbeing • An Environmentally Responsible City

4. Full Proposal

6 4a) Who could apply?

i) The CCF is available to: • not-for-profit ‘community’ organisations, • social enterprises, and • public sector organisations working in partnership with communities and/or not-for-profit organisations.

ii) SCC/publically owned buildings are eligible (e.g. school, library, community centre, scout hut), as long as it is evidenced that the majority of the benefits from the project will go to community use. The Fund will not pay for projects where a normal Council/public sector service function is the major beneficiary (i.e. as a school or library etc.).

iii) Private businesses and individual households & groups of houses are not eligible.

4b) What can the money be spent on?

There is a very wide variety of projects the money could be spent on. The two principle overlying themes are: • Combating climate change • Capital-only projects (with a maximum of 10% of total costs allowable for associated revenue costs – e.g. management fee, promotion/publicity)

i) Energy • Energy efficiency measures - including insulation (e.g. roof space, cavity walls, under floor, solid wall), draught-proofing or upgrading windows and doors, upgrading of gas heating systems where carbon saving benefits can be evidenced (consideration should be given to inclusion of some element of renewables), installation of low energy lighting. • Installation of renewable / low carbon energy generation equipment - such as Solar Photovoltaic panels, Solar Thermal (hot water) panels, Wind turbines, Hydro turbines, Ground or Air Source Heat Pumps, Combined Heat & Power (gas powered heating which also produces electricity), Biomass heating (burning wood or other organic fuel).

ii) Non-energy Some indicative examples are: • Provision of equipment for community cycling schemes, such as bikes, safety gear and secure cycle parking (projects which support other schemes such as recycled bikes would be especially welcome) • Equipment to support the operation of car clubs • Measures to help food growing, such as acquisition of land or tools • Planting of trees (especially fruit/nut trees for food)

7 • Rainwater harvesting – provision of water butts or storage tanks • Provision of composting bins

The South Community Assembly received 9 applications requesting £83,306. These applications were assessed by a panel of 2 Councillors and 3 Council Officers on Friday 9 th December.

The applications were assessed on – • The quality, clarity, innovation, robustness and deliverability of the project • The wider climate change and community benefits The amount requested was also taken into consideration to ensure value for money was achieved. In some cases certain elements of a project scored highly against these criteria, but other elements did not. In such cases it is proposed that the projects are only part funded

As a result of this assessment exercise it is proposed that the mainstream Climate Change Fund of £30,000 is allocated to the following 7 projects

Organisation Project Amount

The Central Community Assembly have agreed to allocate a further £1,327 to the refurbishment of Meersbrook Local Food Growing Centre to ensure ‘Phase 1’ of the project is fully funded.

The process for allocating the £10,000 Eco-schools element is still taking place and it is proposed that the South Community Assembly delegates authority to the South Community Assembly Manager, in consultation with the

8 Chair, to allocate this funding towards projects that support the aims and objectives of the Climate Change fund, before 31 st March 2012.

5. Financial Implications

The Climate Change Fund allocated to the South Community Assembly is £40,000. This report details the projects to be supported using £30,000 of this funding. In addition it requests a delegation to the South Community Assembly Manager to allocate the £10,000 Eco-schools element, in consultation with the Chair, one the application and assessment process is complete.

6. Legal Implications

If the Community Assembly takes the view that the funding of the type of activity mentioned in this report is likely to achieve the promotion or improvement of the social and environmental well-being of Sheffield or any persons present or resident in the city the Council will have the power to make this funding available pursuant to section 2, Local Government Act 2000. In exercising this power, the guidance issued by the Secretary of State has to have been considered: the proposals in this report are not at variance with this guidance

In exercising the Section 2 power regard must also be had to the Council's Sustainable Community Strategy ("the Sheffield City Strategy") prepared pursuant to section 4, Local Government Act 2000. Section 3 of this report confirms that the proposals complement all five of the key ambitions as indicated in the Strategy.

7. Equality of Opportunity Implications

The South Community Assembly Climate Change Fund has been allocated to help address a range of needs in the area, as dictated by the South Community Assembly Plan (which is supported by an Equality Impact Assessment).

8. Human Resource Implications

There are no specific human resource implications as a result of the allocation of this funding.

9. Environmental and Sustainability Implications

The proposal will have a positive impact on the environment and sustainability through the programme of work delivering improvements to energy efficiency and reducing the potential impacts of climate change.

9 10. Mitigation of risk

The risks relating to this proposal have been considered by the South Community Assembly Team. These risks will be regularly reviewed and monitored. • Quality of provision - The Assembly Team (and the Accountable Body Team which administers funding) will monitor the delivery of the activity throughout the coming year. If an organisation is unable to deliver the proposed activity they will be required to return the funding for reallocation.

• Financial administration - The Accountable Body Services Team will administer the distribution of funding and ensure agreed targets and outcomes are being met. They will do this through the receipt of monitoring forms from the organisations funded.

11. Alternative Options

Consideration was given to all 9 projects that applied for Climate Change funding.

Organisations / Projects not recommended for funding include – • Sharrowvale Wesleyan Reform Church – request for £21,489 for double glazing in church • St Peter's Greenhill Sheffield PCC – request for £2,570 for architect fees relating to new heating system in church

Organisations only recommended to be part funded include – • GROW Sheffield – requested £4,950 for local food growing in Nether Edge • Heeley City Farm – requested £19,730 for local food growing centre in Meersbrook • Lowedges, Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Forum – requested £22,136 for insulation and heaters at Greenhill / Bradway Youth Club

Full details of all applications can be seen in Appendix A

12. Reasons for Recommendations

10 • Increasing activities for Children and Young People • Promoting initiatives and projects that improve community cohesion in targeted areas • Improving the quality and access to community buildings and schools • Improving the health and wellbeing of older people • Tackling health inequalities in targeted neighbourhoods • Contributing to the development of the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector

13. Recommendations

That the South Community Assembly

2. Consider the information contained in this report and allocates the mainstream Climate Change Fund of £30,000 to the following 7 projects:

Organisation Project Amount

3. Delegates authority to the South Community Assembly Manager, in consultation with the Chair, to allocate the £10,000 Eco-schools element towards projects that support the aims and objectives of the Climate Change fund, before 31 st March 2012.

Martin Hughes South Community Assembly Manager

12 Appendix 1 - Full List of Applications

A) Project - Quality / clarity / innovation / robustness / (B) Benefits - Wider climate change and community No Group deliverability benefits Amount

1 The Friends of Org Status: Not for profit run by a Management Committee. Awareness: Project will involve local community including Greenhill Park Description: Third phase of a tree planting project with an schools, youth groups, Tara's etc to plant and maintain trees. aim to planting fruit trees. It will involve SCC & approx 60 SCC Forestry & Park Rangers will give advice & guidance on primary school children and adult volunteers. how trees are vital to improving the environment and we will Costings: £2,750 for purchase & planting of trees plus £250 encourage schools to use this project to raise awareness. for refreshments for the planting event and publicity costs to Local Involvement : Support from community - discussed at raise awareness. Total £3,000. public meetings, involving local primary schools, youth clubs, Outputs: Clear & realistic. adult volunteers through partnership with LBJ Forum, food £3,000.00 Project control & Risks: Section completed ok. growing projects local residents. Will also feature in Qtr Geographic Area: In the grounds of the Greenhill/Bradway newsletter of the LBJ Community forum (5,000 households) Tenants meeting room and on the on the site of the Qualitative Outputs : Fruit produced, carbon sequested per Lowedges food growing project (South Community year, children learning about growing and encouraging wildlife Assembly). to area. CCF 10/11 - Yes - Tree Planting £3,971

2 Gleadless Valley Org Status: Not for profit - Charity. Awareness: Reduce heating costs, help make users be more Community Forum Description: To replace the shop front window of 181 aware of how decent insulation can benefit pocket and planet, Blackstock Road which is being developed into a the forum plans to become an Environmental champion, Community Cafe & flexible venue. Costings: £5,000 for distributing energy light bulbs, sign posting agencies re energy replacement of facade with UPVC double glazed unit. saving advice and noise reduction. Outputs: Clear & realistic. Local Involvement : Will promote by inserting a good news Project control & Risks: Section completed ok . story in GV news Qtrly magazine, forum website, Assembly Geographic Area: 181 Blackstock Road (South Community blog, posters in windows and will be included on agenda of the Assembly). Forums user group and at the Healthy Valley community mtgs. CCF 10/11 - Yes - Double Glazing & Cavity Wall Insulation Qualitative Outputs : Gather evidence from centre users £5,000.00 on 189 Blackstock Road £4,361 - recommended wood regarding over all satisfaction with the warmth and cosiness of rather than uPVC. building plus noise reduction.

13 3 Sharrowvale Wesleyan Org Status: Not for profit. Awareness: Project will explain to members of the church and Reform Church Description: Replacement of ill fitting single glazed local community users of benefits of replacing windows - windows with more energy efficient double glazing in 3 main reducing carbon emissions & using less energy to heat the areas of the building and corridor. building. Will seek to encourage people to think about ways in Costings: £21,489. which they can personally reduce their carbon footprint. Outputs: Clear. Local Involvement : Will have information sheets available at Project control & Risks: Section completed ok. all events explaining why we have replaced windows outlining Geographic Area: Crowded house on Sharrowvale Road importance of improving energy. Qualitative Outputs : A £21,489.00 (South Community Assembly). CCF 10/11 - No more pleasant environment for events for the community to be held, namely a warmer building which is less drafty. 4 Grow Sheffield Org S tatus: Not for profit. Awareness: Reconnect participants with our food supply, re- Description: Create a fruit and vegetable growing space skill people in fruit & vegetable gardening and/or cooking, offer and learning environment for the diverse groups that use the fresh local food for volunteers and participants, rebuild Community Centre at Common Ground and the local community spirit, improve biodiversity through local food community generally. The provision will be terraced and resources & creating new sustainable green spaces, which will raised beds using sustainable materials and organic soil and contribute to making a sustainable, lower CO2 emitting a supply of gardening tools equipment and materials. The community. The notion of 'Zero Waste' in the growing on site development of the space will also use and demonstrate the and the harvesting in the surrounding community. importance of recycling, and where possible, utilise natural Environmentally sustainable behaviour and understanding of and locally sourced materials and equipment. climate change. Costings: £1,500 for soil, growing beds, composting, water Local Involvement : Common Ground Committee, made up of harvesting, tools, plants & seeds. £2,000 for a Trike 12 members of the local community local PCC, have (transport for Grow) and shed storage. £1,000 for Fencing & consulted the wider community at their AGM's and Vegetable £4,950.00 £450 for project mgt (10%) Totalling £4,950. Growing and related workshops / activities were raised as Outputs: Only be harvesting between Sept & Dec 2012. activities local people would like to take place, share stories Project control & Risks: Section completed ok. through local media, making use of social networking sites Geographic Area: St Peters Hall, Machon Bank (South and have an attractive and informative website. Qualitative Community Assembly). Outputs: Opportunities that will provide for a diverse range of CCF 10/11 - Yes - Food hub @Norton Nursery £4,994. people to come together and be involved in meaningful useful activity, encouraging others. 5 Holt House Infant To be included in the ECO school pot with Steve Byers £0 School

14 6 Heeley City Farm Org Status: Not for profit - Charity. Awareness: The Meersbrook Park Walled Garden Local Food Description: Re-furbish and equip the classroom and Growing Centre will be a centre for promoting and delivering meeting room, upgrade the toilets, make safe and repair one local food growing and related horticultural training and of the greenhouses, establish a cooking facility, to be able to education, develop demonstration organic vegetable, herb and do cook-and-eat activities. fruit gardens. Encourage and support local schools and young Costings: £16,600 to refurb and equip classroom, meeting people to become involved in food growing and cooking room and upgrade toilets. £1,000 to repair greenhouse. activities & promote home composting. Local Involvement : £340 to establish cooking facility. £1,790 for mgt of project The community of Sheffield was widely consulted about the and promotion (10%) totalling £19,730. Sheffield Food Plan and there is significant interest in learning Outputs: Clear & realistic. about and developing skills in local food growing. Project control & Risks: Section completed ok. Establishment of the Walled Garden Local Food Growing Geographic Area: Meersbrook Park Walled Garden (South Centre will raise the profile and attract more volunteers, £19,730.00 Community Assembly). visitors and participants. We will publicise new opportunities in CCF 10/11 - Yes - Eco Toilet at Heeley Farm (not newsletters (Heeley Voice, Valley News etc.), schools, completed) libraries, our websites, blogs and tweets, the South Community Assembly, Radio Sheffield, Sheffield Star and Telegraph. Qualitative Outputs : local food growing related events, related training courses, school & community group visits

7 St Peter's Greenhill Org Status: Charity. Awareness: We will make our Diocesan Office aware of the Sheffield PCC Description: Contribution to Architect fees in relation to the reduction in carbon emissions and energy saving as a result of installation of new heating system. Costings: £2,570 for installation of new heating so that the information can be architect fees. passed to other Churches. Outputs: provided for heating installation. Project control Local Involvement : Only local people who are involved in the & Risks: Section completed ok. Geographic Area: St church but will seek to publicise the grant we receive and the Peters Church, Reney Ave, Greenhill (South Community schemes benefits through 2 local newspapers - The Bradway Assembly). bugle and LBJ Forum Newsletter. CCF 10/11 - No. Qualitative Outputs : Lower heating costs. £2,570.00

8 Club Double Six Org Status: Not for Profit. Awareness: Publicity is already being prepared for garden Description: To replace old, damaged, thermally inefficient project & we will incorporate as much about the rainwater and badly fitting main entrance double door with new energy harvesting & the new thermally efficient door as we can. The efficient / draught proofed double door & improve existing aim is to thermally upgrade the whole of the buildings rainwater harvesting to enable more efficient use in elements and we intend to inform our young members and the

15 providing water to the Club / community garden project. wider community how the door is our first step in doing this Costings: £2,795 for the doors & £636 for the raised and how this work will help reduce the impact on climate platform for water buts totalling £3,431. Outputs: Clear & change. realistic. Local Involvement : The local community are / will be Project control & Risks: Section completed ok. involved with the garden project & they will benefit from any Geographic Area: Scarsdale Road Woodseats (South upgrading of thermal efficiency whenever the club is used £3,431.00 Community Assembly). either by our young members or by community groups who CCF 10/11 - No use / hire the building. We will publicise in Active 8 & notices on building exterior & external notice board with appeals for voluntary assistance on some aspects as well as appeals to local businesses for assistance. Community involvement to be promoted by only using local contractors who in turn use local labour & subcontractors. Qualitative Outputs : Improved building and improved environment and surroundings making this more attractive to wider community.

9 The Terminus Initiative Org Status: Not for Profit. Awareness: In the process of implementing new Environment Description: We are asking for support to install cavity wall Policy, & will be seeking to raise awareness of the importance insulation and loft insulation to modern standards (it is of reducing fuel use & carbon emissions, alongside initiatives currently only 20-80mm thick) also we wish to have to reduce and recycle - will be on the agenda for the various thermostatic valves fitted to 6 radiators, so that energy can Project Teams over the next 12 months. Local Involvement : be saved if rooms are not in use. Through representatives of volunteers & service users on Mgt Costings: £850 for Insulation & £150 for Radiator valves Cttee, along with others from local churches. Will share info totalling £1,000. about the project through displays in the Café, & will make £1,000.00 Outputs: Clear & realistic. leaflets & other info available to increase people’s awareness Project control & Risks: Section to be completed . of fuel efficiency and carbon reduction. (Have already been Geographic Area: 232/240 Lowedges Road (South promoting Council’s insulation scheme since it became Community Assembly). CCF 09/10 - new windows on doors available in Beauchief and Greenhill Ward.) Will acknowledge on cafe front. the grant & publicise benefits through the LBJ Forum newsletter & Activ8. Qualitative Outputs : Increased awareness in community of benefits of insulation, reducing fuel use. Warmer conditions for all who use the premises. Reduced harm to the planet. Increased awareness of green issues.

16 10 LBJ Forum Org Status: Not for Profit. Awareness: Explain new heating system & improvements & Description: Make the centre more energy efficient by how we are now more energy efficient, how it impacts on the insulating areas that are insufficient & replace seven window environment to users. Will also if poss get info leaflets from units with sealed double-glazed pvc units, draught-strips to Energy saving trust & SCC on how to make improvements to external doors, Installation of 5 Worcester-Bosch the work environment & home. Develop a project with young Greensource 6kw air-to-air heat pumps would enable the people about how they can look at their carbon footprints & £22,136.00 centre to be more cost effective in heating costs whilst also improve their environment. We will look at recycling & trying to reducing the kw hours and therefore the carbon foot print. engage young people in a community garden project at Costings: £15,120 Heat Pumps, £2,466 Insulation, £4,450 Lowedges Fire Station. Replacement windows & £100 consultation totalling Local Involvement : All users of the centre have raised issues £22,136. about how cold the building is & will publicise in the Forum’s Outputs: Clear & realistic. quarterly newsletter . Project control & Risks: Section completed ok. Qualitative Outputs : Launch event about how the building is Geographic Area: Greenhill Bradway Youth Centre (South more energy efficient 70 people to attend. Community Assembly). CCF 10/11 - Yes - Food Growing initiatives.

£83,306.00