SHEFFIELD CITY COUNCIL South Community Assembly Report
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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: 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 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 3 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 NO Environmental and Sustainability implications YES Economic impact NO Community safety implications NO Human resources implications NO 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 NO 4 1. 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 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 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 . 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