NON-EXEMPT

EAST DISTRICT COUNCIL

Cabinet 21 January 2009

CABINET DISTRICT PROJECT FUND Community Project Worker (Development) CT001/09

FOR DECISION

REPORT DETAILS

PURPOSE OF REPORT

To submit bids to the Cabinet District Project Fund for 2009/10. The Fund exists to give support for the running costs to groups or projects that cover more than two of the District Council’s areas.

RECOMMENDATIONS

We recommend that:

1. Cabinet approve the grant awards from the 2009/2010 Cabinet District Projects Fund shown below: • Hampshire County Council’s ‘Hog the Limelight’ - £1,500 • Disability Forum - £2,000 • Rotherlands Conservation Trust - £800

2. The current three-year funding award for the Rotherlands Conservation Trust with the Community Forum for and Liss and Surrounding Parishes, be cancelled at the end of 2008/2009; and that the Trust be offered a one-year award of £800 from the Fund for 2009/2010.

3. The three groups listed above asked to apply for funding as Partnership Funded Organisations in the next bidding round in 2010/2011.

RESOURCING IMPLICATIONS

This £10,000 fund is for the groups’ running costs in 2009/10. The above awards total £4,300. £5,700 will remain in the Fund. These costs have been allowed for in the separate Budget report for this meeting.

CONSULTATION Leader and Portfolio Holder for Community and Active Lifestyles.

CONTRIBUTION TO CORPORATE PRIORITIES: Building Successful Communities Providing Good Quality Services Protecting the Environment Contact Officer: Liz Panton Job Title: Community Project Worker (Development) Telephone: 01730 234391 E-Mail: [email protected]

1.0 DISTRICT-WIDE REVENUE FUNDING BIDS

1.1 This report sets out revenue bids for 2009/10. Cabinet can award up to £2,000 in each case.

1.2 The Cabinet District Project Fund is money available for either not-for-profit groups submitting bids, or to support its own initiatives in the District.

1.3 The bids meet the Fund criteria.

2.0 HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL’S ‘HOG THE LIMELIGHT’ - £1,500

2.1 Hampshire County Council’s Hog the Limelight arts touring scheme has been taking place in Hampshire for a number of years. A number of rural villages in East Hampshire take part each year.

2.2 During 2008/09, 10 rural villages hosted over 27 events and activities. These were in Beech, , , , , , , , Liss and . Audience figures were in the region of 1,300. In 2009/10, the same villages will remain on the scheme. There are also seven villages on the waiting list.

2.3 The Hog the Limelight scheme covers 65 villages, or 100 events in Hampshire. The events and activities not only bring touring arts to these local villages, often where no such activity exists, but also offer a scheme for venues to generate revenue.

2.4 The total cost of the scheme is £31,500. Hampshire County Council has awarded £22,000. Other funding comes from New Forest, , Winchester, Basingstoke & Deane, Hart and the Isle of Wight Councils for the work in their areas.

2.5 Previous grant history: • Revenue Funding 2008/09 - £1,500. • Revenue Funding 2007/08 - £1,500. • Revenue Funding 2006/07 - £1,500.

2.6 This bid is for £1,500

Report Title: CABINET PROJECT FUND Report Number: CT001/09 Report of: Community Project Worker (Development) Committee: Cabinet

3.0 EAST HAMPSHIRE DISABILITY FORUM - £2,000

3.1 The East Hampshire Disability Forum exists to raise the profile of disability issues. It provides an accessible contact point for disabled people. The Forum also informs others about disability issues and advises on the Disability Discrimination Act. It is also an integral part of the District Council’s consultation with disabled people.

3.2 The Forum is run and managed by disabled people with support from helpers. They would like to develop the Forum. This will include running the weekly Disability Multi- Sports Club, develop work with Communications, Transport and Blue Badge and Children and Young People sub-groups. Funds have been secured to appoint a part- time worker for 1 year from January 2009.

3.3 This bid is to support travel costs for members. Members have to rely on the use of accessible taxis. These are costly, but needed to take part in meetings and carry out other tasks. Without this support, disabled people would not be able to take part and the Forum would collapse.

3.4 The total cost of the Forum is £6,390. Bids are made to Hampshire County Council (£1,000). An under-spend from Community First East Hampshire will be put toward the worker post (£1,740). The balance will be from Forum members (£1,650). This bid is for £2,000.

3.5 Previous grant history:  Revenue Funding 2008/09 - £2,000.  Revenue Funding 2007/08 - £1,104.

3.6 This group is an integral part of the District Council’s consultation with disabled people. We suggest an award of £2,000 is given to reflect the groups true running costs.

4.0 ROTHERLANDS CONSERVATION TRUST - £800

4.1 Rotherlands Conservation Trust is a voluntary group who work on behalf of East Hampshire District Council and Petersfield Town Council to manage the riverside meadow of the Rother. The site is located in woodland to the rear of the Petersfield Rugby Club. The Trust manage the site to conserve local biodiversity and provide an informal open space for the public to enjoy. The site is a local nature reserve and the Council has a statutory duty to manage the site in a way that maintains and enhances its important biodiversity.

4.2 This bid is for £800 towards the annual running costs for conserving and maintaining the Reserve in line with the Council’s approved Biodiversity Management Plan. The annual running costs for the site consist of path maintenance and mowing of the meadow at a cost of £1,600.

4.3 A bid has also been made to Petersfield Town Council for £800 towards the groups running costs.

Report Title: CABINET PROJECT FUND Report Number: CT001/09 Report of: Community Project Worker (Development) Committee: Cabinet

4.4 The Community Forum (Petersfield, Liss & Surrounding Villages) awarded the Rotherlands Conservation Group £800 in March 2008. This award was made as a three-year reducing level award. To continue with the current arrangement will mean that the Trust will not have enough funds to properly manage the site beyond 31st March 2009 and their funding will end in 2011. The full commercial cost of maintaining the nature reserve will then fall on both councils.

4.5 We suggest that the Council’s current funding arrangement for the Trust be cancelled at the end of this financial year, and that the group be offered a one-year award from the Cabinet District Project Fund. We also suggest that the group is invited to bid for funds from the Partnership Funded Organisation Fund for 2010/11.

4.6 Previous grant history: • March 2008 Community Forum - £800 revenue funding. • August 2005 Biodiversity budget - £1,000 - repairs to major path.

4.7 This bid is for £800.

5.0 FUNDING FOR THE FUTURE

5.1 As it would not be in the Council’s interest to remove the funding from the groups listed within this report, we suggest the three groups listed above are invited to apply for funding as Partnership Funded Organisations in the next bidding round in 2010/2011.

6.0 RISK ASSESSMENT

6.1 Risks include: • The current financial climate may not allow grants from the Cabinet District Project Fund to continue. • The groups who apply for a grant do not complete the project. Groups are required to complete a monitoring form. This shows evidence that the funding was used correctly. If the funding is not used, it is returned to the District Council.

7.0 CONTRIBUTION TO CORPORATE PRIORITIES

7.1 The bids fit with the Project Fund criteria and the Councils Corporate Priority to support the voluntary sector.

EHDC Readability Level: 3.8 This score is based on average word and sentence lengths. Writers should be aiming for a score of around 6.

Report Title: CABINET PROJECT FUND Report Number: CT001/09 Report of: Community Project Worker (Development) Committee: Cabinet