Agenda item

To consider a report of the Director of Culture, Communities and Business Services regarding proposals to change the culture and communities grant schemes.

The Committee received the report of the Director of Culture, Communities and Business Services outlining proposals to change the culture and communities grant streams.

Members’ attention was drawn to the detail in the report which outlined the extensive consultation with individual organisations which had taken place in advance of making the proposals and had helped to shape the criteria for the grants scheme. It was noted that amalgamating the existing multiple grant streams would be a more straightforward and inclusive approach to awarding culture and community grants, opening up the criteria to enable a wider range of organisations to apply.  Discussion was held regarding the impact that proposed future funding arrangements may have on different organisations. Members agreed that the lower funding would have more of an impact on some groups than others.

In response to Members’ questions, it was confirmed that:

·         The launch of the new grants scheme would be promoted widely.

·         There would be a clear timetable put in place for applications and that this information would be made available to applicants. 

·         Any grant applications for £1,000 or under would continue to be signposted towards the Councillor devolved grants scheme.

It was proposed by Councillor Chegwyn, and seconded by Councillor Hiscock, that recommendation iv be amended as below.

iv.        From 2020/21 onwards, Community Associations will normally only be eligible for a grant if they are also in receipt of match funding from their District or Parish Council.

The Committee supported and agreed the amendment.

RESOLVED:

That the Culture and Communities Select Committee supports the proposed changes as outlined below and recommends them to the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage for approval:

      i.        Recreation and Heritage Investment Fund grants will cease after

2019/20 to the following organisations:

·           Forest Forge Theatre Company, Ringwood

·           Gilbert White and the Oates Collection Museum and Field Studies Centre, Selborne

·           Making Space (Leigh Park Craft Initiative), Havant

·           QE2 Activity Centre, Bursledon

·           The Anvil, Basingstoke

·           The Point, Eastleigh

    ii.        Recreation and Heritage Investment Fund grants will cease after

2020/21 to Phoenix Theatre and Arts Centre, Bordon; Proteus Theatre

Company, Basingstoke and Whitchurch Silk Mill.

   iii.        Discussions are held with Winchester’s Theatre Royal and The Spring

about future grant funding beyond 2020/21 and 2021/22 respectively.

   iv.        From 2020/21 onwards, Community Associations will normally only be eligible for a grant if they are also in receipt of match funding from their District or Parish Council.

    v.        A new Recreation and Heritage Community Fund is set up for 2019/20,

as detailed in Section 8 of the report.

   vi.        The Community Investment Fund, Community Buildings Capital Fund

and the Activity Grants are all amalgamated into the new Recreation and Heritage Community Fund.