Agenda item - GRANTS & COMMUNITY UPDATE

To bring to the Committee’s attention details of recent requests received for Royston and District Committee Grant Funding, made by community groups and local organisations, which conform to the Authority’s Grants Policy approved by Cabinet on 14 June 2016.

RESOLVED:

(1) That grant funding of £1,500 be awarded to Royston Cricket Club to assist with the purchase of a set of cricket sight screens;

(2) That grant funding of £740 be awarded to North Herts MS Society to assist with the purchase of a specialist exercise bicycle;

(3) That grant funding of £450 be awarded to TLG Make Lunch to assist with the cost of First Aid Training for the two leaders (£150 each) and 10 volunteers (£50 each).

(4) That grant funding of £240 be awarded to McSplash Swimming Centre to assist with swimming gala costs including the hire of additional life guards, facility hire during the gala and publicity costs.

(5) That the Committee endorses the actions taken by the Community Officer to promotegreater community capacity and well-being for Royston.

REASON FOR DECISION: To improve services provided by local organisations and groups which are accessed by the community.

Audio Recording – Start time of Item – 41 minutes and 8 seconds

The Communities Officer presented the report entitled Grants and Community Update and drew attention to the following:

Budgets

There was £8,100 that remained unspent for the current financial year, which included £1,000, which had been allocated from the Members’ Allowances Budget.

If all of the applications for funding were granted this at this meeting, £5,235 would remain unallocated.

Alternative Options

All of the alternative options considered were detailed in the report.

Grant Application - TLG Make Lunch

Councillor Ruth Brown declared a Declarable Interest in that she was a member of the Church that ran the project, although she played no part in that project. She advised that she would remain in the room, but would take no part in the vote.

Councillor Bill Davidson declared a Declarable Interest in that his wife was on the management committee. He advised that he would remain in the room but take no part in the vote.

The Chairman proposed that £ £450 be awarded.

Grant Application - McSplash Swimming Centre

In the absence of a representative from McSplash Swimming Centre, who had requested grant funding, the Communities Officer informed the Committee that:

• They provided swimming sessions for aged 8+ to adults on a Friday evening;

• There were 78 members of which 46 came from Royston;

• As they had been unable to host the 2017 swimming gala due to lack of funding, they were seeking support of £338 in order that the gala could take place in November;

• They were applying for grant funding from NHDC as South Cambs did not have such funding ability and it greatly benefitted residents of Royston.

Pathway at the End of Green Drift

Councillor Brown had been advised by Councillor Jarvis that once the pathway at the end of Green Drift had been adopted, he would use some of his Highways Liaison Budget towards lighting. The Communities Officer advised that the delay of 18 months was due to funding of legal fees and this had been costed out and paid for.

Royston and District Twinning Association

Councillor Brown advised that the visit would coincide with the Arts Festival at the end of September with 47 Germans, 9 Spanish and 1 French. Big band and finale concert would take place on the Saturday night.

Councillor Dingley was thanked for offering to set aside tickets for musicians who were not involved in the finale concert.

Councillors were invited to attend the Civic Reception which would be held in The Old Bull Inn on Saturday 29 September. She informed that the Mayor had been invited to speak and would be in attendance.