To consider each of the current community grant commitments and the approach to the ongoing management of each grant award.

That the ongoing management of the ‘live’ grants be AGREED as follows:

·         Prior’s Park Community Parking Provision – 12-month extension to grant agreement to allow the investigatory work on further parking provision to be undertaken.

·         Wormington Village Hall – 12-month extension to grant agreement with stringent conditions applied in terms of the commencement of development.

·         Churchdown Parish Council Fitness for All – final invoices to be submitted and paid in line with grant agreement.

·         GL3 Hub Environmental Improvements – unspent balance to be returned to Council funds.

·         Winchcombe Skate Park – 12-month extension to grant agreement to allow completion of works.

47.1           The report of the Head of Finance and Asset Management, circulated at Pages No. 140-149, provided information on outstanding community grants and asked Members to consider the information and agree its approach to the ongoing management of each grant.

47.2           The Head of Finance and Asset Management explained that the Council’s grants scheme had been eliminated due to financial pressures and the Grants Working Group had been disbanded. A number of the grants remained outstanding and it was felt appropriate to bring an update to Members and get a steer on how they should be managed going forward.

47.3           Attention was drawn to the appendices, circulated with the report, which set out the current status of each grant. Members were advised that, in terms of the grant for community parking provision in Prior’s Park, the majority had been spent on parking but a balance of £25,000 remained. A discussion had taken place with local Members and three sites had been identified for further parking provision to relieve issues in the area; it was therefore suggested that the remaining balance be held for six months to allow completion of that work. In terms of Wormington Village Hall, the Head of Finance and Asset Management explained that a grant of £57,700 had been awarded in March 2013 and none of the grant had yet been drawn down. The Village Hall Society had suffered some issues with its status, as well as there being a problem with the position of the village hall in that the land was owned by Dumbleton Parish Council and the transfer lease had not yet been completed. A number of attempts had been made to bring the two parties together but this had not been possible to date. Wormington Village Hall Society was now looking to get the lease ‘dated’ to enable them to move the project forward and Officers felt it may be acceptable to permit an extension of six months to allow the Parties to resolve the issues. The majority of the grant to Churchdown Parish Council for its ‘Fitness for All’ project had been spent and it was recommended that the last few invoices be settled as they were received. GL3 Hub had a small outstanding balance of £1,100 from its environmental improvements grant which it was suggested should be returned to capital balances. In terms of the Winchcombe skate park grant, the project had seen some delays in respect of planning and it was suggested that a 12 month extension be granted to allow the works to be completed.

47.4           A Member expressed the strong view that the grant for Wormington Village Hall should not be extended again. The Parties involved did not seem to be able to move the project forward and the grant had been outstanding for many years which she felt was unacceptable. There had also been questions raised as to whether Wormington actually needed a village hall which was of concern to her. Another Member agreed that there had been a lot of extensions, although he was of the view that a final deadline should be given. The Head of Finance and Asset Management felt the withdrawal of the grant at this point could be difficult reputationally for the Council. The Borough Solicitor agreed that there could be potential jeopardy to the applicants if the grant funding was withdrawn while they were in court proceedings so a 12 month extension seemed reasonable as long as they showed a real intent during that time i.e. the land issues were addressed and some works had commenced. Any extension granted would have to include terms about any pending court action so that, if the case did not succeed, and/or the lease was not negotiated, the grant funding would be given back to the Council. Another Member expressed the view that village halls were important community facilities, especially in rural locations, and the Council should do what it could to help the party. In response to a query regarding what would happen if the money came back to the Council, the Head of Finance and Asset Management confirmed that it would be returned to capital balances. In terms of the Prior’s Park community parking provision, a Member questioned whether a 12 month extension would be more suitable than the suggested six months. In response, he was advised that this may be helpful, even though the project would be moved forward as quickly as possible.

47.5           A Member suggested that, if an extension was given to Wormington Village Hall Society, it should be a firm date which must be adhered to and it was agreed that 12 months from the date of this meeting would be acceptable and that stringent conditions in terms of the commencement of development should be included. With regard to money put back into capital balances, a Member expressed concern that it should be reallocated to community projects. In response, the Head of Finance and Asset Management indicated that this was a reasonable request and undertook to include a specific recommendation in the budget report to address this. Accordingly, it was