Issue - meetings

Grant to The Speedwell Hall, Crewkerne (Executive Decision)

Meeting: 15/08/2018 - Area West Committee (Item 40)

40 Grant to The Speedwell Hall, Crewkerne (Executive Decision) PDF 101 KB

Decision:

RESOLVED:

That the Area West Committee awarded a grant of up to £12,500 to the Speedwell Hall, the grant to be allocated from the Area West Capital Grants programme subject to SSDC standard conditions for community grants (Appendix A) and the following special conditions:

Establish and maintain a “sinking and repairs fund” to support future repairs and maintenance of the hall.

Reason:

To award a grant toward replacing the wooden floor at The Speedwell Hall in Crewkerne.

(Voting: unanimous in favour)

Minutes:

The Neighbourhood Development Officer advised that this was a very busy community centre which hosted many events and was regularly used by the Rainbows, Brownies and Girl Guides. The wooden floor was very old and in need of replacing otherwise the hall would have to close.

The Chairman of the Trustees spoke in support of the grant. He said it was regularly used and the Management Committee had already raised almost half of the target amount of £30,000 to replace the floor. In response to a question from Members, he clarified that the rent from the flat above the hall was used to service a mortgage on the property.

The Ward Member, Councillor Mike Best, said this was a Grade 2 listed hall which was well used and he urged Members to support the grant application.

During a brief discussion, concern was expressed at the comparatively low grant from the Town Council towards the work. The Communities Lead confirmed that the grant request had been considered by the Town Council some months previously and they may have had limited funds at that time. There was an expectation that Town and Parish Councils would normally contribute 10% of the cost of a scheme and this was mentioned in the grants application form. The Communities Lead agreed that, for future applications where lower sums have been secured from the parish the officers report should explain why this is the case.

At the conclusion of the debate, Members unanimously confirmed the grant of up to £12,500 to the Speedwell Hall, Crewkerne towards replacing the wooden floor.

RESOLVED: