Issue - meetings

Area West Community Grant Request - Allowenshay Mains Water Project (Executive Decision)

Meeting: 20/02/2020 - Area West Committee (Item 273)

273 Area West Community Grant Request - Allowenshay Mains Water Project (Executive Decision) PDF 79 KB

Decision:

RESOLVED:

That Area West Committee:

1. Agreed a grant of £12,500 be awarded to Allowenshay Mains Water Ltd, to be allocated from the Area West Capital Programme and subject to standard grant conditions.

2. Recommend that a report requesting further funding is made to District Executive for consideration in April or May 2020.

Reason:

To consider a financial contribution towards the provision of mains water to the hamlet of Allowenshay.

(Voting: Unanimous)

Minutes:

A member of the public addressed members in support of the application, prior to the report being presented. He explained that they were looking for a long term solution for the community and the issues had been ongoing for seven years. There was a now a health issue as a Notice had been served, and the residents concerned had to boil water that was for consumption. He provided an overview of the situation and current water supply infrastructure issues.

The Locality Team Manager then presented the report which asked members to consider a request for a financial contribution towards the provision of mains water to the hamlet of Allowenshay.

He explained that an application had been made for a community grant, however the scheme did not fully meet the required criteria. The recommended was not for a straight refusal of the application due to the exceptional circumstances . He recognised there were some community benefits and it was very much a community lead project, but highlighted it was not the usual type of project supported by community grants. He explained he was not making a recommendation but asking the Committee to consider awarding a grant.

During a short discussion, and in response to questions raised, the member of the public and officer clarified:

· that the residents had now set up a company to deliver the scheme, and if a grant was approved, would be paid to that company.

· There were 27 houses in the hamlet.

Members expressed their support for the scheme, and whilst it did not quite meet the grants criteria, noted it was exceptional circumstances and very much needed by the community. Members acknowledged a request had gone through District Executive a few months previously but failed to get support. It was proposed to support the scheme with a maximum Area grant of £12,500, and to recommend that a report requesting further funding be made again to the District Executive in the next few months. The Locality Team Manager clarified that grant funding would be subject to the standard grant conditions. The Leader of Council commented she would welcome a report going back to District Executive for consideration.