Agenda item

(Voting: Unanimous)

The Locality Officer presented the report asked members to consider awarding a grant towards the purchase of part of Kirkham Street Field, Somerton. He advised that John Dippie and Margaret Chambers from the Kirkham Street Field Community Trust were also present to answer any questions.

He provided an update to the project funding plan as there had been a change since the agenda had been published. The Trust had recently been notified that unfortunately they had been unsuccessful with their funding application for £65,000 to the Somerset County Council Climate Change Emergency Community Fund. The Locality Officer asked members to support the Trust with grant funding as it was likely help to lever in and attract other sources of grant funding.

The Chairman expressed his disappointment that the bid to the county climate change fund had been unsuccessful.

Ward member, Councillor Dean Ruddle, acknowledged the Trust had worked extremely hard with fundraising. He note the field was the only area of green space left in that area of town and that Somerton Town Council were fully supportive of the project. He agreed that the district council should help to try and get the project over the line.

Fellow ward member, Councillor Tim Kerley, reiterated the community support for the project, and noted the field had been well used by the community for many years even before it was a school field.

During a lengthy discussion, members expressed their support for the project, but some also raised their disappointment that the County Council were not doing more to support the local community.

The Locality Officer responded to points of detail raised during discussion, and some of his points included:

·        It was not known at this stage what the intentions were for the wider site and remainder of the field.

·        There may possibly be a time-limit for the allocation of the SSDC grant funding but the application could return to members for consideration if needed. The money would remain within the Area North budget until such time as it was released when the project progressed.

·        There was currently no formal extension of time with the County Council to secure funding for purchasing the field. Each time the site was marketed it was noted that it was an Asset of Community Value.

At the end of discussion the Chairman asked if the County Division members could liaise with the ward members to help try and progress the project and source information about timeframes from the relevant department at the County Council, and this was acknowledged by the relevant members.

It was proposed to approve the grant application as detailed in the agenda report, and on being put to the vote, was carried unanimously in favour.

(Voting: Unanimous)