Agenda and draft minutes

To receive aplologies for inability to attend the meeting.

There were none.

All Members are required to disclose at this point in the meeting or as soon as possible thereafter, any disclosable pecuniary interest or personal interest in any item(s) being considered at this meeting.

Councillor Cully declared a non pecuniary interest in the VE party grant application for the bastion, and the Allotment Association application as a member of the Allotment Stakeholder Group.

Councillor Hutchison declared an interest in the VE party grant application for Elson hub.

·         (NOTE: The Board is required to receive a deputation(s) on a matter which is before the meeting of the Board provided that notice of the intended deputation and its object shall have been received by the Borough Solicitor by 12 noon on Thursday 10 April 2025.  The total time for deputations in favour and against a proposal shall not exceed 10 minutes).

There were no deputations but 2 representatives had requested to speak on their applications.

(NOTE: The Board is required to allow a total of 15 minutes for questions from Members of the public on matters within the terms of reference of the Board provided that notice of such Question(s) shall have been submitted to the Borough Solicitor by 12 noon on Thursday 10 April 2025).

There were none.

To provide the Sub Board with an update on the VE Day Street Party Grant process and applications in order that members can approve funding of up to £5,000 and approve the 33 grant applications of £100 (As shown in Appendix 1). 

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Corporate Policy and Community Safety providing the Sub Board with an update on the VE Day Street Party Grant process and applications.

The Chairman introduced the report by advising that one of the applications, number 1 in the appendix from the Gosport D-Day Fellowship had been withdrawn due to a change of date for the event being held. The Chairman also asked if the Sub Board were happy to receive the late item to the report, an application from Friends of Bastion No 1. This was agreed and Councillor Cully agreed not to vote. The Chairman explained that there would be a vote on all applications except Elson Hub and Bastion No1, which would be taken individually to enable Councillors who had declared an interest not to vote.

In answer to a Member’s question, the Chairman advised that if an individual or group wished to hold an event for VJ Day, an application could be made to the scheduled Grants Sub Board meetings.

RESOLVED: That the Sub Board considered 31 applications set out in the report and agreed to award £100 to each applicant.

RESOLVED: That the Sub Board considered the application from Bastion No 1 and agreed to award £100.

RESOLVED: That the Sub Board considered the application form the Elson Hub and agreed to award £100

By reason of special circumstances, the Chairman determined that the following item be considered at this meeting notwithstanding the fact that the item had not been available for public inspection in accordance with the provisions of Section 100B(4)(a) of the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985.

RESOLVED: that the Sub Board agreed to take the late item.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Corporate Policy and Community Safety providing the Sub Board with an urgent Community Fund grant application for consideration.

The applicant advised the Sub Board that Park Yoga was a growing movement that provided free and accessible yoga sessions outdoors to help improve health and wellbeing, both physical and mental.

Members were advised that the applicant had been in discussions with GBC officers to identify the most appropriate site which would match the criteria laid down: an area of deprivation, accessible toilets and access to public transport, and at least a 20 minute drive from another Park Yoga session.

In answer to a Member’s question, the applicant advised that they would be looking for funding from many sources to ensure the sessions could continue beyond the first year.

The applicant explained that the sessions would be advertised and marketed in a number of ways including Facebook and other social media outlets, Gosport Borough Council’s Coastline magazine, banners and maybe leaflets. A lot of the promotion would be carried out in person either at other events such as the High Street markets and engaging with people walking by the sessions. There might also be referrals from social subscribers.

The Members wished to recognise the energy and enthusiasm the applicant has for all the projects they organise, and the proven track record of making things happen.

RESOLVED: That the Sub Board agreed to award the sum of £1,500.

RESOLVED: That the Sub Board agreed to consider the late application from the Allotment Association.

The applicant advised members that the event would mark the first birthday of the Manor Way allotment site, the first site that Gosport Borough Council had created since the 1950’s.

Members were advised that the event would include the plot holders and their families and an invitation would be extended to close neighbours to show off the site and help build the feeling of shared community.

The Chairman told the Sub Board that there was pride in the creation of the site and that the applicant had been a key part of the decision to go ahead with his lobbying of the Council.

The applicant advised that the plot holders would be providing the refreshments and the smaller facilities such as gazebos, the power required was already there and that the money was required to provide a larger marquee, a toilet and some form of music.

The Sub Board was advised that the Mayor would be invited to officially open the site.

RESOLVED: That the Sub Board agreed to award the sum of £1,000