Agenda and minutes

Apologies for non attendance were received from Councillor Kirsten Bradley, who was substituted by Councillor Kirsty Cox.

Councillor Hutchison declared

i)              a  pecuniary interest in Item 7 para 17 as Trustee and Treasurer of the Elson Community Library and Hub.

ii)             A non pecuniary interest in item 7 para 12 as a Governor of ST. John’s primary School

iii)           A non pecuniary interest in item 7 para 13 as Plan B has provided watersports activities to Hardway.

Councillor Burgess declared a non pecuniary interest in item 7 paras 14 and late item 1 as he had awarded a grant as a Hampshire County Councillor

Councillor Chegwyn declared a non pecuniary interest in item 7 paras 12 & 17 as he had awarded a grant as a Hampshire County Councillor

Councillor Cully declared a non pecuniary interest in item 7 para 11 and she had awarded a grant for the previous bus subsidy.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 December 2023 were signed as a true and correct record.

·         (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 Tuesday 5^th March 2024. The total time for deputations in favour and against a proposal shall not exceed 10 minutes).

There were none

·         (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 Tuesday 5^th March 2024).

There were none

This report provides an update on the funding awards and recommendations made by the Board at its previous meetings, including six end of project reports and one interim report. This report also provides an update on the creation of a separate Events Fund

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Corporate Policy & Community Safety providing an update on the funding awards and recommendations made by the Sub Board at its previous meetings, including six end of project reports and one interim report. The report also provides an update on the creation of a separate Events Fund.

The Grants Officer updated Members that one additional end of project report had been received from The Marine Festival.

RESOLVED: That the Sub Board:

i)              Noted the six end of project reports and one interim report received since its last meeting

ii)             Noted the status report provided on the previous Sub Board awards and recommendations in Appendix 1

iii)           Noted the creation of an Events Grant Fund.

To provide a summary of each application receieved to the Community Fund in this funding period in order that members can determine if they wish to award grant funding for each proposal as set out in this report.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Corporate Policy and Community Safety providing a summary of each application received to the Community Fund in this funding period in order that Members can determine if they wish to award grant funding for each proposal as set out in this report.

1.    Gosport Railway Society

Members agreed to award the sum of £429

2.    Incredible Edible Gosport

Members were advised that the grant would be used to fund a four week cookery course for 10 people offering help and advice on creating affordable healthy food. It would result in people leaving their homes, learning about food and its relationship to health, and then sit down and eat together.

In answer to a Member’s question, the applicant advised that the participants would be found through social prescribers, the Leisure Centre, Nimrod Centre and social media, and with the interest created by previous such schemes, the demand is there.

Members were advised that the equipment could be used for future schemes and would be portable enough to be taken to any size venue.

Members agreed to award the sum of £600

3.    Harbour Cancer Support Centre

Members were advised that the grant would be used to fund a weekly coffee morning off site so not to disturb the therapies taking place at the centre

Members agreed not to make an award

4.    Mend & Tend Service- Gosport Voluntary Action

Members were advised that mend & Tend is a vetted worker match up for Gosport people who need support with DIY or gardening. The worker is paid directly by the resident, and for some time there has been no admin fee. Not only has that encouraged more people to use the service, but has cut the need to administer that charge.

Members were supportive of the scheme and were aware of its excellent reputation.

Members agreed to award the sum of £1,500

5.    The Village Home Football Club

Members were advised that the grant would be used to fund the increase in pitch fees and enable the club which has been around for 40 years to continue.

Members agreed to award the sum of £1,000

6.    Gosport Borough Youth Football Club

Members were advised that this is the largest youth club in Hampshire with 83 teams and 1,000 members.

The applicant advised that the grant would pay for kit, as subs only cover referee fees, DBS checks and pitch fees. Members were assured that the kits are recycled down to younger players, and only get replaced every two years.

Members agreed to award the sum of £1,500

7.    TML Football Club

The applicant advise that the club had been started by his grandfather and had grown to 100 players.

Members were advised that the grant would be used to pay pitch fees, tournament costs and equipment.

Members agreed to award the sum of £1,000

8.    Disability Union

Members agreed not to make an award

9.    Nest & Anchor Events

Members agreed to defer this application  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

To consider applications for Community Grant Funding from:

1.    The Lee Hub Independent Community Library to replace front doors

2.    Veterans Can for venue hire for a networking event.

By reason of special circumstances, the Chairman determined that the following items 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 items.

1.    The Lee Hub Independent Community Library

Members were advised that the doors needed to be replaced and the best solution was a composite material that would still look like the original French Oak.

The applicant advised that the quote included the doors, frame and included removal and recycling of the old doors.

Members agreed to award £2,900 from the heritage Grant Fund.

2.    Veterans Can

Members expressed surprise at the high cost of renting Explosion.

Members agreed to award £500 from the Community Fund

To provide a summary of the five applications receieved to the Heritage Fund in this funding period in order that members can determine if they wish to award grant funding for the proposals set out in this report.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Corporate Policy and Community Safety providing a summary of the five applications received to the Heritage Fund in this funding period in order that Members can determine if they wish to award grant funding for the proposals set out in the report.

1.    St. John’s Arts 2024 Programme Exhibition Panels

The applicant explained that this was an arts programme running in collaboration with the Gosport & Fareham Multi-Academy Trust (in particular Brune Park and Bay House), which had received a grant from the Arts Council England. They produce a programme of arts activities with the focus on young people, but wish to extend into workshops and dance events to include families and the community.

Members were advised that the grant was needed to purchase movable, illuminated screens to enable the mounting of exhibitions in St.John’s Church, where the walls are dark and easily damaged.

Members agreed to award the full amount of £3,545

2.    The Queen’s Hotel 143 Queens Road

The applicant explained he had recently replaced the sash windows in the upper floor and they were working well. The grant will be put towards replacing sash windows in the middle floor and repairs to the third storey roof.

Members were advised that the pub was up and running and its real ales were proving popular. It was now hoped to put the whole building back into use for the benefit of the community and in particular essential workers.

In answer to a Member’s question, the applicant explained that he had taken on the project in order to preserve the building for future generations and did not expect to make a profit due to the amount of work and investment required.

Members agreed to award the sum of £10,000

3.    2,2A&B, 6 and 6A Church Road Alverstoke.

Members were advised that the grant would go towards the repair and redecoration of the external joinery, including shopfronts and sash windows.

The applicant gave Members some of the history of the building and explained that she had been the owner since 2004, and it had been a labour of love to maintain a listed building which is 250 years old. Advice from a conservation specialist had been sought and it would require skilled work to provide a package of repair for the buildings.

In answer to a Members question, the applicant explained that in order to keep the businesses thriving in the village, she kept the rents at a reasonable rate and the amount received does not cover the amount of maintenance required.

Members understood the impact on the surrounding properties should these fall into disrepair.

Members agreed to award £33,500, which was subsequently increased to £40,000.

4.    2 High Street

Members were advised that the brick frontage of the building was constructed of mathematical tiles, which are a specialist item, only manufactured by one or two companies in the country, and it was the delay in obtaining the viability assessment  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.