Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director (Housing and Communities) detailing the applications for Community Grants.

Members received a report of the Executive Director (Housing and Communities) which detailed the applications that had been received for Small Community Grants.

The report noted that small Community Grants were limited to a maximum of £2,000 per application.  There was £39,000 in total available during the financial year 2017/18 to be awarded through the Small Community Grants of which £21,700 had already been awarded this financial year and this left £17,300 to be awarded.

Officers advised on a letter received from the Chairman of Welwyn Hatfield Community & Voluntary Service (CVS) on the 1^st February 2018. The letter explained how their car scheme operated and requested a consideration of a one-off contribution when the Board met in March 2018 to help buy a used vehicle from a local supplier, as their current vehicle had been declared beyond economic repair.  It was agreed that at one-off grant of £5,000 be awarded to CVS towards the car.

Crusaders

An application had been received for the amount of £2,000 towards purchasing extra skates and protection for skaters to use at the sessions.

Members considered this be a good application to help new beginners and keep the sport open to all.

AGREED a grant of £2,000

Friends of Harwood Hill

An application had been received for the amount of £2,000 towards connecting the electric supply to the new library building.

Members commented that they were unable to agree the grant, as this type of request would normally be considered the Parent and Teacher Association.

RESFUSED the application.

Girlguiding Hatfield

An application had been received for the amount of £2,000 towards labour costs and materials to replace the doors and windows to the building to help reduce potential draughts.

Members supported the application as it provided a wide ranging programme that teaches girls to be independent and at the same empowering young women in today’s world.

AGREED a grant of £2,000

Sir Frederic Osborne

An application had been received for the amount of £2,000 towards rewarding students and staff involved to a session in a recording studio and a trip to a professional theatre show and backstage tour.

Members felt that the grant would not be aiding a wider audience and that financial assistance could be sought from Hertfordshire County Council.

RESFUSED the application.

The Letchworth Centre for Healthy Living

An application had been received for the amount of £1,300 to help fund the shortfall between fees charged and direct costs.

Members supported the application as it helped to keep the older people moving and teaches breathing techniques as part of the Mindfulness approaches which has shown to improve health outcomes in adults.

Further consideration was given to what outcomes would be achieved and the attendance on the 20 week programme.  Members sought clarification on how the project had been advertised and how many people normally attended from the Borough.

AGREED a grant of £1,300 subject to the programme being extended and clarification on where the project was advertised.

Revitalise Respite Holidays

An application had been received for the amount of £1,000 towards providing three essential respite breaks for residents of Welwyn, improving their wellbeing and alleviating the daily challenges that living with disability and caring for a loved one can bring.

Members were keen to support this application as it provided the support that carers need and find valuable.  Further clarification was sought on whether the organisation was working with Carers in Hertfordshire and also how many volunteers where there from Welwyn Garden City?

AGREED a grant of £1,000 subject to further information, as requested by Members.

RESOLVED that grants should be paid as follows:

Following the allocation of the above grants it was agreed that the surplus funds be divided between Recover, Resolve and Welwyn Hatfield Community and Voluntary Service who did not receive the original requested amount fully or partially in October’s meeting.