Issue - meetings

Report by the Director of Law and Assurance.

The report summarises the Community Initiative Funding applications received via The West Sussex Crowd.  The Committee is invited to consider the applications and pledge funding if appropriate.

The Community Initiative Fund is a County Local Committee (CLC) administered fund that provides assistance to local community projects.  Bids should show evidence of projects that have the support of the community and make a positive impact on people’s wellbeing and support The West Sussex Plan.

At its meeting on 12 June 2019 the Central and South Mid Sussex County Local Committee considered the Community Initiative Funding applications received via the West Sussex Crowd as set out in Appendix A.

The following pledges were approved:-

356/CSMS – Ensemble Reza, Reza Community Orchestra, up to £1,000 – Towards venue hire plus publicity and printing costs.

365/CSMS – Holy Trinity CE Primary School PTA, Outdoor Classroom at Holy Trinity School, up to £1,500 - Towards building a wooden outdoor classroom next to the school pond habitat.  This pledge was conditional, subject to the project entering the fundraising stage by the end of the year.

370/CSMS – Hurstpierpoint Churches, The Melting Pot Café, up to £1,000 - Towards purchasing a coffee grinder machine and water module.  This pledge was conditional, subject to the project entering the fundraising stage by the end of the year.

The following pledge was declined:-

369/CSMS – Mid Sussex MS Society, towards cost of hall hire for hosting mindfulness classes.  The Committee felt that the costs were revenue funding and not eligible for Community Initiative Funding

The call-in deadline is 20 June 2019.

7.1     The Committee considered a report by the Director of Law and Assurance (copy appended to the signed minutes).

7.2     The Chairman informed the Committee that following a decision by the Cabinet Member for Safer, Stronger Communities the Community Initiative Funding budget had been reduced from £280,000 to £140,000.  The decision was linked to the CLC Review Working Group.  Pending consideration from the CLC Review Working Group, the Committee had £15,600 for allocation for the year.

7.3     Resolved -

(a) That the following awards be made:

·       356/CSMS – Ensemble Reza, Reza Community Orchestra, up to £1,000 – Towards venue hire plus publicity and printing costs.

·       365/CSMS – Holy Trinity CE Primary School PTA, Outdoor Classroom at Holy Trinity School, up to £1,500 - Towards building a wooden outdoor classroom next to the school pond habitat.  This pledge was conditional, subject to the project entering the fundraising stage by the end of the year.

·       370/CSMS – Hurstpierpoint Churches, The Melting Pot Café, up to £1,000 - Towards purchasing a coffee grinder machine and water module.  This pledge was conditional, subject to the project entering the fundraising stage by the end of the year.

The Committee agreed that the agreed amounts were subject to a reduction pending on how much was required to bring the projects up to their funding total at the time of pledging.   

(b) That the following application be declined:

·       369/CSMS – Mid Sussex MS Society, towards cost of hall hire for hosting mindfulness classes.  The Committee felt that the costs were revenue funding and not eligible for Community Initiative Funding