Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Tim Harrison and Councillor Nikki Manterfield.

Councillor Lee Steptoe declared a non-registrable interest in respect of the Grantham College application and left the meeting during consideration of the application.

Nicola McCoy-Brown informed the Board that she was no longer a Governor of Grantham College and therefore remained in the meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 February 2024 were proposed, seconded and AGREED.

The following applications were previously on the agenda at the SPF Board meeting on 19^th February 2024:

Rural Fund applications

1.     RF-1002 – Hanbeck Natural Stone Limited

2.     RF-1004 – Rural Inc Ltd

3.     RF-1006 – Storm Style Ltd

4.     RF-1008 – Claypole Village Store

These above applications have now been deferred to May’s SPF Board meeting which is taking place on 13^th May 2024 for the following reasons:

·       All applicants will now have time to be considered by the relevant Local Economic Forum sub-groups before being considered by the SPF Board

·       Consideration can be given to subsidy control. We are currently seeking information from neighbouring authorities in relation to this

·       This will enable applications to undergo a more robust appraisal process to ensure that funds are allocated effectively.

·       Applicants have been informed of this and are still able to complete the projects (if successful) in the timeframe given (ie, before 31^st March 2025)

·       Additional time is required for further information to be obtained to assess the eligibility and suitability of the bids.

As part of the supplementary papers circulated, the Board received an update which confirmed that the Rural Applications that had been deferred at the February meeting of the Board would be going to the meeting scheduled for Monday 13 May 2024.    Due to the amount of funding requested it was felt that more time was required to enable the Local Economic Sub-Group to determine the applications and to receive presentations from the groups. The applications had therefore been deferred to the May meeting of the Board.  

The Heat Map circulated with the agenda showed no change since the February meeting of the Board.

Due to population figures it was felt that the Heat Map did not tell the whole story, but the information it contained was helpful.

A summary of the Main Programme applications had been appended to the agenda to enable the public to see what applications the Board would be considering and the amount of funding requested.   

It is likely that the press and public will be excluded during discussion of the following agenda item because of the likelihood that information that is exempt under paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) would be disclosed to them.

The Chairman made reference to the previous meeting of the Board and the comments made by the Monitoring Officer in respect of going into private session to determine the applications before them.  The Chairman was still of the opinion that the meeting should go into private session.  A discussion then followed in respect of excluding the press and public from the meeting at this point.  The majority of the Board Members present felt that it was right that the applications were dealt with whilst the press and public were excluded.  Some Members did not agree with this and argued the point, stating that in the past reference had been made to including a box on the application form which asked for permission to make the information public.  The Deputy Director of Finance and Deputy 151 Officer stated that the information contained within the funding applications contained commercially sensitive information which if made public had the potential to give an unfair advantage to other businesses and therefore should be dealt with privately. 

Following a wide ranging discussion, it was proposed, seconded and AGREED to exclude the press and public from the meeting.  

(14:21 Councillor Steptoe left the meeting at this point)

Returning applications:

1.     SKMP05b – Grantham College

2.     SKMP08 – Steadfast Training Ltd

SKMP05b – Grantham College

Funding requested: £48,500

SKMP08 – Steadfast Training Ltd

Funding requested: £51,500

Joint funding requested: £100,000

Following the comments made at the February meeting of the Board a joint proposal between Grantham College and Steadfast Training had been put forward.  Information on the joint project was circulated to the Board.  The project sought to continue work supporting those individuals living in South Kesteven who were unemployed due to health reasons and move them closer towards sustainable employment and/or training, learning or volunteering opportunities.  Grantham College would target those unemployed due to health reasons in and around Grantham, whilst Steadfast Training would do the same in Stamford, The Deepings and Bourne.

The Board discussed the joint application in detail acknowledging the match funding from both Grantham College and Steadfast Training. The Board were concerned that there was no certification given by Grantham College at the end of the period where as Steadfast did provide a form of certification.  The number of people who would benefit in relation to the funding requested was also queried by the Board.  After an in depth discussion, the Board REFUSED the joint application.

1.     SK-2132 – Great Ponton Parish Meeting

2.     SK-2140 – Great Gonerby Parish Council

3.     SK-2142 – Wyndham Park Forum

4.     SK-2143 – Horbling & Billingborough Scout Group

5.     SK-2148 – Swayfield Village Hall

6.     SK-2150 – The Aveland History Group

7.     SK-2151 – Jubilee Church (ACM)

8.     SK-2152 – Memorial Hall Barrowby

9.     SK-2153 – Great Gonerby Memorial Hall

10. SK-2156 – Langtoft Parish Council

(14:51 Councillor Steptoe returned to the meeting)

The UKSPF Programme Manager referred Members to the papers circulated before the meeting which listed the amount of funding remaining under the relevant interventions for the applications listed within the agenda.  She wanted to make the Board aware that the amount of funding being requested exceeded the funding remaining in some of the interventions.  There was some flexibility for moving some of the funding within the interventions but this was very limited.

It was noted that there was another fund available the Village Hall Fund which may be able to accommodate funding requests between £2,000- £5,000 but the criteria for this funding was very specific.

SK-2132 – Great Ponton Parish Meeting

Funding request: £25,000

A funding application had been submitted to enable the conservatory roof at the village community centre to be finished.  The original roof purchased had been incorrectly ordered. Following a short discussion, the funding request was REJECTED.

(15:03 Councillor Harrish Bisnauthsing left the meeting and did not return)

As Councillor Richard Dixon-Warren was in attendance it was agreed that the Aveland History Group application would be dealt with next.

SK-2150 – The Aveland History Group

Funding request: £12,000

Councillor Richard Dixon-Warren spoke in support of the application which was for funding for a two-day family event honouring our Allies who flew in great numbers for Operation Overland in June 1944.   A query was made in respect of the funding requested to which the UKSPF Programme Manager replied. Members were supportive of the request especially the local connection to the area and on being put to the vote the funding request was ENDORSED.

It was agreed that SK-2142 be considered next as it fell within the same intervention E6 as SK-2150.

SK-2142 – Wyndham Park Forum – Centenary

Funding request: £19,166.65

The funding was in respect of hosting a three day public event to celebrate the centenary of Wyndham Park in Grantham which opened in July 1924.  Comments were made in respect of possible revenue for the Council as the park was owned by the Council. The Board were broadly supportive of the event taking place but felt that different ways of financing the event should also be explored.  The Board agreed to DEFER the final decision to the Chairman of the UKSPF Board to make the decision following further information exploring a reduction in costs/funding.

SK-2140 – Great Gonerby Parish Council

Funding request: £6,500

A funding request had been submitted from Great Gonerby Parish Council for a new bus shelter on Grantham Road, Great Gonerby as the existing shelter was in a poor state of repair.  The Board were supportive of the application which was ENDORSED.

SK-2143 – Horbling & Billingborough Scout Group

Funding request: £100,000

The funding request had been made following recent flooding to the building. It was proposed to reconfigure internal walls and refit the kitchen following the flooding and also to build a separate shower/toilet block.  The Board discussed the application with concern being expressed over  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

None.

Meeting closed at 16:02.