Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Patsy Ellis.

An interest was declared by Councillor Sarah Trotter in respect of the Boothby Pagnell application SK2115 as it was within her Ward and she abstained from voting on the application.

The Chairman, Councillor Philip Knowles declared an interest in applications SK2106 and SK1037 as he was a Trustee of the Bourne United Charities and left the meeting during consideration of these two applications. 

Under agenda item 10, any other business, an issue was raised in respect of application SK2083, Bourne Wheelers Cycling Club which had been discussed at the August 2023 meeting of the Board.  Again, the Chairman declared an interest in respect of the item.  He introduced the issue and then left the meeting and took no part in the debate and decision.

Councillor Mark Whittington declared an interest in respect of applications which had been submitted in respect of churches and abstained from voting on these applications.

The minutes of the meeting held on 4 August 2023 were confirmed as a correct record.

It was noted that, although funding had been included for those applications which had been granted funding, there was no reference to the funding for those who had been refused.  It was requested that the funding amounts be included in the minutes for the refused applications too.

Ø Action – that funding amounts be included in the minutes for both granted and refused applications.

The Chairman informed the Committee of a change to the running order of the agenda. 

Discussion took place regarding the incorrect classification of restricted documentation.  Despite the Heatmap, agenda item 7 along with agenda items 5 , 6 and 9 being added to the agenda as restricted documents, it was felt they should be discussed in the open, before the meeting went into closed session.

An update to be given at the meeting.

The UKSPF Programme Manager spoke on this agenda item and confirmed that the Rural England Prosperity Fund was a “top-up” to the UKSPF. It funded capital projects for small businesses and community infrastructure.  It was available for everywhere within South Kesteven apart from Grantham due to its population.

The two interventions relevant to the South Kesteven Prosperity fund were in respect of funding for existing cultural, historic and heritage offers and investment and support for digital infrastructure for local community facilities.  The Council had been allocated £135,115.00 for 2023/2024.  Seven of the projects being considered at the meeting had been identified as eligible and these were contained within the applications the Board were looking at during the meeting. 

In response to a question about the total funding allocated, it was stated the funding was over a two year period, £405,000 had been allocated for 2024/2025.

It was asked if the information read out by the UKSPF Programme Manager could be circulated to Members.

ØAction – The information provided verbally during the meeting regarding the Rural England Prosperity Fund to be circulated to Members of the Board.

Members to receive an update.

The UKSPF Programme Manager stated the programme was half-way through year two.  Currently there was £42,774 allocated over the four interventions up until the end of March 2024.

E2: Community and Neighbourhood £1744 OD

E3: Creation of and improvements to local green spaces £12,423

E4: Enhanced support for existing cultural, historic and heritage institutions £13,127 OD

E6: Support for local arts, cultural, heritage and creative activities £45,221

Next year’s budget which started from 01 April 2024 was £563,311

E2 and E3 budget £245,963

E4: £0 budget

E6: £71,385

In response to a question in respect of overdrawn budgets, it was stated that there was some flexibility between budgets, for which it was permissible for up to 30% could be moved between the different interventions without requiring permission from the Government.  A further question was asked in relation to what had been spent, where it had been spent and what funding remained.  It was stated there was an expenditure profile which could be circulated to the Board with the information.

ØAction – Expenditure profile illustrating what and where the spend had been made to date, the number of applications and the remaining unallocated funds, to be circulated to the Board via Democratic Services.

A Member raised a question in respect of applications made by churches which had been discussed at the last meeting.  In response the UKSPF Programme Manager read from an email received from Government which confirmed that an application for non-religious activities which benefited the community could be considered.    A request was made for the email to be circulated to the Board.

ØAction – Email response from the Government concerning treatment of applications from churches to be circulated to the Board.

A short discussion on church applications followed, where some Members felt anything to do with the fabric of a church which was of a structural nature should be the responsibility of the diocese.    It was felt items in respect of heating and solar panels could enhance the use of the premises by the community and also cut costs.  It was stated each application should be looked at and assessed individually and in a consistent manner.  It was confirmed applications from churches where payments were exclusively of a political or religious nature were not eligible.

The Heat Map shows the distribution of committed SKPF funding across the district, as of 5^th October 2023, measured by spend per person.

Members discussed the Heatmap which had been circulated and showed the distribution of committed UKSKPF funding per person across South Kesteven as at 5 October 2023.  It was noted towns currently had less spend per head of population than the villages, with Little Bytham currently and outlier with the largest spend per head of population.

A discussion on the Heatmap followed with the following comments being made.

·       A request was made for more context to be included.

·       The levelling up within the towns was unclear, as areas within some towns for example the Earlesfield Ward in Grantham, being more deprived than a village such as Rippingale.

·       The allocation of funds for the UKSPF was not specific when it came to areas of deprivation, it was more regional.

·       Volunteers were often the mainstay of keeping village amenities and facilities running such as village halls, community centres, sports facilities and churches.

·       Areas of deprivation tended to suffer from social exclusion and their needs were more prevalent in respect of energy payments and where their next meal was coming from.

Members noted the content of the Heatmap and felt extra context in relation to the type of applications per village and town, along with the amounts would be helpful.

ØAction – More context to be included on the Heatmap going forward.

Proposed dates for future meetings up to the Annual Council meeting in May 2024, based on a Monday afternoon 2pm start are:

                     11 December 2023

                     19 February 2024

                     15 March 2024 * (meeting arranged prior to the start of Purdah)

                     13 May 2024

Proposed dates of meetings of the UKSPF Board had been circulated to Members. The dates were proposed, seconded and agreed.

Decision

The following dates were confirmed as UKSPF Board meeting dates. 

Meetings to start at 2pm.

Monday 11 December 2023

Monday 19 February 2024

Monday 15 March 2024

Monday 13 May 2024

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.

It was proposed, seconded and AGREED to exclude the press and public from the meeting during discussion of the following item of business 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.

For the Board to consider applications to the South Kesteven Prosperity Fund.

The following applications to the South Kesteven Prosperity Fund were considered.

South Kesteven Main Programme Proposal – Bulit Facilities Strategy (SKMP-01)

The application was from South Kesteven District Council and concerned the development of a Built Facilities Strategy to help inform the emerging Local Plan to cover the period up to 2041.  The purpose of the strategy was to identify the needs and guide investment and future funding required by the Council and other bodies to provide new or improved facilities.  Members discussed the application before them and expressed concern about the proposal, querying whether Sports England financially contributed to the work. The Director of Growth and Culture confirmed this work was an additional element to the Local Plan and therefore unbudgeted work, however it was felt   the money for the strategy could be found from elsewhere withing the Council’s budget, in particular the Local Plan budget. On being put to the vote the application was REFUSED.

Application for funding: £19,750 - REFUSED. 

Main Programme Proposal – Meres Leisure Centre Decarbonisation (SKMP-02)

The application was from South Kesteven District Council and concerned a one-off project to identify a range of decarbonisation options to improve the carbon footprint of Grantham Meres Leisure Centre.  A consultant would be commissioned to support a bid to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme when it opened in late September/early October. 

Most Members who spoke on the application felt it was the responsibility of LeisureSK Ltd to find the funds for the project or for this to be funded from the Council’s £300k climate change reserve. On being put to the vote, the application was REFUSED.

Application for funding: £6,000 – REFUSED.

Stamford Town Cricket Club and Vision Day Support (SK2109)

The application was to refurbish and extend the toilets, refurbish the kitchen., replace the inefficient heating system and replace the showers as the current ones no longer worked.  It was stated the project would benefit all community users, in particular regular users who had physical and mental disabilities from Vision Day Support who used the facilities five days a week. 

It was noted the land now belonged to Stamford Town Council, and Members expressed concern that the Town Council had not applied for other funding from elsewhere. In discussing the application, it was felt other funding streams should be investigated by the applicants to help fund the project which some Members felt contained unnecessary expenses.  On being put to the vote, the application was REFUSED.

Application for funding: £240,000 – REFUSED.

St Wulfram’s Church PCC (SK2079)

The application was for the installation of 78 Photo-voltaic panels on the roof of St Wulfram’s Church in Grantham.

Members were supportive of the application and the wide variety of functions undertaken at the venue which benefited the community.  On being put to the vote the application was APPROVED.

Application funding: £49,500 – APPROVED.

Art Pop Up (SK2125)

An application regarding the funding of a programme of creative activities and cultural events:

·       4x half-term family creative  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

The Chairman referred to a decision made at the last meeting of the Board in respect of application SK2083, Bourne Wheelers Cycling Club.  The Board had agreed in principle to the request of £35,000 but had wanted more detail in respect of the £8,000 match funding before approving this.  The information had been duly submitted and following this, the funding had been given minus the £8,000 match funding.

The content of the cycling race was then discussed and the fact that only males would be racing in the first year, with the women’s races taking place in other years. Members believed this was noted in the application as previously supplied but had not been not been raised at the previous meeting on 4 August 2024. The £8,000 match funding was to be used to protect the project going forward and the applicant had asked for the £8,000 to be restored.

Councillor Knowles left the meeting after introducing the item.

Councillor Steptoe in the Chair

Members discussed the request for the £8,000 to be restored as well as the distinguishment between the men and women’s races.   It was felt the information was within the documents previously circulated in respect of the races and it was within the Board’s “gift” if they wished to restore the £8,000.

Further discussion followed and on being put to the vote it was APPROVED to restore the £8,000 that had been deducted.

SK2083, Bourne Wheelers Cycling Club – that the deducted £8,000 be restored to the funding requested on behalf of the Club.

Councillor Knowles returned to the meeting

A request was made that an up to date spreadsheet was circulated to the Board which showed the funding approved to date.

ØAction  

That an up to date spreadsheet be circulated to Board Members showing where all funding had been allocated to date.

The meeting closed at 17:22.