Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Patsy Ellis.

The Chairman, Councillor Philip Knowles reminded Members that interests could be declared at any point in a meeting.  The Chairman declared an interest in the Bourne Town Council application SK-213 and left the meeting during consideration of this item. Councillor Helen Crawford also declared an interest in this item and took no part in the decision.  The Vice-Chairman, Councillor Virginia Moran made reference to the Deepings Community Centre application SKMP503, as she was the Ward Councillor for the area, it was for each Member to decide whether they stayed or left a meeting but the Assistant Director of Planning stated that being a Ward Member did not preclude them from the meeting during discussion of the application.

The minutes from the meeting held on 30 October 2024 were proposed, seconded and AGREED.

The Board were circulated with a further profile on the funds remaining.

The Chairman stated that the Board briefly look through each application in the public part of the meeting, then the meeting would go into private session where the applications would be discussed in more detail and the Board would indicate whether or not they endorsed the application.

SKMP30 – South Kesteven District Council, Markets Enhancement

The project would provide equipment such as stall covers, new waymarking and branding, equipment necessary for the safe operation of the markets and costs to support the Markets footfall and development.  It was hoped that the project would enhance the markets in Grantham, Stamford and Bourne. Comments were made in respect of staging equipment, it was thought that some staging may already have been in the Council’s possession, however, on checking this was not the case.  The lifespan of stall covers was also discussed and when they had previously been replaced.

SKMP501 – Stamford Youth Forum

Art Pop-up on behalf of Stamford Youth Forum were proposing to perform a community needs analysis, pilot engagement and feasibility study.  The project was to support Youth and Families in South Kesteven through three phases.  Concern was expressed by some Members about who the organisers of the project were.

SKMP502 – Glorious Chocolate

The funding was to support and facilitate operations and production.  The Local Economic Forum had raised concerns about the business case and had not endorsed the project but deferred it back for further information.  Members did express concern about the sustainability of the project.

SKMP503 – South Kesteven Deepings Community Centre

South Kesteven District Council were the freehold owner of the building and following a survey undertaken by William Saunders Partnership it was found that the roof was at the end of its anticipated life.  The building was currently leased by the Deepings Community Centre Trust and was used daily by various groups.  The proposal was to repair the leaking roof covering across the building, to include PV (solar) removal/reinstatement, roof lights replacement, drainage and general building work costs.

SKMP38 – South Kesteven District Council Table Tennis

This project had been rejected at the last meeting of the Board due to costs.  A further application had been submitted with reduced costs.

RF-500 - Double Yew Nurseries

The project was for the installation of solar PV panels on the roof of existing buildings to generate in excess of 28,000 Wh per annum. The project would save money on overhead costs. The Local Economic Forum had expressed concern with the application and had asked for the application to be deferred for clarification on the timeline for delivery and also the sustainability of the business.

RF-501 - YP Genever & Daughters

The funding was for a project to allow the expansion of direct meat sales through the purchase of a freezer trailer, which would be used to store meat, some match funding was also being put forward.  Some concern was expressed about the costs of the trailer; however, a search of the internet did confirm that a freezer trailer could  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

It is likely that the Press and Public will be exclueded during discussion of the following item of business because of the likelihood that inforamtion 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 that the press and public were excluded from the meeting at this point as it was likely that information contained within the remaining items on the agenda were exempt under paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

The Board were circulated with a budgetary statement which detailed the remaining Main Programme budget, the Rural Fund budget and the Capital and Revenue budget taking into account the applications before the Board.  The budgetary statement included grants under £5,000 and also the Programme Management cost.

The budget was discussed and what funds could be moved between interventions and capital and revenue.  Officers were asked that where possible and where funding was available, that applications that could fall under Rural applications should be allocated there.

The Board were informed that at the December meeting what funding remaining would be looked at in detail and a “reserve” list of applications would be drawn up for those who had been allocated funding but for unforeseen reasons they could not utilise the funding before 31 March 2025.  This would enable the maximum expenditure to be used.

Comments were again made about those organisations that had received large amounts of money being invited back to the Board to give a presentation on how they had spent the money.  The Head of Economic Development and Inward Investment indicated that this was being arranged.

Discussion followed with specific applications being highlighted who had still to receive their funding from the Board.  The Assistant Director of Planning indicated that these would be discussed outside the meeting.

Further discussion followed on those organisations that needed to match funding for organisations such as Sports England and the Football Association and the long timeframes that could be involved.

Each application was then discussed and a recommendation made.

SKMP30 – South Kesteven District Council Markets Enhancement

Funding requested:  £52,500

The funding request was for a market enhancement project for the markets in Bourne, Grantham and Stamford. A range of capital investments which supports the development and delivery of the markets above and beyond what is achievable within the current operating budget.  The project would provide equipment like stall covers, new marketing, wayfinding and branding.  Members discussed the application with comments being raised about the feasibility study which was undertaken, Bourne Town Council had given a comprehensive response but had heard nothing more. The survey that had been undertaken in all three towns.  Wayfinding and branding were also discussed in detail.  The Assistant Director of Planning indicated that the comments made would be passed on to the Markets Team.  Members were supportive of the project but it was noted that the funding needed to be use fairly across all three towns not just in Grantham.  The funding application was proposed, seconded and ENDORSED.

SKMP501 – Stamford Youth Forum

Funding requested: £51,326

Art Pop-up on behalf of Stamford Youth Forum were proposing to perform a community needs analysis, piolet engagement and feasibility study: pathway to supporting youth and families in South Kesteven.  Members discussed the funding application and also viewed the video submitted.   The UKSPF Officer stated that they had asked for a more tightly defined project which established an evidence base which could sustain the project going forward and also an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

RF-500 – Double Yew Nurseries

Funding requested: £33,470

The project was for the installation of solar PV panels on the roof of the existing buildings with a view to generating in excess of 28,000Wh per annum.  The saved money this would generate would be used to streamline costs to make the nursery more efficient.  Members were not supportive of the funding requested and it was proposed, seconded and agreed to REJECT the application.

RF-501 – YP Genever & Daughters

Funding requested: £8,500

The funding request was to allow the expansion of direct meat sales through the purchase of a freezer trailer which would be used to store meat.  It would  also provide an opportunity to rent the trailer out to other businesses when empty.  Members noted that there would be a portion of match funding to the application.  Members were generally supportive of the application and on being put to the vote the funding request was ENDORSED.

RF-402 – Clematis Cottage

Funding requested:  £31,035

The funding request was for a project to launch a complimentary and fully integrated version of “Springwatch” which would feature all round wildlife activity that could be viewed through various platforms from cameras placed in the grounds of the cottages, complimentary to the B & B accommodation.  Members discussed the application and it was felt that the cost was high for what the project would achieve on being put to the vote the funding request was REJECTED.

SK-211 – Tallington Village Hall Playing Field Association

Funding requested:  £15,000

The project was for funding to repair the playing fields stone boundary walls which were currently in a perilous state of repair.  Members were supportive of the proposal and on being put to the vote it was unanimously agreed to ENDORSE the funding request.

SK-213 – Bourne Town Council

Funding requested:  £24,000

The project was for Bourne Town Council to refurbish their Christmas Lights and purchase some additional ex rental lights.  Both the Chairman and one of the Board Members who was currently Mayor of Bourne spoke in support of the application.

The Vice-Chairman was in the Chair for the discussion and decision on this item.

(10:56 Although both the Chairman, Councillor Philip Knowles and Councillor Helen Crawford left at this point, due to a number of questions that the Board had they returned to the meeting to answer the questions but did not take part in any decision making on this item)

Following questions asked it was confirmed that the lights had been already purchased.  Retrospective applications could not be considered and it was therefore decided that the application be DEFERRED until the next meeting to enable an updated application for 2025 to be submitted.

SK-217 – South Kesteven District Council – Stamford Arts Centre

Funding request:  £6,425

The project was for the introduction of the Watch Word System in Stamford Arts Centre’s cinema to address a local need for improved accessibility in cultural experiences for those with hearing or visual impairments.  A comment was made about the SAC providing the equipment from their profits, but it was stated that the Arts were subsidised by the Council and they were non-profit making.   On being proposed and seconded it was agreed that the funding application be ENDORSED.

SK-220 – St Guthlac’s PCC Market Deeping

Funding requested: £20,834

SK-221 – St Guthlac’s PCC Market Deeping

Funding requested: £17,676

The funding requests for SK-220 and SK-221 were taken jointly. Previous funding had been endorsed for the work to improve the kitchen facilities and also the toilets at the Green School which acted as the church hall for St Guthlac’s.  Due to technical issues the projects had now been spilt into two separate applications which enabled three quotes for each project rather than a tendering exercise to be undertaken.  Nothing had been changed within the applications other than they had been split into two projects.  As the previous funding application had been endorsed it was proposed, seconded and unanimously agreed that both the new funding requests were ENDORSED.

SK-222 – South Kesteven District Council - Dysart Park

Funding requested: £12,250

The funding request was for a project that aimed to undertake property improvements to the tennis court fencing, car park pillars and a damaged wall in the park.   To compliment this the Council are progressing works to improve drainage issues across the park.  One of the Board Members spoke in support of the application and the park which was well  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

There was no other business and the meeting closed at 11:40am.