Agenda item

The Cabinet Member for People and Communities presented the report.

The SK Community Fund was first introduced in 2015 with the Small Grants Scheme added in 2016. It was important that the application process, including the assessment and funding criteria were regularly reviewed to ensure they remain fit for purpose. The criteria had been reviewed and some proposed changes to the funding criteria had been identified.

The proposed amendments put to committee were:

Re-introduction of the Community Buildings Category to the criteria of the fund

·     The category was temporarily removed in 2023.The change was agreed in light of the many alternative sources of funding available to organisations operating village and community halls to carry out such work. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund also created an overlap of funding for such projects, however, this was shortly coming to an end so the category was recommended for re-introduction to the Fund’s criteria. Whilst alternative sources of funding existed, grants from the SK Community Fund could be used as supporting funding for larger projects.

Introduction of an additional offer within the Community Amenities category to cover monuments and war memorials

·     The Community Engagement Team is often approached by groups looking to renovate such structures and, whilst the maximum grant offered through the SK Community Fund is unlikely to be sufficient to carry out significant work, a grant could support a larger bid or possibly pay for an architect’s report where required.

A tightening up on eligibility for projects related to highways to specifically remove such items as speed signage/cameras and village signs from the criteria at the request of the Awarding Panel

·     This change was a direct request from the Awarding Panel who felt that projects should be funded by those responsible for highways or via a parish precept since the SK Community Fund was established to support projects that had wider community benefit.

A tightening up on eligibility of applications from Parish and Town Councils and Parish Meetings to state that projects that are parish-specific should be supported through the Precept process

·     The condition that Parish and Town Council’s should utilise their precept rather than seeking community funding has always been in the criteria of the fund.  This change was simply a change of wording to underline the fact that, if the project is only of benefit to a specific location (like, for example, the village signage mentioned earlier), the precept should be the first option to fund the endeavour.

It was highlighted that smaller Parish Council’s utilised their precepts on the maintenance of the village and may not have monies left over for village signage.

One Member noted that Denton Parish Council had a precept of £6,200. Denton Parish Council had to save over the last four years for white speed gates, which would cost £4,000 per gate and four were required.

The importance of speed prevention within Denton village was outlined and that applications for speed signs should be supported within the Community Fund criteria.

A Member informed the Committee of a community speed watch, where 20 volunteers had taken part for a few hours a week during busy periods of events taking place at Belvoir Castle. During a busy event at Belvoir Castle, over 9000 vehicles travelled through Denton. During a week of community speed watch, 56 speeding motorists were caught, two of which were doing within excess of 70mph in a 30mph zone.

The Community Engagement Manager clarified that the Community Fund would still be available to Town/Parish Council’s for projects and events that offered wider community benefit, however the precept should be the first step for specific Parish projects.

The Cabinet Member for Property and Public Engagement informed the Committee that the Lincolnshire County Council Highways website stated that equipment purchased for community speed watches had to be purchased through Town/Parish Councils.

Town/Parish Councils were encouraged to plan their precepts, at least a year in advance, in order to receive match funding.

Grantham Town Council had only recently been established and therefore were on a backfoot in regard to road safety, speeding etc. It was noted that they had a very small precept for a large population and large road network.

Several Members did not agree with the proposed amendments on the change of wording on applications received from Town/Parish Councils be included within the SK Community Fund.

One Member stated that it would cost a Town/Parish Council £2,000 to join Lincolnshire Road Partnership. It was clarified that there was no joining fee. Parishes could start a speed watch group via the Partnership who would provide the equipment required and up to 6 passive roadside notices. Additional notices could be purchased at a cost of £20 each. Wheelie bin stickers could also be purchased at a cost of 50p each. Electronic signs were £2,000 each.

One Member suggested that workshops be set up with Officers and Parish Council’s to assist them in planning ahead on precepts.

Councillor Robert Leadenham invited Committee Members to a community speed watch training session which was being held by Lincolnshire Road Partnership at Harlaxton Village Hall at 7:45pm on Monday 15 July 2024.

It was highlighted that the purpose of the community fund was to prioritise issues of loneliness, social and rural isolation, mental health and wellbeing.

Speeding fell outside the remit of the community fund; however, the Committee were keen to discuss issues around speeding in a workshop environment. 

The Community Engagement Team had access to a database, whereby 4,000 different funds could be explored for various types of funding so support could be given to identify alternative sources for such projects.

One Member suggested that the Committee review issues of speeding and invite a representative of the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership to give a presentation if a workshop was set up to explore this matter further.

ACTION: For further discussion around road safety and speeding in communities to be added to the Work Programme.

The Community Engagement Manager highlighted that funding workshops and fairs were delivered by the Community Engagement Team in community settings four times a year. Parish and Town Councils could attend if they required information on funding opportunities available to them for any type of community project.

The Committee thanked Officers for all their hard work.

ACTION:For the Committee to discuss the impact of the Forbidden Forest Festival on South Kesteven’s rural communities.

It was proposed, seconded and AGREED that the Committee:

1. Comments on the changes proposed to the criteria of the SK Community Fund.

2. Recommends the Cabinet Member for People and Communities approves the changes proposed to the criteria of the SK Community Fund.