Agenda item

Cabinet Member: Police & Policy Co-ordination and Safer & Stronger Communities

Forward Plan Ref: 2011/139

Contact: Alexandra Bailey, Corporate Performance and Review Manager Tel: (01865) 816384, Claire Phillips, Partnership Officer Tel: (01865) 323967

Report by Head of Strategy & Communications (CA7).

The Big Society Fund was launched in February 2011.  Applications are being considered in four waves during 2011/2012.  The first wave was considered by Cabinet in July.  Applications to the second wave closed on 31 August 2011.

This report:

1. details the bids we have received including service and councillors' comments

2. asks Cabinet to consider bids to the Big Society Fund and recommends which bids to fund

3. sets out projects requesting an asset transfer

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)               Approve those bids which meet the assessment criteria

(b)              In accordance with the Asset Transfer Policy to agree the transfer of buildings to the school on the following sites;

(1)              Lord Williams’ School, Thame

(2)              Chiltern Edge School, Sonning Common

Cabinet considered bids to the Big Society Fund from the second wave of

Applications.

Annex 1 bids

Councillor Anne Purse, local member, spoke in support of the Wheatley Youth Club bid. She commented that the Parish Council had made an ongoing pledge of funding and there would be local fund raising.

Councillor David Turner, spoke in support of the bid by Chalgrove Parish Council for youth worker recruitment. The Parish Council had built their own youth centre and doubled the size of the skate park. The Parish Council had already committed to funding the post in the future and the bid was to cover the immediate period and to purchase new equipment. Responding to a question about the precept needed to fund the post Councillor Turner gave details and commented that there were no complaints about it.

Councillor Atkins, as a member of Wallingford Town Council, hoped that the Cabinet would be able to endorse the bid for Wigod Centre. She also referred to the bid by the Pheonix Centre which had strong links to Wallingford.

Annex 2 bids

Councillor Heathcoat commented that she was supportive of the  1^st Faringdon Scouts having a permanent base. Although the bid did not quite meet the criteria she hoped that work could continue so that a future bid could be successful.

Having spoken Councillor Heathcoat withdrew from the meeting and took no part in the discussion and decision on the 1^st Faringdon Scouts bid. Following discussion it was agreed that the bid not be moved from category 2 (bids that presently do not fully meet the assessment criteria but may with further development) but that officers including property management continue to work with other parties.

Councillor Heathcoat returned to the meeting.

Councillor Carol Viney, spoke in support of the Edge Youth Club bid. She referred to the lack of easy transport links to places such as Henley or elsewhere and the universal support for the project. She referred to the lack of activities for young people that could lead to problems. The Parish Council were supportive and she referred to letters of support. The building required a new kitchen as the existing kitchen had been condemned by the County Council’s health & safety. A new kitchen could provide hot food and drinks. The bid had been cut down to one youth worker in line with the Fund requirements and new figures had been provided.

Mrs Edgington, Vice-Chairman, The Sonning Common Community Youth Club Management Committee spoke in support of the Edge Youth Club bid. She detailed the work undertaken in support of the bid and referred to 5 letters of support from local businesses. Responding to a question from Councillor Chapman, she detailed the new bid figures.

Annex 3

Councillor Janet Godden, strongly supported the West Oxfordshire Cycle Track bid.

RESOLVED:             to:

(a)       approve the Wood Farm youth centre request to amend the use of their Big Society grant;

(b)       approve those bids which meet the assessment criteria as set out in Annex ; in addition to approve the bid by the Edge Youth Centre, with officers to work with the bidder to reprofile the individual elements of the bid

(c)        in accordance with the Asset Transfer Policy to agree the transfer of buildings to the school on the following sites;

1)         Lord Williams’ School, Thame

(2)       Chiltern Edge School, Sonning Common

(d)       move the West Oxfordshire Cycle Track project being moved from Category 3 to Category 2 (bids that presently do not fully meet the assessment criteria but may with further development).