Agenda item

The Partnership considered the report of the Small Grants Subgroup.  The amount of grant aid requested was £18,207 from seven applicants. All applicants met the criteria and all, at different levels, involved volunteers within the activities, or in the case of Redland Parish Church, the impact of the funding would encourage further voluntary activity. Four had secured other financial resources and all used volunteer time, some extensively.  The Small Grants Subgroup asked for additional information from most of the applications.

It was noted that it was agreed at the NP meeting on April 11th 2016 that £12,000 would be allocated to small grants on June 20th 2016, from a total spend limit of £20,000 for 2016/17. There were seven applications, and one late application. Six were recommended for full or part-funding, totalling £10,418.

The Chair of the
Group clarified the issues around the Action for Balanced Communities Group and
further information was provided by the representative from the Action for
Balanced Communities Group, Dr Patricia Smith. 
During discussion the following issues were noted:



-         
The survey would cover Chandos  road but the
Group was open to the NP suggesting 
other areas 



-         
A survey has already taken place
in Kingsdown which is now in the BCR NP area.



-         
There was  £200 in the Chandos
Rd Neighbourhood Association towards the survey so the Neighbourhood Committee
could agree to take out £200 from the grant requested by CNA



-         
The survey would run in November
when students are back and bedded in.



-         
The survey would need to
cover  3 groups – residents, students and
HMOs 



-         
Two key issues are already known –
planning and waste/litter



-         
The response to previous surveys
had been good



-         
The questionnaire had been checked
with the Bristol City Council Consultation Team. 



-         
The same survey could be used as
for Kingsdown or it could be tailored to the BCR NP



-         
It would be possible to defer the
grant decision to the  October NP meeting
and look at the outcome  of the previous
survey

The Neighbourhood Committee 

Resolved: 




 



1.       that
the following grants be approved (Cllr Negus declared an interest in respect
of  the Chandos
Road grant and abstained from the vote)

2.       That the two
applications not recommended by the Sub-Group be noted and that the Domestic
Abuse Group applicants be invited to the community event in September to raise
their profile



 



Action:
Communities and Engagement group to put out information about the event



 



3.       That having
discussed the  Action for Balanced  communities bid  with the 
Partnership the decision on the grant be deferred to the October NP
meeting  and  that the Partnership work with the Group to
identify survey areas.



Action:


Cllrs Negus and Fodor to meet with Action for Balanced Communities

Neighbourhood Co-ordinator to send out previous survey report to members



 



The
Neighbourhood Partnership Resolved:



 



1.       That a further £5,000 be made available
for small grants in 2016/17, bringing the annual budget from £20,000 to
£25,000.



2.       That
the deadlines for grant applications for 2016/17 are September 5th and
an additional date of November 28th 2016.



3.       That
where it is eligible that all/part of the applications from  Chandos
Neighbourhood Association, Redland Parish Church and Sustainable Bishopston/Living Room to be funded from CIL allocation up
to the value of £5,073.