Agenda and minutes

Consider Application for Financial Assistance from Melrose Festival Executive, including additional information.  (Copy attached.)

1.1       The Chairman explained that the meeting had been convened in order to consider further the Application for Financial Assistance from Melrose Festival Executive which had been submitted to the Sub-Committee on 21 September 2017.        There had been copies of an excerpt of the Minute of the meeting of 21 September 2017 along with a copy of the outcome letter to Melrose Festival Executive and their response.  Mrs Evelyn Oliver and Mr James Marjoribanks were in attendance in support of the Application.

1.2       The Chairman thanked Mrs Oliver for the updated information provided in relation to the Financial Application and discussion followed in relation to other funding options which might be available in addition to Melrose Common Good Fund.  Members noted that no application to the Community Grant Scheme was possible during the current financial year as the budget within that Scheme had been fully allocated.  Members confirmed their support for the Application for Financial Assistance and agreed in principle to funding the Application in full.  The Chairman suggested that the Festival Executive could submit an Application to the Community Grant Scheme for consideration at the beginning of the 2018/19 financial year and that this would still fit the timescales for the purchasing of the items in advance of the Melrose Festival 2018.  Mr Marjoribanks confirmed that the Festival Committee would be happy with this.  It was therefore agreed that a payment from the William Hill Trust Fund in the sum of £4,400 be made at the beginning of the financial year 2018/19.  With regard to the balance of funding required, it was further agreed that the Melrose Festival Executive would submit an application to the Community Grant Scheme at the beginning of the financial year 2018/19 and that the William Hill Trust Fund would meet any shortfall in the financial application at that time.  The Council’s Grants Co-ordinator would assist with the application to the Community Grant Scheme.    

            DECISION

            AGREED that :-

            (a)     financial assistance be granted at the beginning of the financial year 2018/19 to Melrose Festival Executive in the sum of £4,400 to assist with the purchase of new seating, frames, trolleys and bunting; and

            (b)     following confirmation of the outcome of a funding application to the Community Grant Scheme at the beginning of the financial year 2018/19, the William Hill Trust Fund would grant further funding to meet any shortfall in the financial application at that time.

Consider Application for Financial Assistance from Gattonside Community Trust.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of an Application for Financial for Assistance on behalf of Gattonside Community Trust.  The Application explained that the Community Trust was looking to acquire an area of meadow within Gattonside Conservation Area for the purpose of increasing its biodiversity, facilitating education on the flora and fauna of the area and on sustainable natural development.  The Community Trust was hopeful that this project would benefit local residents, school children and tourism in the area.  The Application was in the sum of £2,500 to cover the costs for land surveys and associated legal expenses.  During the discussion that followed, Members raised concerns about the lack of information relating to the Application and the longer term aspects of the project such as maintenance of the area, responsibility for the land etc.  In addition, officers raised questions about whether the Application met the criteria required by the Trust Deed.  No representative from Gattonside Community Trust had been able to attend the meeting therefore it was agreed that the Sub-Committee write to the Trust to request further information about:- its plans for land surveys; what the legal expenses would cover, what actions were required prior to purchase of any land and what progress had been made in terms of a feasibility study.  Following a response, the Sub-Committee would consider the Application at a future meeting.

            DECISION

            AGREED:-

            (a)     to write to Gattonside Community Trust to request further information about its plans for land surveys; what the legal expenses would cover; what actions were required prior to purchase of any land and what progress had been made in terms of a feasibility study; and

            (b)     that following a response from the Gattonside Community Trust, the Application for Financial Assistance would be considered further at a future meeting of the William Hill Trust Sub-Committee.