Agenda item

Consider requests for funding from the following:-

4.1       Tweed Wheels

There had been circulated copies of a request from Tweed Wheels, The Bridge,for funding of £10,000 towards the purchase of a new vehicle costing in the region of £40,000.  Tweed Wheels currently had a mini bus and a car to provide accessible community transport.  Capital funding was required to purchase a replacement mini-bus as the existing vehicle was coming to the end of its life. The application advised that £20,000 had already been raised towards the total required and the organisation was awaiting to hear if an application for a further £10,000 had been successful.  Members were very supportive of Tweed Wheels and noted that £10,000 had recently been awarded to this Community Transport initiative from the Tweeddale Community Fund. In further discussion, Members had questions about the unrestricted funds shown in the accounts of the umbrella organisation The Bridge, whether other ways of purchasing the vehicle had been explored and also about long term sustainability of funding for Tweed Wheels.  It was agreed to seek further information and delay consideration of the application to the next meeting.

DECISION

AGREED to seek further information and defer consideration of the application from Tweed Wheels to the next meeting.

4.2       Peebles and District Men’s Shed

There had been circulated copies of a request from Peebles and District Men’s Shed for funding of £6,486 towards the conversion of their premises from a formal social club and bar into a multi-purpose venue.  Already members could undertake technical wood and metal working activities in newly fitted workshops but a large number also enjoyed modelling and art and a further section attended for social engagement.  The aim was to provide properly equipped and comfortable adjacent spaces for modelling/art and social activities.  A breakdown of the costs for the conversions was included with the application.  Members spoke in support of the project and agreed to grant the funding request in full, noting that this was part of an ongoing process of investment into the fabric of the building.

DECISION

AGREED to grant funding of £6,486 to Peebles and District Men’s Shed.

4.3       Peebles Community Trust

There had been circulated copies of a request fromPeebles Community Trust for funding of £1,500 towards a project to save for posterity the old weighbridge office which stood in the East Station car park.  Mr Les Turnbull explained that the project was being carried out by the Peebles Railway Heritage Project, under the auspices of the Community Trust. The group believed that it was essential to save this building and preserve the significant history of Peebles as a railway town.  The building was currently owned by Scottish Borders Council, who had agreed to a long term lease at a marginal rent. It was hoped to engage a local consultation to provide expertise to enable submission of a full and detailed application to the Scottish Heritage Fund for funding the fitting out of the building. It was anticipated that the full costs of the project would exceed £100k.  Members recognised that this project was in its very early stages and whilst expressing enthusiasm for the proposals felt that the application was lacking in financial and other important details. Members would also require to see a more recent set of accounts in order to consider the application.  In response to questions, Mr Turnbull gave further information about the proposed remit for a consultant.  He confirmed that to date, no other sources of funding had been approached and that a surveyor’s report for the building had not yet been obtained.  After further discussion Members felt that they could not support the application for funding at this stage but invited Mr Turnbull to approach the Common Good for funding again in the future, if necessary, once further detailed information about the project was available and after alternative sources of funding had been explored.

DECISION

AGREED not to grant funding to Peebles Community Trust for the Peebles Railway Heritage project until more information had been provided and other sources of funding explored.