Agenda item

Consider funding recommendations from the Tweeddale Assessment Panel. (Recommendations to follow).

The recommendations of the Tweeddale Area Partnership Assessment Panel on seven applications the Tweeddale Community Fund had been circulated.  Esther Daborn referred to the recommendations and advised that she was willing to answer questions or give clarity if required.

8.1       Peebles Burgh Silver Band

The application was for a grant to allow the purchase of locally sourced branded polo shirts and hoodies, and free tuition for one year at a revised total of £3,640. The application was unanimously approved.

8.2       Peebles CAN

A revised application for a specific project had been submitted to cover the costs of growing herbs sustainably. Members of the Assessment Panel requested more information on the costs of materials and salary for the one year project. Further details were required to allow a decision to be made. Consideration of the application was deferred to allow the aforementioned concerns to be addressed. Ms Lacon undertook to engage and support the group with future applications.

8.3       Peeblesshire Food Bank

The application was for a grant of £6,250 to assist in the purchase of a new van. The Assessment Panel noted that the application was well received but concerns remained over monetary reserves, whether purchasing a vehicle was the best option, and the monitoring of usage of the vehicle to ensure it was not used for private purposes. The Panel recommended that a discretionary fund for the running costs of the van was set up; a cost analysis comparing the cost of leasing versus purchasing a vehicle was carried out; and a monitoring system put in place to ensure the van was used solely for Food Bank purposes. The Panel recommended that £5,000 was granted towards either the first year’s lease or cost of purchase. The application was unanimously approved.

8.4       Peebles Community Centre - Craft Box

The application was for materials, tuition fees and expenses to run 45 classes for 60 elderly/vulnerable adults. The Panel recommended approval subject to confirmation of the number of classes and target number of participants against the actual numbers recorded for the end of year report. The revised grant of £5,000 was unanimously approved.

8.5       Peebles High School Student Parliament

The application for a grant of £4000 was to help develop a student voice and life skills through dealing with applications for school projects managed by the Student Parliament. The Panel recommended approval on the basis that projects did not cover areas where Scottish Borders Council Estates had responsibility and that there would be sufficient reports available at the end of the year. The grant was unanimously approved.

8.6       Innerleithen Lawn Tennis Club

The application from Innerleithen Tennis Club was for £7,500 as part of a £60,000 project for construction of 2 mini courts and a practice wall for juniors. Further information had been provided on the value of the mini courts to release main courts for adults and the value of a practise wall for older children to practise ground strokes. The application was unanimously approved.

8.7       Tweeddale Rideability Group

The application was for a grant of £6,300 to purchase a new horse so that the group could offer additional sessions. This would allow the group to offer a valuable service to young people in Tweeddale. The application was unanimously approved.