Agenda item

Consider 5 applications for funding:

a)    St Ronans Bowling Club - £12,622.23

b)    Kingsland Primary School Pupil Council - £2,224.62

c)    The Edible Garden - £2,800

d)    The Peeblesshire Foodbank - £6,750

e)    Innerleithen Lawn Tennis Club - £15,000

(Assessments attached).

Photos of BBBB funded projects: BBBB Fund Awards 2021/22 | Flickr

9.1       The Chairman asked Mr Harrow to give an outline of each of the applications to the BBBB fund.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Councillor Haslam declared an interest in the following item of business in terms of Section 5 of the Councillors Code of Conduct and left the meetingduring the discussion.

9.2       St Ronans Bowling Club

The St Ronans Bowling Club were applying for £12,662.23 to construct a wooden framed gazebo to add an outside element to their facility. Councillor Tatler, seconded by Councillor Anderson moved approval of £12,662.23 and this was unanimously agreed.

MEMBER

Councillor Haslam re-joined the meeting following the discussion of the above item.

9.3       Kingsland Primary School Pupil Council

The group had applied for £2,224.62 to create a community shed on school grounds. The shed would provide basic supplies with the aim of improving well-being and attainment in education. The pupil council would provide a free breakfast to pupils, and work with the Peeblesshire foodbank and the school’s garden and Food Growing Strategy to provide food and supplies to families in need so they could cook a meal at home. Other items such as second hand school uniforms, books, stationary and seasonal items such Christmas party items would be available. Councillor Bell spoke extremely highly of the application, highlighted the high scores in the assessment form, and seconded by Councillor Anderson, moved approval of £2,224.62 which was unanimously approved.

9.4       The Edible Garden

The application from the Edible Garden requested £2,800 to help make their garden safe and fit for purpose ahead of a new programme of community based workshops. The funding was to meet the cost of urgent repair works to the growing space in the garden. Councillor Tatler, seconded by Councillor Small, moved approval of £2,800 and this was unanimously approved.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Councillor Bell declared an interest in the following item of business in terms of Section 5 of the Councillors Code of Conduct and left the meetingduring the discussion.

9.5       The Peeblesshire Foodbank

            The application for £6,750 was for part funding, in conjunction with the community fund, for a new van. The application noted that people who had accessed the food bank had struggled to transport food home, with the van expected to help relieve that pressure. Councillor Anderson, seconded by Councillor Haslam, moved approval of £6,750, and this was unanimously agreed.

MEMBER

Councillor Bell re-joined the meeting following the discussion of the above item.

9.6       Innerleithen Lawn Tennis Club

            The application from the Innerleithen Lawn Tennis Club was for £15,000 to help with the costs of a large project. The funding would help meet the construction costs of 2 mini tennis courts and a practise wall. The Club hoped the construction of the new facilities would help meet a wider community need by providing a place for children to engage in exercise and sport. The Club had also applied to the Community Fund to help meet the costs of the project. Concerns were raised about the total value of the two grants that the Club had applied for from the Area Partnership. Unanimous agreement was not reached, and Members voted on whether or not to grant the application.

         Vote

Councillor Tatler, seconded by Councillor Anderson moved that the application for funding was granted.

Councillor Small, seconded by Councillor Haslam moved as an amendment that the application for funding was rejected.

As the meeting was conducted by Microsoft Teams members were unable to vote by the normal show of hands and gave a verbal response as to how they wished to vote the result of which was as follows:-

Motion by Councillor Tatler – 2 votes

Amendment by Councillor Small – 3 votes

The amendment that the application for funding was rejected was accordingly carried.

Members expressed their hope that the project would go on to be successful, and advised the group to discuss further funding options with the Communities and Partnership Team.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Councillor Tatler declared an interest in the following item of business in terms of Section 5 of the Councillors Code of Conduct and left the meetingduring the discussion.

CHAIRMAN

In the absence of Councillor Tatler, Councillor Anderson acted as Chair.

9.7       The Food Foundation

The application from the Food Foundation had been considered under the fast track provisions. The application had not received a majority vote in favour of granting nor denying the funding and was therefore considered at the meeting. Further information was requested to provide clarity on some unresolved matters. Mr Harrow undertook to provide that information to Members and the application would be considered as a fast track application again.

MEMBER

Councillor Tatler re-joined the meeting following the discussion of the above item and resumed Chairmanship of the meeting.