Agenda item

(i)         NSF recommendations to be presented by the Cheviot assessment panel on the following applications:

      Kelso Cricket Club

      Kelso in Bloom

      Sprouston Coronation Hall

(ii)          NSF recommendations to be presented by the Cheviot assessment panel on the fund criteria

There had been circulated copies of a report which detailed the recommendations of the Cheviot Community Fund Assessment Panel. The report provided a brief description of each application received and a recommendation on the sum to be awarded to each project.

5.3     Kelso Cricket Club

An application had been received from Kelso Cricket Club requesting £2,160 was received for the purchase of a marquee to replace the old marquee which had been destroyed in high winds and storms.  The marquee was used for hosting events which helped raise funds for the club.  The Panel were supportive of the project and recommended that £2,160 be awarded. 

5.4     Kelso in Bloom

An application had been received from Kelso in Bloom requesting £2,500 to purchase perennials and shrubs to provide an alternative and more financially sustainable planting scheme for Kelso. The perennials and shrubs would be used to enhance the entrance to Kelso from Sprouston by developing the beds in front of the Linn.  The Panel were supportive of the project and recommended that £2,500 be awarded.

5.5     Sprouston Coronation Hall 

An application had been received from Sprouston Coronation Hall requesting £2,101.75 to fund the installation of a switch rated at 100amps to provide a connection to a generator in the hall to create a safe refuge for members of the village in the event of another major power outage.  The Panel were supportive and were of the opinion that this would enhance the village’s provision as a rural community and was a good example of the community being proactive. Recent experiences had shown the vulnerability of communities for different reasons.

          DECISION

AGREED that the following sums be awarded to each of those listed:-

·         Kelso Cricket Club - £2,160

·         Kelso in Bloom - £2,500

·         Sprouston Coronation Hall  - £2,101.75

5.6     There had been circulated copies of a report from the Cheviot Assessment Panel who were seeking to increase the maximum grant to £5,000 (currently the maximum grant was £2,500).  The Panel were of the opinion that raising the limit to £5,000 would encourage more groups and organisations to apply and support local groups/organisations to deliver projects/initiatives.  All other Localities had an application limit of £5,000 or above and were on course to spend their Neighbourhood Support Fund before the end of the financial year.  Assuming the current applications to the Cheviot Neighbourhood Support Fund were approved it would leave a balance of £92,652.33 to spend before the end of March 2023 and based on the number of applications received for the year, it was highly unlikely that would be achieved.

5.7     The Assessment Panel were also requesting to remove the restriction that groups could only submit two applications per annum and that they must be for different Groups as this was particularly challenging for Community Councils who were often the main body for organising and delivering community projects in their area.  The panel believed the scrutiny of applications applied at the assessment stage would consider the merit and worth of all community projects and therefore the limitation on the number of times a group can apply was not required.

DECISION

AGREED:-

(a)       to increase the maximum payable per grant to £5,000 for the remainder of 2022/23 Financial year and then review; and

(b)        to remove the restriction on the number of times a Group could apply for funding.