Agenda item
Neighbourhood Support Fund
NSF recommendations to be presented by the Cheviot Assessment Panel on the following applications:-
i. Interest Link Borders
ii One Step Borders
iii. St Boswells Village Hall
iv 2nd Kelso Guide Company
v Kelso Cricket Club
vi Kelso Cricket Club
vii Kelso Orchard Tennis Club
viii Green St Boswells
ix Jedforest Instrumental Band
x St Boswells OAP Social Club
xi Borders Media CIC
xii Borders Group of RDA
xiii Borders Group of RDA
xiv The Jed Lunch Club
xv Borders Union Agricultural Society
xvi Kelso Football Club
xvii Tweed Valley Railway Campaign
xviii Jedburgh Legacy Group
xix Kelso Wheelers Cycling Club
xx Jedburgh Tourism Alliance
Minutes:
Neighbourhood Support Fund
6.0 There had been 20applications received for the Cheviot Neighbourhood Support Fund which was a significant increase on previous rounds and very encouraging that more community organisations were coming forward. 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. As previously reported, projects with a mean score of 80+ in terms of their ability to deliver, clear evidence of need, potential impact, use of public money, innovation and sustainability and therefore would be recommended for approval and those were detailed below :-
6.1 Interest Links
An application had been received from Interest Links requesting £4,805 to offer 25 members with learning disabilities, aged 8-80 with age-based befriending. The aim was to nurture friendships, provide new opportunities and improve wellbeing, confidence & social skills. The Panel were supportive of the project and recommended that £4,805 be awarded.
6.2 One Step Borders
An application had been received from One Step Borders in the sum of £3,150 to carry out volunteer recruitment and training throughout the Cheviot locality to improve the mental health and emotional wellbeing of 35 young people. The Panel were supportive of the project and recommended that £3,150 be awarded.
6.3 2nd Kelso Guides
An application had been received from 2nd Kelso Guides in the sum of £1,440.00 for the purchase of four tents to allow the group to attend a UK-wide Girlguiding camp. The Panel were supportive of the project and recommended that £1,440 be awarded.
6.4 Kelso Orchard Tennis Club
An application was submitted by Kelso Orchard Tennis Club in the sum of £4,005.00 to provide activities for those 65+, in partnership with local care homes and sheltered housing. These activities would improve participants mental and physical wellbeing and the Panel were supportive of the project and recommended that £4,005 be awarded.
6.5 Jed Lunch Club
Jed Lunch Club had submitted an Application in the sum of £360.00 to reopen its’ doors post-covid. This monthly club was held within Jed Thistle Club Rooms for older adults, offering a hot meal at an affordable cost, socialisation and reduced isolation. The Panel were supportive of the project and recommended that £360 be awarded.
6.6 Borders Union Agricultural Society
An application was submitted for £3,688.00 for the provision of educational tote bags for each child present at their Countryside Day. These bags offered a memento, as well as education on exhibitors and UN Sustainability goals, and a biodegradable water bottle. The Panel were supportive of the project and recommended that £3,688 be awarded.
6.7 Kelso Wheelers Cycling Club
An application had been received from Kelso Wheelers Cycling Club in the sum of £5,000.00 to make improvements on the bike trails in Angraflat, Kelso. These improvements would allow the trails to reopen for the public. The Panel were supportive of the project and recommended that £5,000 be awarded.
6.8 Jedburgh Tourism Alliance
There had been submitted an application from Jedburgh Tourism Alliance in the sum of £5,000.00 to commission a feasibility study by Land Use Consultants to explore what streetscape developments would enhance the appeal of the town. The Panel were supportive of the project and recommended that £5,000 be awarded.
Further Applications received had been discussed by the Assessment Panel and therefore recomenndations were as follows:-
6.9 St Boswells Village Hall
An application for £3,335.36 was submitted by St Boswells Village Hall for the replacement of their water boiler and dishwasher, which would allow the Hall to continue supporting vulnerable people within their community. Though funding remained available for Village Halls, the panel agreed that support from the Neighbourhood Support Fund would allow the group to improve their current services, encouraging future financial sustainability. The panel agreed they produced an adequate case in terms of their ability to deliver, clear evidence of need, potential impact, use of public money, innovation and sustainability and therefore the Panel were supportive of the project and recommended that £3,335.36 be awarded.
6.10 Kelso Cricket Club
An application for £3,393.84 was submitted by Kelso Cricket Club for the refurbishment of their kitchen facilities. This work would support the club to host events for the local community. The panel agreed that support from the Neighbourhood Support Fund would allow this group to improve their current services, encouraging future financial sustainability. The panel further agreed they had produced an adequate case in terms of their ability to deliver, clear evidence of need, potential impact, use of public money, innovation and sustainability and therefore the Panel were supportive of the project and recommended £3,393.84.
6.11 Kelso Cricket Club
An application for £1,916.46 was submitted by Kelso Cricket Club for the purchase of table and chairs for their marquee. These facilities would be available for use by the community. The panel agreed that the project would not provide as great a community benefit as application ref.CFA000117, and alongside a high-volume of applications from this particular group, they would not recommend this project for funding. The panel wished to encourage Kelso Cricket Club to look at ways of becoming more financially sustainable, e.g. fundraising endeavours.
6.12 Green St Boswells
An application for £3,000.88 was submitted by Green St Boswells to establish a community food-growing and community wildlife gardens. The gardens aimed to improve community cohesion for all ages, as well as education. The panel agreed that food-growing projects such as this were assets to the communities they worked within and had produced an adequate case in terms of their ability to deliver, clear evidence of need, potential impact, use of public money, innovation and sustainability. The Panel were supportive, however as the project stood without permissions SBC Estates & Planning, the project was ineligible for funding. However, on the condition that the project was approved by SBC Estates & Planning, the panel recommended a grant of £3,000.88.
6.13 Jedforest Instrumental Band
An application for £5,000.00 was submitted by Jedforest Instrumental Band to support the implementation of an improved, energy-efficient, heating and lighting system to support the bands who practice within the hall as well as the community use. The panel praised the group for their provision of free music tuition within the community and agreed they produced an adequate case in terms of their ability to deliver, clear evidence of need, potential impact, use of public money, innovation and sustainability and therefore recommended a grant of £5,000.00.
6.14 St Boswells OAP Social Club
An application for £1,662.75 was submitted by St Boswells OAP Social Club for their Community Activity Day which would offer a trip to a location agreed amongst the group, socialisation and refreshments. The group was open to any members of the community. The panel agreed that this project did not provide enough wide-spread benefit to the Cheviot Community, and were not persuaded the proposed project produced an adequate case for funding. The panel, however, understood the benefit which the club provided to older people in the area. As a result, the panel’s recommendation was not fund the proposed project, but to award the sum of £500.00 towards ongoing costs.
6.15 Borders Media CIC
An application for £4,475.50 was submitted by Borders Media CIC to establish, ‘Explore the Borders’, a bi-monthly magazine promoting tourism in the Scottish Borders. The magazine would be supported through membership packages and advertising and available online and in print. The panel were not persuaded that the proposed project produced an adequate case for funding on the basis that there were multiple bodies, already in existence, who had the responsibility of promoting tourism throughout The Borders. The panel encouraged the group to work with those existing bodies in the development of their project, with the understanding that this group wished to tackle a more local approach to tourism throughout The Borders. The panel encouraged SBC Councillors to encourage these existing bodies to develop their local approach. Should approaching these bodies in partnership be unsuccessful, the panel would welcome a more carefully considered application at a later date.
6.16 Borders Group Of Riding For The Disabled Association
An application for £4,158.00 was submitted by Borders Group of RDA for the purchase of a replacement quad bike to support the maintenance and safety of their riding arena. The purchase would benefit both children, adults and horses using their centre. The panel agreed they produced an adequate case in terms of their ability to deliver, clear evidence of need, potential impact, use of public money, innovation and sustainability and therefore is recommended a grant of £4,158.00.
6.17 Borders Group Of Riding For The Disabled Association
An application for £4,050.00 was submitted by Borders Group of RDA for the establishment of a ‘sensory garden’ for disabled children and young adults. The panel were not persuaded the proposed project produced an adequate case for funding, as the group were unable to provide all supporting documentation required.The panel would welcome a more carefully considered application at a later date.
6.18 Kelso Football Club
An application for £10,050.00 was submitted by Kelso Football Club for the refurbishment of the club rooms. The panel were not persuaded the proposed project produced an adequate case for funding.The group exceeded the maximum ask of the fund and were unable to provide the supporting documentation required. As the application did not meet the criteria of the Neighbourhood Support Fund, the panel were unable to support but would welcome a more carefully considered application at a later date.
6.19 Tweed Valley Railway Campaign
An application for £3,750.00 was submitted by Tweed Valley Railway Campaign, a group who aimed to restore rail services between the East Coast Mainline and Borders Railway via Kelso. The group wished to create promotional materials for stakeholder engagement both in person and online. The panel agreed that support from the Neighbourhood Support Fund would allow this group to educate and drive an important campaign forward and agreed they produced an adequate case in terms of their ability to deliver, clear evidence of need, potential impact, use of public money, innovation and sustainable therefore recommended a grant of £3,750.00.
6.20 Jedburgh Legacy Group
An application for £4,500.00 was submitted by the Jedburgh Legacy Group to support the heating costs of the public library. The group were in the process of taking over management to reopen the space for reading, warm and safe spaces. The panel agreed that support from the Neighbourhood Support Fund would allow the group to establish an important asset within the Jedburgh community. The panel agreed they produced an adequate case in terms of their ability to deliver, clear evidence of need, potential impact, use of public money, innovation and sustainability. As the group were in discussions with SBC with regard to an appropriate lease and management agreement with SBC, the panel recommended a grant of £4,500.00 on the condition of the group reaching agreement with SBC.
6.21 Mr D Weatherston further advised that The Cheviot Neighbourhood Support Fund base budget for 2023/24 was £46,352 and it was likely there would be an underspend from 2022/23 and grants which had not been drawn down from other Cheviot funds to add to the NSF total for 2023/24. The Cheviot Neighbourhood Support Fund Assessment Panel had considered this and made the following recommendations for the 2023/24 NSF:
· An application limit of £5,000 be kept in place
· A limit of one application per year per community group be applied
· A limit of one application per Community Council and one application for each of the Community Council’s subgroups be applied.
Within the scoring matrix, the assessment panel made the following recommendations:
· Remove the Innovation category
· Add two questions to the sustainability category:
o Is the project piloting new ways of working?
o If successful, how could these innovations be more widely adopted?
· Increase the scoring of ‘Ability to Deliver’ and ‘Sustainability’ to 20 points each, which would create a scoring matrix with 5 categories in total, all worth 20 points.
Finally, Mr Weatherston raised the matter of recruitment to the following positions were available within the Cheviot Assessment Panel :-
- Member of the Public (Jedburgh & District)
- Community Councillor (Jedburgh & District)
- SBC Councillor (Kelso & District)
- SBC Councillor (Jedburgh & District)
DECISION
AGREED:-
(a) that the following sums be awarded to each of those listed:-
· Interest Link Borders - £4,805
· One Step Borders - £3,150
· 2nd Kelso Guides - £1,440
· Kelso Orchard Tennis Club - £4,005
· Jed Lunch Club - £360
· Borders Union Agricultural Society £3,688
· Kelso Wheelers Cycling Club - £5,000
· Jedburgh Tourism Alliance - £5,000
· St Boswells Village Hall - £3,335.36
· Kelso Cricket Club (CFA000117) - £3,393.84
· Jedforest Instrumental Band - £5,000
· St Boswells OAP Social Club - £500
· Borders Group of Riding for the Disabled Association
· Tweed Valley Railway Campaign
(b) that the following sums be awarded with conditions:-
· Green St Boswells - £3,000.88
· Jedburgh Legacy Group - £4,50
(c) that no award be made to the following:-
· Kelso Cricket Club (CFA000118)
· Borders Media CIC
· Borders Group of RDA (CFA000126)
· Kelso Football Club
(d) that the following recommendations by the Cheviot Assessment Panel be accepted :-
· the application limit of £5,000 remain;
· a limit of one application per year per community group be applied;
· a limit of one application per Community Council and one application for each of the Community Council’s subgroups be applied.
(e) that in terms of the scoring, the recommendation by the Cheviot Assessment Panel be accepted:-
· that the Innovation category be removed;
· two questions be added to the sustainability category:
o Is the project piloting new ways of working?
o If successful, how could these innovations be more widely adopted?
· The scoring of ‘Ability to Deliver’ and ‘Sustainability’ be increased to 20 points each, creating a scoring matrix with 5 categories in total, all worth 20 points.
(f) that the Assessment Panel work with SBC Officers to recruit into the vacant positions.
Supporting documents:
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