Agenda item

To consider the report of the Programme Manager Communities.

The Programme Manager Communities presented the report recommending a grant of £30,000 be made to Alphington Community Association in the second round of Grass Roots Grants funding towards the refurbishment of the Alphington Village Hall. Members were also updated on the recommendations for the introduction of new Community Builder (CB) roles across neighbourhoods in Exeter, supported by New Homes Bonus and the neighbourhood portion of Community Infra-Structure Levy (CIL) funding.  The proposal would complement and build on the existing community builder roles that were currently funded through Integrated Care Exeter (ICE)/Wellbeing Exeter programme.

Exeter Community Forum would invite applications for the Host Organisation in accordance with procurement policy and the awarding of this grant was recommended to be delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Health & Wellbeing, Communities and Sport in consultation with the Chair of Exeter Community Forum and the Programme Manager Communities.

The Programme Manager Communities gave the following responses to Members questions:- 

·         clarified the position with regards to the grant for Host Organisation to employ the Community Builders

·         Community Builders would be working at a grass roots level to build relationships, mobilise people to take action and support people to become more active in their local community.

·         there would be local support groups that would take part in the recruitment of community builders for their area

·         local Councillors would be encouraged to be involved in the local support groups

·         community builders will also be available in  areas of the city without strong community groups to apply for these roles  this project could potentially cover all of the city, but would initially focus on areas with new development and within disadvantaged communities.

The Portfolio Holder for Health & Wellbeing, Communities and Sport welcomed this Community Infra-Structure Levy (CIL) funding of £3.75 million over 10 years to engage with local communities and to support the introduction of Community Builders.

The Leader welcomed use of CIL monies to support, engage and build communities in the City.

RECOMMENDED that Council approves:-

(1)          the recommendation made by the Exeter Community Forum Grass Roots Grants Panel which met on the 7 June to review and support the following application:

·         Alphington Community Association - refurbishment of Alphington Village Hall – Capital grant £30,000 – supported in full by the Grass Roots Grants Panel;

(2)        the recommendation made by the Exeter Community Forum Grass Roots Panel which met on the 25 May to review applications/ Expressions of Interest for Community Builders for the following areas (all roles to be part-time). Areas are based on community defined areas, not current ward boundaries:

·         Newtown and St Leonards  *

·         Pinhoe *

·         Wonford *

·         Alphington

·         Heavitree

·         Beacon Heath

·         Whipton

·         Digby

·         St Thomas *

·         Newcourt & Countess Wear *

·         St David’s

·         Exwick *

The areas that are starred have an existing community builder role (1 day per week) funded through Integrated Care Exeter (ICE). The total amount that will be invested in this work over the next five years is £610,000, made up of £300,000 New Homes Bonus and £310,000 Neighbourhood CIL;

(3)        the recommendation made by the Grass Roots Grants panel that a Host Organisation should be appointed to manage the Community Builder roles for Exeter with reporting arrangements to the Exeter Community Forum steering group. This role includes the employment and management of all staff related to the roll out of community builders across Exeter; and

(4)        delegated powers be given to the Portfolio Holder for Health & Wellbeing, Communities and Sport in consultation with the Chair of the Exeter Community Forum and Programme Manager for Communities should there be a need for adjustment to:-

a)         areas covered by the Community Builder roles, and

b)         awarding of the grant to a host organisation to employ and manage the Community Builder programme.