Agenda item

To receive the minutes of the Major Grants Panel minutes on 21 January 2019.

The minutes of the Major Grants Panel meeting held on 21 January 2019 were submitted.

Councillor Musgrave, having given notice under Standing Order No.44, spoke on this item. He stated that he was representing two important community assets in his ward - Exeter Eagles BMX Club and Exeter Aces Cycle Speedway Club - who were Council tenants operating on the site for 30 years. They demonstrated strong community spirit and contributed to making Exeter more active. The clubs had written to the Leader and Portfolio Holder for Place and Commercialisation about the proposed percentage cuts in their Council rent grant. He understood the reasons for the major grants review but wanted Members to be aware that should these proposals go ahead then both clubs would close within three months of the next full Council as the clubs had no financial resilience. He asked Members to consider an asset transfer to these clubs and he invited Members to visit and see the club in action.

In response to a question, Councillor Musgrave confirmed that the BMX was very affordable for families and that they could ride the entire track for an entire Saturday afternoon for just £2.  Both clubs operated on a not for profit basis.

Councillor Warwick, having given notice under Standing Order No.44, spoke on this item. He stated that use of these clubs should be maximised to reflect the Council’s commitment to health and an active life style. He had received correspondence from the BMX Club regarding the reduction in their rent grant which also affected the Cycle Speedway Club. He had been working with the clubs to look at solutions and including a possible asset transfer. The clubs attracted people from all over the country and were well respected, it was important that young people had facilities to boost health and fitness. The volunteers running the organisations had improved the facilities including safety measures. Whilst recognising the main reasons for the grants cuts provision being the continued austerity these cuts left two very worthwhile projects under threat and he referred to other groups faced with cuts such as Rape Crisis.  He recognised that the Council did not have a legal duty to support these organisations and that there were other funding available such as crowd funding although it did have a duty to the communities that it represented and he asked that Executive commit to a plan to help such organisations to secure their long term future.

Councillor Wood, having given notice under Standing Order No.44, spoke on this item. He stated that the Council continued to face funding cuts from central government and had sought to mitigate the impact of these cuts on Voluntary and community grants in an imaginative and creative way. He recognised that the Council did not wish to destabilise any groups and the detail and impact of any transitional process was crucial. Although a Trustee of Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau he was speaking on behalf of all of the organisations on this list as many of these groups had complex financial arrangements, including staff considerations.  With the consultation beginning in March it would mean that they would start the new financial year with significant unknowns at very short notice. He stated that he reluctantly supported the move to transfer the cost of grants from Revenue to New Homes and CIL funding and asked Members to consider other options on core and rent grants. There was a need to ensure that the Council had mechanisms to sustain the work of many greatly valued groups.

The Leader commented that the Council had to save £2 million and that it gave over £1m in grants every year.  He had agreed to meet representations from the BMX and the Speedway clubs but he could make no guarantees. He advised that all the organisations had been informed that the grants would not continue. The Council was looking at other ways in which to help organisations obtain funding.

In response to a Member’s question, Councillor Wood commented that he did not know how the cuts would affect the CAB and that whilst they did have reserves the organisation did struggle and, with the cut in the rent and core grant, it was unclear the level of service that could be delivered going forward.

The Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing, Communities and Sport commented that the Major Grants Panel had made interim recommendation on grant awards for the coming year in line with the available budget for the core and rent grants in 2019/20 to allow time for public consultation for the future policy. He referred to the next item on the agenda in which Members could take into account the Red Quadrant Report and recommendation for the public consultation on a draft policy

RESOLVED that:

1)    Living Options Devon Grant of £5,000 cease on recommendation from City Development;

2)    Turntable Grant ceases as Housing Needs wish to place a contract for services for a similar amount for 2019/20;

3)    Core and rent grants for the 5 Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisations (NPO’s) are already subject to a 4 year contract regime and need to be funded in line with current contract terms for 2019/20;

4)    Community Associations that run Community Centres to continue to have existing rent grants for the full financial year 2019/20 funded through Neighbourhood CIL;

5)    All other existing rent grants be capped at 2018/19 levels and funded for 6 months from April to September 2019;

6)    All other existing core grants to be capped at 2018/19 levels and funded for 6 months from April to September 2019;

7)    Grass Roots Grants (Neighbourhood CIL) process suspended for the time being;

8)    £44,183 to be transferred from the Neighbourhood CIL to cover the full year effect of the annual rent grant of the 8 Community Associations who currently receive a rent grant;

9)    Exeter Sports Fund grant, small arts grants, city grants and ad-hoc grant funds cease; and

10)The decisions, as set out below be implemented in respect of the bodies indicated:

(In accordance with Standing Order no. 43 Councillor Leadbetter requested that his vote against the recommendation be recorded)